The Rules of Forgetfulness (sahw) in Prayer

'O’ Messenger of Allah (sw), I complain to you about the whispers (waswasah) I experience during my prayers, to the point that I no longer comprehend what I have prayed, whether I have added something or omitted something.' The Messenger of Allah (sw) responded: 'When you enter into your prayer, strike your left thigh with your right index finger, then say: "In the name of Allah (swt), and with Allah (swt), I place my trust in Allah (swt). I seek refuge with Allah (swt), the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from the accursed Devil." By doing this, you will strike him and ward him off, and he will be driven away from you.'".

"I complained to Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about my forgetfulness during the Maghrib prayer. Imam (as) said: 'Pray it by reciting 'Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad' (Surah Al-Ikhlas) and Say, O’ disbelievers (Surah Al-Kafirun).' So, I did as he instructed, and it took away my forgetfulness”. [REFERENCES] Man La Yahduruhu Al-Faqih, Vol. 1, p. 338 • Falah Al-Sael, Part 1, p. 229 • Al-Wafi, Vol. 8, p. 1003 • Wasail Us Shia, Vol. 8, p. 236 • Bihar Al Anwar, Vol. 85, p. 230 • Tafsir Nur Al-Thaqalayn, Part 5, p. 687

A man came to the Prophet (sw) and said: 'O’ Messenger of Allah (sw), I am experiencing great distress due to the whispers in my chest, and I am a man who is a caretaker, in debt, and in need.' The Prophet (sw) said to him: 'Repeat these words: "I place my trust in the Ever-Living, Who does not die," and "Praise be to Allah (swt), Who did not take a wife or a son, and Who has no partner in His kingdom, nor a helper in His humiliation," and magnify Him with great magnification.' The man said that shortly afterward, he returned to the Prophet (sw) and said: 'O’ Messenger of Allah (sw), Allah (swt) has removed the whispers from my chest, settled my debt, and expanded my sustenance.'"

Hadith.987 - In the narration of Abdullah ibn al-Mughira, it is said: "There is no harm if a man counts his prayers using his ring or by using pebbles that he holds in his hand and counts with them."

Hadith.988 - Imam al-Ridha (as) said: "If you experience frequent distraction (waswasah) during your prayer, continue with your prayer and do not repeat it."

"If you experience frequent distraction (waswasah), ignore it, for it will soon leave you. It is only from Satan”.

Hadith.990 - In the narration of Ibn Abi Umayr, from Muhammad ibn Abi Hamza said: "The Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: 'If a man is one who forgets or becomes distracted in every third part of his prayer, then he is among those for whom distractions are frequent.'"

"Recitation (qira'ah) is a Sunnah, and the testimony (tashahhud) is a Sunnah, and the Sunnah does not invalidate the obligatory act (fardh)”. COMPEV والأصل في السهو أن من سها في الركعتين الأولتين من كل صلاة فعليه الإعادة ومن شك في المغرب فعليه الإعادة، ومن شك في الغداة فعليه الإعادة، ومن شك في الجمعة فعليه الإعادة، ومن شك في الثانية والثالثة أو في الثالثة والرابعة أخذ بالأكثر، فإذا سلم أتم ما ظن أنه قد نقص. The general rule regarding forgetfulness (Sahw) is that if someone forgets in the first two rak'ahs of any prayer, they must repeat the prayer. If someone doubts during the Maghrib prayer, they must repeat it. If someone doubts during the Fajr prayer, they must repeat it. If someone doubts during the Jumu’ah prayer, they must repeat it. However, in the second and third rak'ahs, or in the third and fourth rak'ahs, they should follow the majority (what they believe is more likely correct). After concluding the prayer, they should complete what they think may have been missing.

Hadith.992 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said to Ammar ibn Musa: "O’ Ammar, I will sum up all forgetfulness for you in two words: Whenever you are in doubt, follow the majority (the greater number). When you finish your prayer, complete what you thought you may have missed”.

Hadith.993 - The meaning of the narration that was reported: "The jurist (faqih) does not repeat the prayer,"

Hadith.994 - The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "The two prostrations of forgetfulness (Sajdah al-Sahw) are after the Tasleem (salutation) and before speaking."

