Sajdah Sahw: How to Fix a Mistake in Salah (Hanafi)
When the prostration of forgetfulness is wajib, how to do it, and the common cases explained.
Updated 25 October 2026
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5 minutes to readtime it takesEveryone forgets something in Salah at times. Sajdah Sahw, the two prostrations of forgetfulness, is how a mistake made by forgetting is mended without praying again. This guide shows the Hanafi method step by step, with a simple diagram of how the Salah ends, and then explains the common cases: forgetting the first sitting, missing al-Fatihah or the extra surah, pausing too long, forgetting Qunut in Witr, doubt about the number of rak'ahs, praying behind an imam, and when the Salah must be prayed again.
Step by step
- 1In the last sitting, read at-Tahiyyat up to "'abduhu wa rasuluh"
- 2Give one salam to the right
- 3Make two sajdahs
- 4Sit and read at-Tahiyyat, the durood and a du'a
- 5Finish with salam to the right and to the left
When it cannot help
Sajdah Sahw mends a wajib act left out or delayed by forgetting. If a fard act such as a ruku' or a sajdah is missed, or something is done on purpose, the Salah must be prayed again.
How to use it
Read it with your family and go through the cases on page two. Keep it with your Salah books for when a question comes up.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Sajdah Sahw wajib?
When a wajib act of Salah is left out or delayed by mistake, or a fard act is delayed.
How is Sajdah Sahw done in the Hanafi school?
After at-Tahiyyat in the last sitting, give one salam to the right, make two sajdahs, then sit, read at-Tahiyyat, durood and du'a, and finish the Salah with two salams.
What if I forget the first sitting?
If you are nearer to sitting, sit back down. If you are nearer to standing, carry on and do Sajdah Sahw at the end.
Does a follower do Sajdah Sahw for his own mistake?
No. Behind an imam you only follow the imam's Sajdah Sahw.
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