If the imam stands for a fifth rak'ah in a four-rak'ah prayer due to forgetfulness, what is the ruling? And is his prostration for forgetfulness before or after the taslim?

The questioner : The imam in the Zuhr or 'Asr prayer, which is a four-rak'ah prayer, in the fourth rak'ah, instead of sitting for the tashahhud, he stood up for the fifth and straightened himself up. The praying people alerted him. What should he do?

The Shaykh : The important thing is whether he was alerted or not. If he was not alerted, there is no problem; his issue is resolved. But if he was alerted, he must return.

The questioner : Return?

The Shaykh: Ah.

The questioner : All right, and does he perform the prostration for forgetfulness?

The Shaykh : It is necessary.

The questioner : All right, is it before the taslim or after the taslim?

The Shaykh : He has a choice between the two. In all cases of prostration for forgetfulness, the person has a choice between prostrating before the taslim or after the taslim. The detail mentioned in some books, especially by the Hanbalis, that it is before the taslim for an addition and after the taslim for an omission, has no basis. Those who said this detail, note that some incidents fit this detail, but other incidents came that contradict this detail. Therefore, a person has a choice between saying the taslim and then prostrating, or not saying the taslim and prostrating, and then saying the taslim to exit the prayer.