If the imam doubts whether he sat for the first tashahhud while in the middle of the third or fourth rak'ah, and the ma'mum did not recite the tasbih, is sujud al-sahw obligatory upon him?
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The questioner : If the imam doubts whether he sat for the first tashahhud while in the middle of the third or fourth rak'ah, and the ma'mum did not recite the tasbih, is sujud al-sahw obligatory upon him or not?
The Shaykh : If the imam doubts that he left out the first tashahhud.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He has doubted whether he left out an obligatory act, whether he performed it or not. The scholars have differed on this issue, namely, if a worshipper doubts whether he left out an obligatory act, such as the first tashahhud or the tasbih in ruku' or sujud, is sujud al-sahw obligatory upon him or not? Some scholars said that sujud al-sahw is not obligatory upon him, explaining this by saying that he has doubted the cause for the obligation of prostration, and the original state is the absence of the cause.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Others held that sujud al-sahw is obligatory upon him if he doubts that he left out an obligatory act, meaning if he doubts whether he recited the tasbih or not, or whether he performed the first tashahhud or not, then it is obligatory upon him to prostrate for forgetfulness. They explained this by saying that the original state is the non-performance of this obligatory act, and if the original state is the non-performance of this obligatory act, then sujud al-sahw is obligatory upon him to compensate for what was lacking. This opinion is more correct and more cautious because its explanation is stronger and because it is more purifying for the conscience.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : If the imam doubts that he left out the first tashahhud.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He has doubted whether he left out an obligatory act, whether he performed it or not. The scholars have differed on this issue, namely, if a worshipper doubts whether he left out an obligatory act, such as the first tashahhud or the tasbih in ruku' or sujud, is sujud al-sahw obligatory upon him or not? Some scholars said that sujud al-sahw is not obligatory upon him, explaining this by saying that he has doubted the cause for the obligation of prostration, and the original state is the absence of the cause.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Others held that sujud al-sahw is obligatory upon him if he doubts that he left out an obligatory act, meaning if he doubts whether he recited the tasbih or not, or whether he performed the first tashahhud or not, then it is obligatory upon him to prostrate for forgetfulness. They explained this by saying that the original state is the non-performance of this obligatory act, and if the original state is the non-performance of this obligatory act, then sujud al-sahw is obligatory upon him to compensate for what was lacking. This opinion is more correct and more cautious because its explanation is stronger and because it is more purifying for the conscience.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.