Hadith.995 - As for the narration of Safwan ibn Mehran al-Jammal from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) that He said: "I asked him about the two prostrations of forgetfulness (Sajdat al-Sahw), Imam (as) said: 'If you have made a mistake by reducing something in your prayer, then [perform the prostrations] before the Tasleem. But if you have added something, then [perform the prostrations] after the Tasleem.'"

Hadith.996 – Ammar al-Sabati asked him about the two prostrations of forgetfulness (Sajdat al-Sahw), and whether there is any Takbir (saying "Allahu Akbar") or Tasbih (glorification) in them. He (Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq) replied: "No, they are simply two prostrations. If the one who forgot is the Imam, then he should say Takbir when he prostrates and when he raises his head, so that those behind him know that he has made a mistake. There is no need for him to say Tasbih in them, and there is no need for any Tashahhud (testification) after the two prostrations."

Bismillah wa billah, wa salla Allahu ‘ala Muhammad wa Aali Muhammad In the name of Allah and by Allah, and may Allah send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad. He said: "And I heard him say another time: Bismillah wa billah, as-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh In the name of Allah and by Allah, peace be upon you, O’ Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.”

"A person does not forget the Takbira al-Ihram (the opening Takbir)." [REFERENCES] Man La Yahduruhu Al-Faqih, Vol. 1, p. 343 • Al-Wafi, Vol. 8, p. 915 • Ithbāt al-Hudāt, Part 4, p. 148

Hadith.999 - The Halabi asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about a man who forgot to say the Takbir (the opening Takbir) until he had entered the prayer. Imam (as) said: "Was it not in his intention to say the Takbir?" He replied: "Yes." Imam (as) said: "Then let him continue with his prayer."

Hadith.1000 - Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr al-Bazanti asked Imam al-Ridha (as) about a man who forgot to say the Takbir al-Ihram (opening Takbir) until he had already said the Takbir for bowing (ruku'). Imam (as) replied: "It suffices him”.

"I asked about a man who forgot the first Takbir of the prayer (Takbir al-Ihram). Imam (as) said: 'If he remembers it before the bowing (ruku'), he should say the Takbir, then recite, and then perform the ruku'. If he remembers it during the prayer, he should say the Takbir at the place of the Takbir, whether before or after the recitation.' I asked: 'What if he remembers it after the prayer?' Imam (as) said: 'Then he should make it up, and there is nothing wrong with him.'"

"When you say the Takbir at the beginning of your prayer after the opening Takbir (Takbir al-Ihram), if you say twenty-one Takbirs and then forget the remaining Takbirs, or fail to say them, the first Takbir will suffice for all the Takbirs in the prayer”.

"Whoever does this deliberately has invalidated his prayer and must repeat it. However, if he does so out of forgetfulness, inattentiveness, or without knowing, there is no penalty on him, and his prayer remains valid." Zurarah then asked: "What if a person forgets to recite in the first two rak’ahs (units of prayer) but remembers in the latter two?" Imam (as) replied: "He should make up the recitation, takbir (saying 'Allāhu Akbar'), and tasbih (glorifications) that he missed in the first two rak’ahs during the latter two, and there is no penalty on him."

a man said to him: "I forget the recitation in the first rak'ah." Imam (as) said: "Recite in the second." The man then said: "I forget in the second rak'ah as well." Imam (as) said: "Recite in the third." The man said: "I forget throughout my entire prayer." Imam (as) said: "If you have remembered the ruku' (bowing) and Sujood (prostration), then your prayer is complete."

"Indeed, Allah (swt), Blessed and Exalted, has made ruku' (bowing) and Sujood (prostration) obligatory, while recitation is a Sunnah. Whoever intentionally leaves out the recitation must repeat the prayer, but if someone forgets, there is no fault upon them."

"If a man doubts after prostrating that he has not bowed (rak'a), he should continue with his prayer until he is certain that he did not bow. If he becomes certain that he did not bow, then he should perform the two prostrations (sajdatayn) that have no bowing and complete his prayer as though it were perfect. However, if he does not become certain until after he has finished and turned away from the prayer, he should stand up and pray one more rak'ah with two prostrations, and there is no harm upon him."

