What is the prostration for forgetfulness, with examples?
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The questioner : In the last of her questions, she says: "May the Shaykh explain to us the prostration for forgetfulness, with examples?"
The Shaykh : The prostration for forgetfulness has one cause, which is one of three things: either an addition, a subtraction, or doubt. By addition here, we mean a physical addition. So, if a person bows twice in one unit of prayer out of forgetfulness, the prostration for forgetfulness becomes obligatory for him, and its place is after the closing salam, because it was due to an addition. And if a person prays five units in a four-unit prayer out of forgetfulness, his prayer is not invalidated, but the prostration for forgetfulness is upon him after the salam. And if a person stands up from the first sitting for the testification out of forgetfulness, his prayer is not invalidated, but the prostration for forgetfulness is upon him, and it is before the salam. And if a person leaves out saying "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High" in the prostration, or "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High" in the bowing, the prostration for forgetfulness becomes obligatory for him, and it is before the salam.
As for doubt, which is the third cause of the prostration for forgetfulness, it is hesitation, where a person hesitates whether he prayed three units or four. The ruling in that is that it is said: if the person is one who doubts frequently, such that he hardly prays a prayer without doubting in it, then his doubt is not considered, and he should ignore it and not pay attention to it. And if he is moderate, with no obsessive thoughts and no doubts, we look to see if something prevails in his opinion; if so, he should take what prevails in his opinion, complete his prayer accordingly, and then prostrate two prostrations after the salam. And if he says, "I have no prevailing opinion," we say: build upon the certainty, which is the lesser number, complete your prayer accordingly, and then prostrate before the salam.
An example of that is a man who doubts whether he prayed three units or four. So we said to him, "What prevails in your opinion?" He said, "It prevails in my opinion that it is three." We say, "Bring the fourth unit and prostrate after the salam."
Another person doubts whether he prayed three units or four. And we said to him, "What prevails in your opinion?" He said, "I have no prevailing opinion; the doubt is equal for me." We say, "Make it three, because it is the lesser number, then bring the fourth unit and prostrate two prostrations before the salam." Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : The prostration for forgetfulness has one cause, which is one of three things: either an addition, a subtraction, or doubt. By addition here, we mean a physical addition. So, if a person bows twice in one unit of prayer out of forgetfulness, the prostration for forgetfulness becomes obligatory for him, and its place is after the closing salam, because it was due to an addition. And if a person prays five units in a four-unit prayer out of forgetfulness, his prayer is not invalidated, but the prostration for forgetfulness is upon him after the salam. And if a person stands up from the first sitting for the testification out of forgetfulness, his prayer is not invalidated, but the prostration for forgetfulness is upon him, and it is before the salam. And if a person leaves out saying "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High" in the prostration, or "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High" in the bowing, the prostration for forgetfulness becomes obligatory for him, and it is before the salam.
As for doubt, which is the third cause of the prostration for forgetfulness, it is hesitation, where a person hesitates whether he prayed three units or four. The ruling in that is that it is said: if the person is one who doubts frequently, such that he hardly prays a prayer without doubting in it, then his doubt is not considered, and he should ignore it and not pay attention to it. And if he is moderate, with no obsessive thoughts and no doubts, we look to see if something prevails in his opinion; if so, he should take what prevails in his opinion, complete his prayer accordingly, and then prostrate two prostrations after the salam. And if he says, "I have no prevailing opinion," we say: build upon the certainty, which is the lesser number, complete your prayer accordingly, and then prostrate before the salam.
An example of that is a man who doubts whether he prayed three units or four. So we said to him, "What prevails in your opinion?" He said, "It prevails in my opinion that it is three." We say, "Bring the fourth unit and prostrate after the salam."
Another person doubts whether he prayed three units or four. And we said to him, "What prevails in your opinion?" He said, "I have no prevailing opinion; the doubt is equal for me." We say, "Make it three, because it is the lesser number, then bring the fourth unit and prostrate two prostrations before the salam." Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.