Sajda Sahw (Prostration of Forgetfulness)

What Is Sajda Sahw?

Sajda Sahw, meaning the "prostration of forgetfulness," consists of two additional prostrations performed to correct specific mistakes made during prayer — such as forgetting a pillar, adding an extra rak'ah, or having doubt about the number of rak'ahs prayed.

When Is It Performed?

Depending on the type of mistake, Sajda Sahw may be performed either before or after the final Salam. A common approach: if extra actions were added, the two prostrations are performed after Salam; if something was omitted, they are typically performed before Salam.

Why It Exists

Sajda Sahw reflects the practical, forgiving nature of Islamic worship — human error during prayer does not invalidate the entire Salah. Instead, a simple correction restores completeness to the prayer without requiring it to be repeated from the beginning.