Fatwa: # 15925
Category: Daily
Country: United States
Date: 26th November 2007

Title

If I have just finished my salaat, arisen and walked a few steps and then suspected I didn't do the salaat correctly, can I return to do the prostrations of forgetfulness?

Question

If I have just finished my salaat, arisen and walked a few steps and then suspected I didn't do the salaat correctly, can I return to do the prostrations of forgetfulness? Or do I need to repeat the entire salaat?

This happened at Asr and I did the prostrations of forgetfulness. Now after Isha, I have also repeated the Asr salaat as Qada.

But I don't actually know the correct answer either way. I would like to know for both present and future guidance.

Answer

Muhtaram / Muhtaramah ,

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh

If you did not speak, eat, drink or move your chest away from the qiblah, you may go back and perform the sujood of forgetfulness.  (Raddul Muhtaar vol. 2 pg. 558)  It will be necessary to repeat the namaaz if one missed a fardh act.  If one misses any of the wajib acts unknowingly, this mistake can be compensated by performing sajda sahw. 

And Allah knows best

Wassalam

Mufti Ebrahim Desai (F1)
Darul Iftaa

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