Is it obligatory for one who joins the prayer late (masbuq) to perform the two prostrations of forgetfulness (sujud al-sahw) due to his delay from the imam, even if the imam did not make a mistake?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The reason for the prostration of forgetfulness (sujūd as-sahw) is forgetfulness in prayer, whether due to an addition, a deficiency, or a doubt. As for one who joins the prayer late (masbūq), he only completes what he missed, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Whatever you catch, pray; and whatever you miss, complete." There is no basis for a latecomer to perform the prostration of forgetfulness merely because he joined late.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/11319
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 11319
- 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