Sahw Prostration: Difference between revisions

'''Sahw prostration''' (Arabic: {{ia|سجود السهو}}, sujūd al-sahw) or '''prostration of inadvertence''' refers to two [[prostration]]s 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 [[Taslim|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.

[[Jurist]]s 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 jurists, 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)<ref>Ṭūsī, ''al-Mabsūṭ'', vol. 1, p. 123.</ref>. [[Shi'a]] jurists have discussed about Sahw prostration and its rulings under the rulings of Sahw (inadvertent mistakes) and [[doubts of prayer]]<ref>See for instance: Ibn Idrīs al-Ḥillī, ''al-Sarāʾir'', vol. 1, p. 257.</ref>.

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<ref>Ṭūsī, ''al-Mabsūṭ'', vol. 1, p. 125.</ref>. Most Shi'a jurists believe that Sahw prostration does not begin with [[takbir]] (saying "Allah-u Akbar")<ref>Ḥillī, ''Qawaʿid al-aḥkām'', pp. 307-308; Banī Hāshimī Khumaynī, ''Tawḍīh al-masāʾil marājiʿ'', vol. 1, p. 674; Makārim Shīrāzī, ''Tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil'', p. 209; Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām'', vol. 12, p. 447.</ref>, but, according to [[al-Shaykh al-Tusi]]'s fatwa, one should say takbir before performing Sahw prostration<ref>Ṭūsī, ''al-Mabsūṭ'', vol. 1, p. 125.</ref>. [[Muhammad Hasan al-Najafi]] the author of ''[[Jawahir]]'' considered al-Shaykh al-Tusi's view weak<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām'', vol. 12, p. 448.</ref> and saying takbir is [[recommended]]<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām'', vol. 12, p. 442.</ref>.

== Dhikr of Sahw Prostration ==

Dhikr of Sahw prostration is different from dhikr of prostrations in [[daily prayers]]. In Sahw prostration, one of the following dhikrs are recited:

<center>{{ia|بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ وَ بِاللَّـهِ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیكَ اَیهَا النَّبِی وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّـهِ وَ بَرَکاتُهُ}}</center>

<center>Bism-i Allah wa bi Allah, Assalam-u alayk-a ayu-ha l-nabi wa rahmat Allah wa barakat-uh</center>

<center>{{ia|بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ وَ بِاللَّـهِ، اَللَّـهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ و آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ}}</center>

<center>Bism-i Allah wa bi Allah, Allah-umma salli ala Muhammad wa al-i Muhammad<ref>Ibn Idrīs al-Ḥillī, ''Ajwiba masāʾil wa rasāʾil'', p. 174.</ref></center>

<center>{{ia|بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ وَ بِاللَّـهِ وَ صَلَّی اللَّـهُ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ}}</center>

<center>Bism-i Allah wa bi Allah wa salla Allah ala Muhammad wa al-ih<ref>Ḥillī, ''Qawaʿid al-aḥkām'', p. 308; Banī Hāshimī Khumaynī, ''Tawḍīh al-masāʾil marājiʿ'', vol. 1, pp. 674-75.</ref></center>

According to the fatwa of most [[Shi'a]] [[jurists]], the time of Sahw prostration is after [[Taslim|Salam]] of the prayer. According to al-Shaykh al-Tusi, some [[Twelver]] jurists 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)<ref>Ṭūsī, ''al-Mabsūṭ'', vol. 1, p. 125.</ref>. [[Ibn al-Junayd al-Iskafi]], the jurist of the fourth/[[tenth century]] accepted this view<ref>Ibn Junayd al-Iskafī, ''Majmūʿat fatāwa Ibn Junayd'', p. 79.</ref>.

Shi'a jurists have different views about the cases when Sahw prostration becomes [[obligatory]]<ref>Ḥillī, ''Mukhtalaf al-shīʿa'', vol. 2, p. 423; Ṭūsī, ''al-Mabsūṭ'', vol. 1, pp. 123-25.</ref>. With regards to different fatwas, performing Sahw prostration is obligatory in four, five or six cases<ref>Ibn Idrīs al-Ḥillī, ''Ajwiba masāʾil wa rasāʾil'', p. 173.</ref>. According to the view of most scholars, Sahw prostration is obligatory or [[obligatory 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.

Some jurists added cases when the praying person inadvertently sits when he should stand or stands when he should sit to the above cases<ref>See: Ibn Idrīs al-Hilli,  ''Ajwiba masāʾil wa rasāʾil'', pp. 173-74; Makārim Shīrāzī, ''Tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil'', p. 208.</ref>. According to al-Shaykh al-Tusi, some Twelver jurists consider Sahw prostration obligatory in every case when anything is added or missed in the prayer (other than the foundational elements)<ref>Ṭūsī, ''al-Mabsūṭ'', vol. 1, pp. 124-25.</ref>. [[Al-Allama al-Hilli]] accepted this view<ref>Ḥillī, ''Qawaʿid al-aḥkām'', pp. 307-308.</ref>. Some [[religious authorities]] have considered this as recommended<ref>See: Makārim Shīrāzī, ''Tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil'', p. 208; Banī Hāshimī Khumaynī, ''Tawḍīh al-masāʾil marājiʿ'', vol. 1, pp. 669-72.</ref>.

* In Sahw prostration, all seven parts of body (parts of prostration) should be placed on the ground<ref>Ḥillī, ''Qawaʿid al-aḥkām'', p. 308.</ref>.

* There is a disagreement among [[jurist]]s whether [[purity]] and facing toward the [[qibla]] are among the requirements of Sahw prostration<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām'', vol. 12, p. 449.</ref>.

* Sahw prostration does not make up for missing foundational elements in the prayer<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''al-Muʾtalaf min al-mukhtalaf bayn Aʾimma al-salaf'', vol. 1, p. 153.</ref>.

* Sahw prostration is obligatory to be performed immediately; meaning that immediately after the end of the prayer<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām'', vol. 12, p. 455.</ref>, 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<ref>Ṭūsī, ''al-Mabsūṭ'', vol. 1, p. 123;Banī Hāshimī Khumaynī, ''Tawḍīh al-masāʾil marājiʿ'', vol. 1, p. 673.</ref>.