What is the ruling on someone who caught the entire prayer with the Imam, and the Imam made a mistake and performed the prostration of forgetfulness (sujud al-sahw) after the final tashahhud and before the taslim (salaam), and the worshiper (ma'mum) did not catch the first prostration and the sitting between the two prostrations of the prostration of forgetfulness because he was completing the final tashahhud?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If the Imam performs the prostration of forgetfulness ( al-sahw), the congregant (ma'mum) must follow him, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, the Imam is appointed to be followed. So when he prostrates, then prostrate." If the congregant is in the final when the Imam performs the prostration of forgetfulness, he should complete his tashahhud, then join the Imam and prostrate with him. If the congregant only performs one prostration, he must repeat the prayer. However, if he performs two prostrations, he does not need to repeat the prayer.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/11153
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 11153
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy