Question

Prostration of forgetfulness for skipping the first Tashahhud

264

Question

Assalamu alaikum. I was praying Asr in jama'ah in a shopping mall in a Muslim country which is predominantly Shafi'i. After the 2nd rakah, the imam sat but forgot to recite the Tashahud. He stood right up and despite people saying, "Subhanallah", he carried on with the third rak'ah and completed the prayer. I assumed he would do the sujud as-sahu before his salam but he did not do it either before or after it and he left so I did the two prostrations alone by myself. I approached him after the salah and said he had left the tashahud; he said he realised but that the first tashahud is neither a rukn nor wajib so it was correct to follow him and there was no need to make sujud as-sahu. I found out afterwards that in the Shafi'i madhab, the first tashahud is not compulsory but, according to what I have learned and believe in, it is wajib and its ommission necessitates sujud as sahu. I would like to ask if I was right to do what I did and if not, what course of action would have been advisable? Jazakallah khair.

Related Fatwa

Ruling on repeating the takbeer when moving from sujood to standing if the initial takbeer was cut off

What to do if one raises his head during Sujood intending to sit for Tashahud, then realizes halfway through the Takbeer that he is in the wrong Rak'ah?

Made a mistake in the Prostration of Forgetfulness - what to do?

Fumbled in Taslim and Repeated As-Salam Alaikum

Said Takbeer after Prostration Late and His Father Raised His Head Before Hearing Him

Praying Behind an Imam Who Does Not Put His Nose on the Ground when Prostrating

When to Point with the Index Finger in Prayer and When to Perform the Prostrations for Forgetfulness

Accepted Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The first Tashahhud and sitting for it is only a recommended act according to the Shaafi'i and Maaliki Schools, and a Waajib (obligation) according to the Hanbali and Hanafi Schools. Therefore, according to the Shaafi'i School, whoever forgets the first Tashahhud, it is recommended from him to prostrate for forgetfulness, but it is not an obligation because the prostration for forgetfulness is recommended according to them and not an obligation.

Since you believe that the first Tashahhud is an obligation and you prostrated for forgetfulness after Tashahhud because you did not perform it, then your prayer is correct and you are not required to do anything.

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 81875 and 86560.

Allaah Knows best.

Fatwa

Prostration of forgetfulness for skipping the first Tashahhud

Question

Answer

Related Fatwa

Ruling on repeating the takbeer when moving from sujood to standing if the initial takbeer was cut off

What to do if one raises his head during Sujood intending to sit for Tashahud, then realizes halfway through the Takbeer that he is in the wrong Rak'ah?

Made a mistake in the Prostration of Forgetfulness - what to do?

Fumbled in Taslim and Repeated As-Salam Alaikum

Said Takbeer after Prostration Late and His Father Raised His Head Before Hearing Him

Praying Behind an Imam Who Does Not Put His Nose on the Ground when Prostrating

When to Point with the Index Finger in Prayer and When to Perform the Prostrations for Forgetfulness

Search Fatwa

Fatwa Subject

Categories

Multimedia

Special Folders

Services