"I asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about someone who forgot to perform one prostration and remembered it while standing. Imam (as) said: 'He should perform it when he remembers, as long as he hasn't yet bowed. If he has already bowed, he should continue his prayer and, when he finishes, he should perform the missed prostration separately. There is no Sahw (forgetfulness) on him.'".

"If the first two rak'ahs are correct, the whole prayer is correct”.

I was traveling with some companions, and I was their Imam (leading the prayer). I led them in Maghrib prayer and mistakenly ended the prayer after two units (rak'ahs). My companions told me that I had only led them in two rak'ahs. We discussed it among ourselves, and they decided that they would repeat their prayer. I, however, decided not to repeat it but to complete it by adding one more rak'ah. So, I completed it with an additional rak'ah, and we then continued our journey. Later, I went to Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq (as) and told him about what had happened. Imam (as) said to me: "You acted more correctly than they did. Only the one who does not know what he has prayed needs to repeat (the prayer)”. 1012 1012 - وَ رَوَى عَنْهُ عَمَّارٌ: «أَنَّ مَنْ سَلَّمَ فِي رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنَ اَلظُّهْرِ أَوِ اَلْعَصْرِ أَوِ اَلْمَغْرِبِ أَوِ اَلْعِشَاءِ اَلْآخِرَةِ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ فَلْيَبْنِ عَلَى صَلاَتِهِ وَ لَوْ بَلَغَ اَلصِّينَ وَ لاَ إِعَادَةَ عَلَيْهِ. Hadith.1012 - Ammar narrated: "Whoever gives the salutation (taslim) after two rak'ahs of the Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, or Isha prayers, and then remembers, should continue with their prayer, even if they reach China, and there is no need for them to repeat it”.

Hadith.1013 - Ubayd ibn Zurarah asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about a man who prays the Fajr prayer, offering one rak'ah, then makes the tashahhud (testification), turns away (ends the prayer), and leaves. After some time, he remembers that he only prayed one rak'ah. He asked what should he do. Imam (as) replied: "He should add another rak'ah to it”.

Hadith.1014 - Abu Kahmas asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about the two rak'ahs of prayer when, after sitting in the tashahhud position, he says: "As-Salamu Alayka Ayyuha An-Nabi wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh" (Peace be upon you, O’ Prophet, and the mercy of Allah (swt) and His blessings). Is this considered the ending (of the prayer)? Imam (as) replied: "No, it is not the ending. But when you say 'As-Salamu Alayna wa Ala Ibadillah As-Saliheen' (Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah (swt)), that is the ending."

"If you do not know whether you prayed two rak'ahs or four, and your doubt does not lead you to any conclusion, then perform the tashahhud and give the salaam, then pray two more rak'ahs with four prostrations. In them, recite Al-Fatiha. Afterward, perform the tashahhud and give the salaam. If you had prayed only two rak'ahs, then these will complete the four. But if you had prayed four, then these two will be considered as voluntary (nawafil)."

"If a man prays five rak'ahs and sits in the fourth rak'ah for the duration of the tashahhud, then his worship is valid."

"I asked him about a man who prayed Dhuhr five rak'ahs. He said: 'If he does not know whether he sat in the fourth rak'ah or not, let him treat it as four rak'ahs for the Dhuhr prayer, then he should sit, perform the tashahhud, and then pray two rak'ahs while sitting and perform four sajdahs. He should then add these to the fifth rak'ah, and it will be considered a nafl (voluntary) prayer.'"

Hadith.1018 - Al-Fudail ibn Yasar asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about forgetfulness in prayer. Imam said: "Whoever remembers his forgetfulness and corrects it, there is no need for him to perform the two prostrations of forgetfulness (Sajdatay al-Sahw). However, forgetfulness applies to the one who does not know whether he has added to or missed part of his prayer."

