Cases of the prostration for forgetfulness and when it is performed

Question:
After that, we move on to a message sent by a questioner to the program, who used the code name Abu Ahmad. He says: Tell us about the prostration for forgetfulness. When is it performed before the closing salam, and when is it performed after it?

Answer:
The recommended practice for the prostration for forgetfulness is to perform it before the closing salam, because it is part of the prayer. So the recommended practice is to do it before the salam. This is the recommended practice, except in two cases:
The first is if one says the salam while missing a rak'ah or more, and then is reminded or remembers; he completes his prayer, says the salam, and then performs the prostration for forgetfulness. This is what happened to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the incident of the man with the two hands. He completed the prayer, then said the salam, then performed the prostration for forgetfulness—(peace and blessings be upon him). This is the best course. If he prostrates before the salam, it suffices, but this is the best: if he says the salam while missing a rak'ah or more, and then is reminded or remembers, and makes up what he owes, he completes the prayer, says the salam, and then performs two prostrations for forgetfulness. He says takbir and prostrates, raises his head and says takbir. He says takbir when prostrating, when raising his head, when prostrating the second time, and when raising his head, and then he says the salam.
The second case is if one builds his prayer on his predominant assumption. If he builds on his predominant assumption, the prostration is performed after the salam. This is the best, based on what is established in the authentic hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is how it came in al-Bukhari. So if one is in doubt about three or four rak'ahs, or if it is predominant in his mind that it is four, and he completes it as four, his prostration after the salam is better.
And so it is in Fajr and Maghrib if one builds on his predominant assumption. He prays and is confused about whether the rak'ah he is in is the first or the second in Fajr, and it is predominant in his mind that it is the second; he completes it and performs the prostration for forgetfulness after the salam.
And so it is in Maghrib if he is in doubt after the second rak'ah, whether he is in the third or the second, and it is predominant in his mind that it is the third; he completes it and performs the prostration for forgetfulness after the salam.
The point is: if one has built on his predominant assumption, the prostration for forgetfulness is performed after the salam in all five prayers. But if he has no doubt and builds on certainty, the prostration is performed before the salam. This is the best. He prostrates twice before saying the salam if he builds on certainty. But if he builds on his predominant assumption, the best is for his prostration to be after the salam. If he prostrates before the salam, there is no blame on him. Yes.

The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence the Shaykh.