[Q 420] Unnecessary Sajdah Sahw in Jama’ah Impact on Masbuq, When Sajdah Was Not Wajib, Ruling on Extra Sajdah Sahw

QUESTION:

If someone reads Subḥāna Rabbiyal-‘Aẓīm in sajdah forgetfully and there isn’t any sajdah sahw for this but he does sajdah sahw; what’s the ruling for this namaz?
An imam asked me about this.
It happened during jamā‘ah (congregational prayer).

ANSWER:

If sajdah sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) is done in namaz despite it not being wājib (obligatory), then intentionally doing it is prohibited (mamnu‘). In a congregational prayer (jamā‘ah), extra caution is needed because if sajdah sahw was not wājib, but the Imam still performed it either due to ignorance of the ruling or thinking it was required, then in this case the prayer of the Imam and those followers (muqtadis) who were with him from the first rak‘ah will be valid. However, the prayer of a masbūq (latecomer who joined after missing one or more rak‘ahs) will become invalid. This is because when sajdah sahw was not necessary, the Imam exited the prayer as soon as he turned his head to the right for salām after the sajdah, and his prayer was complete. But the masbūq, who still had rak‘ahs left to complete, continued to follow someone who was no longer in prayer. Since he was following someone whose following was no longer valid, his prayer is nullified.

Therefore, an Imam must have sound knowledge of such issues. If this kind of error happens, the Imam is obliged to announce to the congregation that the masbūqīn (latecomers) need to repeat their prayer.

However, if the masbūq does not know that the Imam’s sajdah sahw was unnecessary, then his prayer will be valid. But once he learns the reality, he must repeat it.

Imam Ibn al-Humām رحمه الله تعالى says:

ولو ظن الإمام أن عليه سهوا فسجد وتابعه المسبوق ثم علم أن لا سهو عليه فيه روايتان، وبناء عليهما اختلف المشايخ. وأشبههما فساد صلاة المسبوق. والأصل أنه إذا اقتدى في موضع الانفراد أو انفرد في موضع الاقتداء تفسد

(Fatḥ al-Qadīr, Vol. 1, Pg. 391)

Allāmah Ibn Nujaym al-Miṣrī رحمه الله تعالى writes:

بخلاف المسبوق إذا تابع الإمام في سجود السهو ثم تبين أنه لم يكن على الإمام سهو حيث تفسد صلاة المسبوق لكونه اقتدى في موضع الانفراد لا لزيادة السجدتين ولم يوجد في اللاحق لأنه مقتد في جميع ما يؤدي كذا في البدائع وفصل في المحيط بين أن يعلم أنه ليس على إمامه سهو فيفيد وبين أن لا يعلم أنه لم يكن عليه فلا يفسد لأن كثيرا ما يقع لجهلة الأئمة فسقط اعتبار المفسد هنا للضرورة

(Al-Baḥr al-Rā’iq, Vol. 2, Pg. 108)

He further says:

والأصل أنه إذا اقتدى في موضع الانفراد أو انفرد في موضع الاقتداء تفسد

(Al-Baḥr al-Rā’iq, Vol. 1, Pg. 402)

Sayyidī Imām Ahl-e-Sunnat Ahmad Raza Khan رحمه الله تعالى was asked whether the prayer is valid if sajdah sahw is done without actual forgetfulness. He replied

“An unnecessary sajdah sahw is an addition in the prayer and is prohibited, but the prayer will still be valid. However, if the person is an Imam and the masbuq (latecomer) joined him in that unnecessary sajdah, then the masbuq’s prayer is invalid, because he followed in a place where independent action was required.”

(Fatāwā Rizwiyyah Sharīf, Vol. 6, Pg. 328)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 4th July 2025.