1. What is the ruling on someone who sat after the first رکعة in a four-rak'ah prayer, then remembered before tasbeeh and stood up to perform the prostration of forgetfulness (sujood al-sahw) before the tasleem? And is his action considered forgetfulness? 2. What is the ruling on someone who did not commit an act of forgetfulness with the Imam in the previous prayer but performed the prostration of forgetfulness with him? 3. What is the ruling on someone who did not commit an act of forgetfulness with the Imam and did not perform the prostration of forgetfulness with him, on the grounds that he did not commit an act of forgetfulness?
The Imam must perform the prostration of forgetfulness (sujud al-sahw) if he inadvertently adds something to his prayer, such as sitting in a place where he should have stood. The congregant (ma'mum) is required to follow his Imam in the prostration of forgetfulness, even if he himself did not err. If he intentionally fails to follow the Imam, knowing the ruling, his prayer becomes invalid. The prostration of forgetfulness can be performed either before or after the salutation (taslim).
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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