The Prostration for Forgetfulness: Is It Before or After the Closing Salam?
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The questioner : Abdullah al-Falaj from Buraydah says: The prostration for forgetfulness, O honorable Shaykh, is it before or after the closing salam?
The Shaykh : The prostration for forgetfulness is performed both before and after the closing salam. If it is due to the omission of an obligatory act, it is performed before the salam. For example, if one forgets the first tashahhud and stands up until he is fully standing, he does not go back, but rather prostrates before the salam. Likewise, if he forgets to say "Subhan Rabbi al-Azim" (Glory be to my Lord, the Supreme) during ruku' or forgets to say "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) during sujud, he prostrates before the salam. If it is due to an addition, he prostrates after the salam. For instance, if he bows twice in one rak'ah, that is an addition; if he does so out of forgetfulness, he prostrates after the salam. If he adds a rak'ah, that is an addition; if he does so out of forgetfulness, he prostrates after the salam. This is how the Sunnah came.
As for when the prostration is due to doubt, if he has a stronger inclination, he acts on the stronger position and prostrates after the salam. If he has no stronger inclination, he acts on what is certain, which is the lesser number, and prostrates before the salam.
An example of this is a man in the third rak'ah who doubts whether it is the third or the second, but he is inclined to think it is the third. Let him complete the prayer based on that, then say the salam, and prostrate for forgetfulness after the salam.
A man in the third rak'ah doubts whether it is the second or the third, and neither the third nor the second is stronger in his mind. Let him consider it the second, because that is what is certain, complete the prayer based on that, and prostrate before the salam. Yes.
The questioner : Yes, O Shaykh. May Allah reward you. He says: If I hear the caller calling for prayer and I am in the middle of...
The Shaykh : But here is an issue.
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Regarding the congregation: If a person prays with a congregation and the imam's prostration for forgetfulness is after the salam, then when his imam says the salam and he still has part of his prayer remaining, he stands up and performs what remains of his prayer. When the prayer is finished, if he caught up with the imam in the forgetfulness for which the imam prostrated, let him prostrate with two prostrations after the salam. If the imam forgot before he joined him, then there is no prostration required of him. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : The prostration for forgetfulness is performed both before and after the closing salam. If it is due to the omission of an obligatory act, it is performed before the salam. For example, if one forgets the first tashahhud and stands up until he is fully standing, he does not go back, but rather prostrates before the salam. Likewise, if he forgets to say "Subhan Rabbi al-Azim" (Glory be to my Lord, the Supreme) during ruku' or forgets to say "Subhan Rabbi al-A'la" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) during sujud, he prostrates before the salam. If it is due to an addition, he prostrates after the salam. For instance, if he bows twice in one rak'ah, that is an addition; if he does so out of forgetfulness, he prostrates after the salam. If he adds a rak'ah, that is an addition; if he does so out of forgetfulness, he prostrates after the salam. This is how the Sunnah came.
As for when the prostration is due to doubt, if he has a stronger inclination, he acts on the stronger position and prostrates after the salam. If he has no stronger inclination, he acts on what is certain, which is the lesser number, and prostrates before the salam.
An example of this is a man in the third rak'ah who doubts whether it is the third or the second, but he is inclined to think it is the third. Let him complete the prayer based on that, then say the salam, and prostrate for forgetfulness after the salam.
A man in the third rak'ah doubts whether it is the second or the third, and neither the third nor the second is stronger in his mind. Let him consider it the second, because that is what is certain, complete the prayer based on that, and prostrate before the salam. Yes.
The questioner : Yes, O Shaykh. May Allah reward you. He says: If I hear the caller calling for prayer and I am in the middle of...
The Shaykh : But here is an issue.
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Regarding the congregation: If a person prays with a congregation and the imam's prostration for forgetfulness is after the salam, then when his imam says the salam and he still has part of his prayer remaining, he stands up and performs what remains of his prayer. When the prayer is finished, if he caught up with the imam in the forgetfulness for which the imam prostrated, let him prostrate with two prostrations after the salam. If the imam forgot before he joined him, then there is no prostration required of him. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.