What is the ruling on the prostration for forgetfulness if both an addition and an omission occur in the prayer?
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The questioner : The imam forgot in the Zuhr prayer and stood up in the fourth rak'ah, intending to perform a fifth rak'ah out of forgetfulness. One of the ma'mums said, "Subhan Allah," so he sat down for the final tashahhud, then he said the taslim and did not perform the prostration for forgetfulness until after he had said the first taslim. Then, after prostrating once for forgetfulness, he said the taslim again.
The Shaykh : That is, he prostrated after the first taslim, and then...
The questioner : He said the first taslim out of forgetfulness.
The Shaykh : Yes. First, we must know that if the forgetfulness involves an addition, the place for the prostration is after the taslim. The wisdom behind this is so that two additions do not occur in the prayer: the addition he made and the prostration itself. In this case mentioned by the questioner, he stood up for a fifth rak'ah, was reminded, returned, and recited the tashahhud. We say: say the taslim first, then prostrate after the taslim and say the taslim again. But what do you say if someone says the taslim from his prayer before it is completed, and then he remembers and completes it? Does he prostrate before the taslim or after the taslim? What is the question? Yes, what is the question? You are far from me, and there is not a single person between us? Who knows the question? Yes.
The student: The question is that...
The Shaykh : A man said the taslim before completing the prayer.
The student: The prayer, and then...
The Shaykh : Then he remembered and completed the prayer. Does he prostrate after the taslim...
The student: Before the taslim or after the taslim?
The Shaykh : Well done. Who knows the answer? Yes.
The student: After the salam.
The Shaykh : He prostrates after the taslim. Now, if someone says this is an omission...
The student: It is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he did this.
The Shaykh : Well done. That is complete. May Allah bless you. This is convincing for every Muslim. But if someone says this undermines the rule you stated that the prostration is after the taslim for an addition, yes?
The student: We say because he added at the end of the prayer...
The Shaykh : Well done. We say that this man, in reality, made an addition. It is true that he said the taslim before completing it, which is an omission, but did he complete it or not? He completed it; he brought the remaining parts. Therefore, there is an addition in his prayer. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prostrated after the taslim.
The Shaykh : That is, he prostrated after the first taslim, and then...
The questioner : He said the first taslim out of forgetfulness.
The Shaykh : Yes. First, we must know that if the forgetfulness involves an addition, the place for the prostration is after the taslim. The wisdom behind this is so that two additions do not occur in the prayer: the addition he made and the prostration itself. In this case mentioned by the questioner, he stood up for a fifth rak'ah, was reminded, returned, and recited the tashahhud. We say: say the taslim first, then prostrate after the taslim and say the taslim again. But what do you say if someone says the taslim from his prayer before it is completed, and then he remembers and completes it? Does he prostrate before the taslim or after the taslim? What is the question? Yes, what is the question? You are far from me, and there is not a single person between us? Who knows the question? Yes.
The student: The question is that...
The Shaykh : A man said the taslim before completing the prayer.
The student: The prayer, and then...
The Shaykh : Then he remembered and completed the prayer. Does he prostrate after the taslim...
The student: Before the taslim or after the taslim?
The Shaykh : Well done. Who knows the answer? Yes.
The student: After the salam.
The Shaykh : He prostrates after the taslim. Now, if someone says this is an omission...
The student: It is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he did this.
The Shaykh : Well done. That is complete. May Allah bless you. This is convincing for every Muslim. But if someone says this undermines the rule you stated that the prostration is after the taslim for an addition, yes?
The student: We say because he added at the end of the prayer...
The Shaykh : Well done. We say that this man, in reality, made an addition. It is true that he said the taslim before completing it, which is an omission, but did he complete it or not? He completed it; he brought the remaining parts. Therefore, there is an addition in his prayer. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prostrated after the taslim.