“If you are unsure whether you prayed four or five rak'ahs, or whether you added or omitted something, then perform the tashahhud (testification of faith), say salaam (greeting of peace), and prostrate two prostrations of forgetfulness without bowing or reciting (in them), and you will make a brief tashahhud in both of them.”

"He should repeat one rak'ah."

"I asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about a man who does not know whether he prayed two, three, or four rak'ahs. Imam (as) said: 'He should pray two rak'ahs standing, then make salaam (salutation), then pray two more rak'ahs while sitting.'

the Righteous Servant (Imam Musa al-Kadhim (as)) about a man who doubts and does not know whether he has prayed one, two, three, or four units (rak'ahs) of prayer. His prayer becomes confusing for him. Imam said: "All of that [doubt] applies." I said: "Yes." Imam (as) replied: "Then let him continue with his prayer and seek refuge in Allah (swt) from the accursed Satan, for it is likely that this [state of doubt] will go away."

Hadith.1024 - It has been narrated: "He should pray one rak'ah standing and two rak'ahs sitting."

"Abul Hasan al-Awwal (as) said to me: 'When you are in doubt, rely on what you are certain of.' I said: 'Is this a principle?' Imam (as) said: 'Yes.'

Hadith.1026 - Abdullah ibn Abi Ya'fur asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about a man who prays two rak'ahs of the obligatory prayer but does not sit in them. Imam (as) said: "If he remembers while standing in the third rak'ah, he should sit. If he does not remember until he has already bowed, he should complete his prayer, then prostrate two prostrations while sitting before speaking."

Hadith.1027 - Muhammad ibn Muslim narrates from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as): "If a man is uncertain after he has prayed and does not know whether he prayed three or four rak'ahs, and when he finishes, he is certain that he has completed it, he does not need to repeat the prayer. At the time of his departure (after the prayer), his certainty is closer to the truth than it was afterward."

Stand up," and others say, "Sit down," and the Imam is unsure, either leaning towards one or being uncertain. What should be done? Imam (as) said: "There is no fault on the Imam if those behind him agree that he made a mistake. There is no fault on those behind the Imam if the Imam has not erred. There is no confusion in the Maghrib prayer, nor in Fajr, nor in the first two rak'ahs of any prayer. If there is disagreement among those behind the Imam, then both the Imam and the congregation should take precaution and repeat the prayer, acting decisively."

time for Asr will expire. Then perform Asr after that. If you fear that the time for Asr will expire, perform Asr first. If you forget both Dhuhr and Asr prayers and remember them at sunset, then perform Dhuhr first and then Asr, provided that you do not fear missing one of them. If you fear missing one, perform Asr first, so that neither of them is completely missed. Then, afterward, perform the Dhuhr prayer immediately after. Whenever you miss a prayer, perform it as soon as you remember. If you remember it while you are in the time of another obligatory prayer, perform the current prayer first, then perform the missed prayer afterward. If a person misses both Dhuhr and Asr prayers and remembers them with enough time left in the day to perform both, they should start with Dhuhr and then perform Asr. If there is only enough time to perform one of the two prayers, they should begin with Asr. If there is enough daylight left to perform six units of prayer, they should begin with Dhuhr.

Hadith.1030 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "No one misses a prayer who truly desires to pray. The prayer of the day does not miss until the sun sets, and the prayer of the night does not miss until dawn breaks."

"I heard Abu Abdullah (as) (Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq (as)) say: 'Indeed, Allah (swt), the Blessed and Exalted, caused His Messenger (sw) to sleep through the Fajr prayer until the sun had risen. Then he stood up and prayed the two rak'ahs before Fajr, followed by the Fajr prayer. He forgot during his prayer, so he made a mistake and gave the salutation in two rak'ahs. Then he described what Dhul-Shimālayn (who pointed out the mistake) said. He did this out of mercy for this ummah, so that no Muslim man would be reproached if he sleeps through his prayer or makes a mistake in it, and so that it would be said: 'This happened to the Messenger of Allah (sw).'".

Hadith.1032 - Hammad ibn Uthman asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) a person who missed part of their prayers and then remembered it at sunrise or sunset. Imam (as) replied: "He should pray as soon as he remembers”.