What is the correct ruling regarding the prostration of forgetfulness (sujud al-sahw) for someone who doubted in their prayer and based their action on what they most likely presumed, then became certain that they did not make a mistake, or for someone who doubted and then became certain that they did not make a mistake? And what must a worshipper do when a sudden doubt occurs during their prayer?
1. If a worshiper who is not prone to excessive doubt (waswās) doubts a deficiency in their prayer, their doubt is considered as certainty of the deficiency. They should complete what they doubted was missing and perform the prostration of forgetfulness (sujud al-sahw) after the salām.
2. If a worshiper doubts, then reflects and becomes certain that they did not make a mistake, there is no prostration of forgetfulness upon them according to the predominant view in the Maliki madhhab. It is also said that they should prostrate.
3. If a worshiper is prone to excessive doubt (muwaswis), they should act upon their dominant assumption and perform the prostration of forgetfulness after the salām as a recommended act, and they should cast aside the obsessive doubt.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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