Are verbal additions in prayer compensated for by the prostration of forgetfulness, and what is the ruling on prayers in which verbal additions were made but the prostration of forgetfulness was not performed?
The questioner must clarify the nature of the addition to the prayer and whether it was intentional or by忘れ (inadvertently). If the verbal addition was of a kind not prescribed in prayer (such as human speech), then intentionally doing so invalidates the prayer, and one prostrates for its inadvertence. However, if the addition was of something prescribed in prayer (such as recitation during bowing), then intentionally doing so does not invalidate the prayer, and one prostrates for it as a recommended act. Prostration of forgetfulness (sujud al-sahw) is not prescribed for adding a remembrance or supplication not found in the Sharia for prayer. If the addition invalidates the prayer (such as adding speech or the salutation intentionally before completing it), then the prayer must be made up. However, if the addition is one for which prostration of forgetfulness is prescribed, and one did not prostrate for it, not every prostration of forgetfulness that is omitted invalidates the prayer; for the recommended prostration of forgetfulness, the prayer is not invalidated by its omission, whereas some scholars hold that the prayer is invalidated by intentionally omitting the obligatory prostration of forgetfulness.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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