[Q 458]Sajda Sahw on the Basis of Doubt, Ruling of Prostration for Uncertainty, Doubtful Mistakes in Salah

QUESTION:

mufii sahab how is it to do sajda sahw based on a doubt such as it one think they may have done an extra sajda or may have made a mistake in atahayat by not saying a letter correctly and if they do sajda sahw for the benefit of the doubt

ANSWER:

Merely on the basis of doubt, Sajda Sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) does not become necessary until there is certainty or a strong assumption (ghalib zann) of such a mistake that would make Sajda Sahw obligatory. If someone performed Sajda Sahw merely due to doubt when in reality it was not necessary, then this is makrooh (disliked). However, the Salah will still be valid.

It should be remembered that if the Imam, merely on the basis of doubt, performed Sajda Sahw while in reality it was not necessary, then the Salah of the Imam and those followers who joined him from the very first rak‘ah will be valid. But for the masbuq (the follower who missed one or more rak‘ahs), the Salah will be invalid. This is because once the Imam ends his Salah with Salam after the Sajda Sahw, he has exited the Salah, while the masbuq is still in need of completing his Salah. Thus, it becomes as though he followed someone who was no longer in Salah.

It is stated in Radd al-Muhtar:

“لو سجد للسهو بلا سبب صحت صلاته وكان كالتطوع في الصلاة”
(Radd al-Muhtar, vol. 2, p. 93)

It is stated in Hidayah:

“والسهو في الصلاة زيادة او نقصان فاذا شك ولم يترجح عنده شيء لم يعمل بالشك”
(al-Hidayah, vol. 1, p. 120)

Imam Ibn al-Humam رحمہ الله تعالى writes:

“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”
(Fath al-Qadeer, Ibn al-Humam, 1/391)

Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رحمہ الله تعالى states:
“Unnecessarily performing Sajda Sahw is an addition in Salah and is forbidden, though the Salah will still be valid. However, if the Imam did it, then the Salah of a masbuq who followed him in that unnecessary Sajda Sahw will be invalid, because he has followed in a place where one should be praying individually.”

(Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 6, p. 328, Raza Foundation)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 28th September 2025