Sahw Prostration: Difference between revisions

Sahw prostration [prostration of inadvertence] refers to two prostrations which are performed after the end of the prayer as a compensation for some mistakes during the prayer. Sahw prostration should be performed immediately after Salam of the prayer and after the second prostration, performing tashahhud and Salam is necessary. Dhikr of Sahw prostration is different from the dhikr in prostrations in the prayer.

Fiqh scholars have different views regarding what entails obligatory Sahw prostration. Speaking during the prayer inadvertently, forgetting one prostration during the prayer and saying salam inadvertently where it should not be said are among cases when performing Sahw prostration becomes obligatory.

According to the fatwa of fiqh scholars, to make up for some mistakes during the prayer, the praying person should perform two prostrations which are called Sahw prostration (prostration for inadvertent mistakes). Shi’a fiqh scholars have discussed about Sahw prostration and its rulings under the rulings of Sahw (inadvertent mistakes) and doubts of prayer.

The method of performing Sahw prostration is that immediately after the end of the prayer, the praying person should perform two prostrations with the intention of Sahw prostration in which special dhikr should be said and after the second prostration, he should recite tashahhud and Salam again. Most Shi’a fiqh scholars believe that Sahw prostration does not begin with takbir (saying “Allah-u Akbar”), but, according to Shaykh Tusi’s fatwa, one should say takbir before performing Sahw prostration. The author of Jawahir considered Shaykh Tusi’s view weak and saying takbir recommended.

 

According to the fatwa of most Shi’a fiqh scholars, the time of Sahw prostration is after Salam of the prayer. According to Shaykh Tusi, some Twelver fiqh scholars consider the time of Sahw prostration before Salam of the prayer if Sahw prostration is due to a defect (missing something from the elements of the prayer). Ibn Junayd Iskafi, the fiqh scholar of 4th century AH accepted this view.

Shi’a fiqh scholars have different views about the cases when Sahw prostration becomes obligatory. With regards to different fatwas, performing Sahw prostration is obligatory in four, five or six cases. According to the view of most scholars, Sahw prostration is obligatory or obligatory based on caution, in the following five cases:

- Speaking inadvertently during the prayer

- Missing one prostration

- Having doubt in four-rak’a prayer whether four or five rak’a is performed

- Saying Salam inadvertently when it should not be said. For example, if in the second rak’a of a four rak’a prayer, the praying person also recites Salam after Tashahhud by mistake.

- Missing Tashahhud

Some fiqh scholars added cases when the praying person inadvertently sits when he should stand or stands when he should sit to the above cases.

According to Shaykh Tusi, some Twelver fiqh scholars consider Sahw prostration obligatory in every case when anything is added or missed in the prayer (other than the foundational elements). ‘Allama Hilli accepted this view. Some religious authorities have considered this as recommended.

- In Sahw prostration, all seven parts of body (parts of prostration) should be placed on the ground.

- Sahw prostration is obligatory to be performed immediately; meaning that immediately after the end of the prayer, it has to be performed. But, a person who has forgotten to perform Sahw prostration, does not have to perform the prayer again; but, he only has to perform Sahw prostration and it does not miss its obligation by passing time.