Most-asked question

When is sajdah sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) needed?

68 fatawa in the archive answer questions on this, from 8 South African Darul Iftas (AskImam, Mufti Online, Jamiat KZN, Camperdown, Azaadville, Ibn Masood and others). Below, each Darul Ifta’s answer is quoted word for word from the opening of one of its fatawa.

Based on the fatawa linked below. Please read the sources and double-check with a Darul Ifta for your situation.

Consult a mufti for your situation. Fatawa SA is a read-only archive and issues no rulings of its own.

What the Darul Iftas say

“The preferred view in the Hanafi Madhab is that Sajdah Sahw should be performed after making a one-sided Salaam. After performing the two Sajdahs of Sajdah Sahw, one will recite Tashahud, Durood Ibraheem and the Dua after Durood. Thereafter, he will make Salaam.”

Ibn Masood — Forgetting To End Salaah With Sajdah Sahw · 12 Nov 2025

“Sajdah Sahw refers to an additional two Sajdahs performed at the end of Ṣalāh due to forgetfully not performing a Wājib act of Ṣalāh or delaying performing a Wājib or a Fardh act of Ṣalāh. The scholars have mentioned ten principal rulings of the mistakes which necessitate Sajdah Sahw:”

MUBZ — Sajdah Sahw · 6 Aug 2024

“In principle, Sajda Sahw becomes Wajib (necessary) when one unintentionally misses a Wajib act of salah. If one misses out multiple Wajib acts in Salah, that will necessitate only one Sajda Sahw.”

AskImam — Will one Sajda Sahw suffice for two mistakes? · 27 Dec 2021

“If a mistake which requires sajdah sahw occurs in salaah then after the tashahhud of the last rakaat, make one salaam to the right and make two sajdahs. Thereafter come back to the sitting position and recite the tashahhud etc. and complete the salaah as normal.”

Mufti Online — Method of performing sajdah sahw · 21 Sep 2019

Quotes are the opening words of each answer as published; the full answer, its conditions and references are on the fatwa page. Answers depend on the exact details of each question.

Read the fatawa

  1. Forgetting To End Salaah With Sajdah Sahw Ibn Masood · 12 Nov 2025
  2. Hanafi Omitting Tashahhud After Sajdah Sahw While Following a Shafi Imam Camperdown · 21 Oct 2025
  3. Sajdah Sahw MUBZ · 6 Aug 2024
  4. Is Sajdah Sahw necessary if one recited Durood Ibrahim after Tashahud in Qa’dah Ula? AskImam · 9 Dec 2022
  5. Sitting for tashahhud in the first rakaat of Zuhr Salaah and making sajdah sahw Mufti Online · 17 Sep 2022
  6. Sajdah Sahw For Error in Qiraat Azaadville · 10 Jul 2021
  7. Unnecessary Sajdah Sahw Jamiat KZN · 19 Dec 2017
  8. Sajda Sahw! DU Newcastle · 23 Jan 2016
  9. Taraweeh Salaah-Sajdah Sahw Camperdown · 10 Mar 2025
  10. Changing the order of Surahs in Salah - Do i have to make Sajdah Sahw? AskImam · 6 Sep 2022
  11. Method of performing sajdah sahw Mufti Online · 21 Sep 2019
  12. Sajda Sahw (2/2) Jamiat KZN · 31 May 2013
  13. Performing Sajdah Sahw behind the Imam AskImam · 25 Aug 2022
  14. Method of sajdah sahw Mufti Online · 9 Dec 2018
  15. Will one Sajda Sahw suffice for two mistakes? AskImam · 27 Dec 2021

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