Is what the worshiper did, in performing the prostration of forgetfulness (sujood al-sahw) and considering the three rak'ahs as Witr, after forgetting a rak'ah in Tarawih prayer and then being reminded by his wife, correct? Or should he have completed the prayer and performed Witr as a single rak'ah?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Prostration of forgetfulness ( al-sahw) is valid for an accidental addition of a rak'ah, and the prayer becomes nullified by intentionally adding one. However, what you did does not suffice for Witr prayer, because it requires a specific intention when commencing it, and this did not occur. You were not obliged to act on your wife's statement regarding the addition of a rak'ah unless you became certain of it, in which case you would act upon your certainty.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/183846
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 183846
- 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