The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever has doubt during his prayer, let him prostrate twice." (One of the narrators) Hajjaj said: "After he has said the taslim." (Another of them) Rawh said: "While he is sitting."
The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)
Sunan an-Nasa'i 1251
Hadith Text
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever has doubt during his prayer, let him prostrate twice." (One of the narrators) Hajjaj said: "After he has said the taslim." (Another of them) Rawh said: "While he is sitting."
Scholarly Commentary
This noble hadith establishes the ruling for the prostrations of forgetfulness (sujud al-sahw) when a worshipper experiences doubt during prayer. The Prophet's command to prostrate twice refers to the two prostrations performed like regular prayer prostrations.
The differing narrations regarding timing - whether to perform them after the taslim (closing salutation) or while still sitting - represent valid scholarly opinions. Imam al-Nawawi explained that both are permissible, with the majority favoring performance before taslim. The wisdom behind these prostrations is to compensate for any deficiency or uncertainty in the prayer.
This ruling applies when one doubts the number of rak'ahs performed, whether one added or omitted something from the prayer. The prostrations serve as a means of seeking Allah's forgiveness for any inadvertent errors and perfecting the worship.
Legal Rulings
The prostrations of forgetfulness are Sunnah, not obligatory, according to the majority of scholars.
One should base their action on what they are more certain of regarding the number of rak'ahs, then perform the prostrations.
The takbir (saying "Allahu Akbar") is said when going down for and rising from these prostrations.
The tasleem (salutation) concludes the prayer after completing the prostrations of forgetfulness.