When is the prostration for forgetfulness performed before the closing salam, and when is it performed after it?
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The questioner : He asks about the prostration for forgetfulness: when is it performed before the closing salam, and when is it performed after the closing salam?
The Shaykh : The prostration for forgetfulness.
The questioner : In the prayer.
The Shaykh : It is performed before the closing salam in two cases.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The first case is when one adds to the prayer, such as bowing twice, prostrating three times, sitting in a place where one should be standing, standing in a place where one should be sitting, praying five rak'ahs in a four-rak'ah prayer, or saying the closing salam before completing the prayer and then remembering and completing it. The key point is that whenever it is due to an addition, it is after the closing salam. The evidence for this is the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed one of the two prayers, either the midday or the afternoon prayer, for two rak'ahs, then said the closing salam. They reminded him, so he completed the prayer and said the closing salam, then prostrated two prostrations after the closing salam and said the closing salam.
And the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed five rak'ahs. When he said the closing salam, they said: "O Messenger of Allah! Did you add to the prayer?" He said: They said: "You prayed five rak'ahs." So he bent his legs and prostrated two prostrations. This is the case where, if one adds to the prayer, the prostration for forgetfulness is performed after the closing salam.
And the second case is when one is in doubt and one of the two possibilities is more likely in his mind; in that case, he prostrates after the closing salam. An example of this is: if he doubts whether this is the third or the second rak'ah, and the third is more likely in his mind, he completes the prayer based on it being the third and prostrates after the closing salam. If he doubts whether it is the third or the second, and the second is more likely in his mind, he completes the prayer based on it being the second and prostrates after the closing salam.
The prostration is performed before the closing salam in two cases as well. The first case is in the case of omission, specifically when an obligatory element of the prayer is omitted, such as if one forgets the first tashahhud or forgets to glorify Allah in the bowing or in the prostration; in that case, he prostrates before the closing salam.
And the second case is when one is in doubt and neither possibility is more likely in his mind; in that case, he builds upon the lesser number because that is what he is certain of, and he prostrates for forgetfulness before the closing salam. So if he doubts whether he is in the second or the third rak'ah, meaning whether he is in the second or the third rak'ah, without either possibility being more likely in his mind, he considers it to be the second and completes the prayer based on that, then prostrates before the closing salam.
And with this, we have come to know that the prostration for forgetfulness is after the closing salam in two cases: when one adds, and when one is in doubt and one of the two possibilities is more likely in his mind, in which case he builds upon what is more likely and prostrates after the closing salam. And that it is before the closing salam in two cases: in the case of omission, and when one is in doubt and neither possibility is more likely in his mind, in which case he builds upon the lesser number because that is certainty, and he prostrates for forgetfulness before the closing salam. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. Regarding his second question.
The Shaykh : The prostration for forgetfulness.
The questioner : In the prayer.
The Shaykh : It is performed before the closing salam in two cases.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The first case is when one adds to the prayer, such as bowing twice, prostrating three times, sitting in a place where one should be standing, standing in a place where one should be sitting, praying five rak'ahs in a four-rak'ah prayer, or saying the closing salam before completing the prayer and then remembering and completing it. The key point is that whenever it is due to an addition, it is after the closing salam. The evidence for this is the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed one of the two prayers, either the midday or the afternoon prayer, for two rak'ahs, then said the closing salam. They reminded him, so he completed the prayer and said the closing salam, then prostrated two prostrations after the closing salam and said the closing salam.
And the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed five rak'ahs. When he said the closing salam, they said: "O Messenger of Allah! Did you add to the prayer?" He said:
And what is that?
وما ذاك؟And the second case is when one is in doubt and one of the two possibilities is more likely in his mind; in that case, he prostrates after the closing salam. An example of this is: if he doubts whether this is the third or the second rak'ah, and the third is more likely in his mind, he completes the prayer based on it being the third and prostrates after the closing salam. If he doubts whether it is the third or the second, and the second is more likely in his mind, he completes the prayer based on it being the second and prostrates after the closing salam.
The prostration is performed before the closing salam in two cases as well. The first case is in the case of omission, specifically when an obligatory element of the prayer is omitted, such as if one forgets the first tashahhud or forgets to glorify Allah in the bowing or in the prostration; in that case, he prostrates before the closing salam.
And the second case is when one is in doubt and neither possibility is more likely in his mind; in that case, he builds upon the lesser number because that is what he is certain of, and he prostrates for forgetfulness before the closing salam. So if he doubts whether he is in the second or the third rak'ah, meaning whether he is in the second or the third rak'ah, without either possibility being more likely in his mind, he considers it to be the second and completes the prayer based on that, then prostrates before the closing salam.
And with this, we have come to know that the prostration for forgetfulness is after the closing salam in two cases: when one adds, and when one is in doubt and one of the two possibilities is more likely in his mind, in which case he builds upon what is more likely and prostrates after the closing salam. And that it is before the closing salam in two cases: in the case of omission, and when one is in doubt and neither possibility is more likely in his mind, in which case he builds upon the lesser number because that is certainty, and he prostrates for forgetfulness before the closing salam. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. Regarding his second question.