'Sajdah e Sahw' Sahw Prostration:

What is Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration)?

   If a mistake is made during prayer (salaah) or there is doubt that a mistake has been made, then Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration) is performed to correct it. It is necessary to perform it when someone made a mistake in one or more obligatory parts (waajib arkaan) of the prayer (salaah), such as in any rak'ah, prostration (sajdah), or bowing (ruku), or when there is a doubt that a mistake has been made.

   If any part or parts of a prayer (salaah) are intentionally omitted or an extra part is recited, that prayer (salaah) becomes invalid (baatil).

   It is not compulsory to perform Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration) if a mistake is made in the recommended prayers (mustahibaat), for example, forgetting the opening prayer (dua e istiftah) or reciting aloud with the cleric (molvi), or if the cleric (molvi) intended to recite a section or sections in a low voice but recited them aloud, or if he intended to recite them aloud but recited them in a low voice, then it is not necessary to perform the Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration).

When and how to perform Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration)?

Case No. 1:

   If a mistake is made during prayer (salaah) or there is doubt that a mistake has been made, for example, if you are not sure that you performed three rak'aat or four, then assume one of them which is most certain and complete the rest of the prayer (salaah) accordingly and then perform the two sujood, which is Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration).

Method:

   After reciting the closing prayer (dua e ikhtatamiah) with the posture below:

   Say Allaho Akbar and do the first sajdah of Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration) as mentioned below:

   Then say Allaho Akbar and set the below posture:

   Now again say Allaho Akbar and do the second sajdah of Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration) as mentioned below:

   After that, say Allaho Akbar and set the below posture:

   Now say Assalamoalaikum Warahma Tullah, as shown below, on both sides, first the right side and then the left side:

Case No. 2:

   After completing the prayer (salaah) or after performing salaam (the last step of salaah), then you remember your mistake, or you have any doubt that you made the mistake in the prayer (salaah), or someone is watching you while you are praying (salaah) and tells you about your mistake after you complete your prayer (salaah), like when you were supposed to pray four rak'aat but prayed three rak'aat, or like when you were late and joined the congregation (jamaat) after one rak'ah with the cleric (molvi), and by mistake you also performed salaam (the last step of salaah) with the cleric (molvi), and then you remembered that you had one rak'ah left and you completed the prayer (salaah) without performing that rak'ah. So in this case, the method of performing Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration) is different, and that is after completing the prayer (salaah), you have to perform that remaining rak'ah or rak'aat, or whatever the obligatory parts (waajib arkaan) of the prayer (salaah) you skipped or you have any doubt that you skipped; first complete it all, then perform salaam (the last step of salaah) on both sides, and then perform the Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration), and then again perform the salaam (the last step of salaah) on both sides.

Method:

   First complete the remaining rak'ah or rak'aat and then perform salaam (the last step of salaah) as shown below, on both sides, first the right side and then the left side:

   After that, set the below posture:

   Say Allaho Akbar and do the first sajdah of Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration) as mentioned below:

   Then say Allaho Akbar and set the below posture:

   Now again say Allaho Akbar and do the second sajdah of Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration) as mentioned below:

   Afetr that, say Allaho Akbar and set the below posture:

   Now say Assalamoalaikum Warahma Tullah, as shown below, on both sides, first the right side and then the left side:

Islamic Event in the Life of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW):

   It was narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah have mercy on him) that once Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) performed salaam (the last step of salaah) after two rak'aat, Zul-ya-Daien (may Allah have mercy on him) said to Him (SAW), ''Oh messenger of Allah (SAW)! Has the prayer (salaah) been shortened, or have You (SAW) forgotten?'' The Messenger of Allah (SAW) asked the people present over there, ''Is Zul-ya-Daien (may Allah have mercy on him) saying the correct thing?'' The people said, ''Yes,'' and then Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) stood up and prayed two more rak'aat that He (SAW) forgotten, then He (SAW) performed the salaam (the last step of salaah) and then said Allaho Akbar and did the Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration) longer than the normal sujood and then raised His (SAW) head to complete the prayer (salaah).

Reference: Bukhari 1228

Case No. 3:

   After completing the prayer (salaah) or after performing salaam (the last step of salaah), then you remember that you prayed extra step/ steps (rukun/ arkaan) like prostration (sajdah) or rak'ah, or you have any doubt that you prayed extra step/ steps (rukun/ arkaan), or someone is watching you while you are praying and tells you about your mistake after you complete your salaah, that you prayed extra step/ steps (rukun/ arkaan) like prostration (sajdah) or rak'ah, then in this case you just have to perform the Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration) after performing the salaam (the last step of salaah).

Method:

   After performing the salaam (the last step of salaah) as shown below, on both sides, first the right side and then the left side:

   Set the below posture:

   Now say Allaho Akbar and do the first sajdah of Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration) as mentioned below:

   After that, say Allaho Akbar and set the below posture:

   Now again say Allaho Akbar and do the second sajdah of Sajdah e Sahw (sahw prostration) as mentioned below:

   Then say Allaho Akbar and set the below posture:

   After that, say Assalamoalaikum Warahma Tullah, as shown below, on both sides, first the right side and then the left side: