Oops!

I Made a Mistake
In Salah

What Should I Do?

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 How to Use: Oops! I Made a
Mistake in Salah
What Should I do
This is a short workbook which can be completed in
one or two lessons for students familiar with the
topic or five to six lessons for those not familiar
with the topic. To give you the educator flexibility
lessons are not numbered.
The workbook starts by explaining what a pillar is
and why this knowledge is so important to motivate
the learner.
The review questions are meant to demonstrate
understanding but not be laborious to facilitate ease
of study.
Reflections are meant for students to internalize the
lesson and motivate personal improvement.
There is a summary chart provided at the end to
bring the knowledge to a comprehensive conclusion.
Arabic terms are used along with English to
familiarize students with both.

Um Yuunus
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 Salah

Waajibaat
Obligations
Arkan Sunan
Pillars NON-OBLIGATORY

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Pillars of Salah
Just as pillars are strong posts used to support buildings up in salah we also
have pillars that are required to support the salah. If even one of the pillars
of salah is missing salah is invalidated.

There are fourteen arkaan (pillars) of salah. That may sound like a lot to
learn, but you probably already know them all, so do not worry.

Why do we need to know the arkan (pillars) of salah?

If one forgets or makes a mistake in any arkan (pillar) that rakat must be
remedied. If the opening takbeer is left out the prayer must be restarted,
because salah was not established. The two sajdas of forgetfulness are not
enough in this case.

If someone purposely leaves out or adds a pillar the salah itself is invalid.

This is not guide of how to pray, there are many sources with in-depth
descriptions of how to pray. This guide explains how to correct mistakes.

A common misunderstanding is that the two sajdas of forgetfulness are

sufficient correction for all mistakes. Although, it is for the obligations and
sunan of salah it’s not enough for arkan of salah.

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Reflect

How important are the arkan (pillars)

of salah in the validity of your salah?

How important are the arkan (pillars)

of salah in your entering Jannah?

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 Fixing
Mistakes in
Salah
• If we miss a pillar (rukn),
How we rectify a the salat is invalid. We
mistake in salah need to remedy it and
depends on whether pray sujood as-sahw.
we made the mistake
in the arkaan, the
waajibat, or sunan.
• If we miss a waajib
(obligatory act), we must
do sujood as-sahw
(protrastion of
forgetfulness).

• If we miss a Sunnah
(non-obligatory act),
sujood as-sahw is best
but not required.

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True or False
It is good to repeat if a
mistake is made in a pillar
___
(rukn) but not required.

Two prostrations of
forgetfulness are required
if we forget an obligation
___ (waajib).

Salah is invalid if we skip

___
the opening takbeer.

If we miss a sunnah we
must go back and repeat
___ from that point.

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 Pillars of Salah
The arkaan (pillars) of the prayer are the statements and actions, without
which the prayer is invalid, and sujood as-sahw alone is not sufficient. You
must go back and do that pillar and whatever comes after it. Then you do
sujood as-sahw. After we learn the pillars, we will review some examples.

These are the pillars of salat:

1. Standing during obligatory prayers if one is able

2. Opening Takbeer (saying Allah Akbar)
3. Reciting Al-Fatihah
4. Rukoo`, the least of which means bending so that the hands can touch
the knees, but the most complete form means making the back level and
the head level with it.
5. Rising from bowing and standing up straight
6. Sujood (prostration): the most perfect form is placing the forehead, nose,
palms, knees, and toes firmly on the ground. The least is placing a part
of each of these on the ground.
7. Rising from prostration
8. Sitting between the two prostrations. Whichever way one sits is good
enough, but the sunnah is to sit muftarishan: sitting on the left foot and
holding the right foot upright with the toes pointing towards the qiblah.
9. The final tashahhud
10. Sitting to recite the final tashahhud and the two salaams.
11. Saying prayers for the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam after the
final tashahhud.
12. The tasleem
13. Being at ease in each of these physical pillars
14. Doing the pillars in the order mentioned here. If a person deliberately
prostrates before bowing for example, the prayer is invalidated; if he
does it by mistake, he must go back and bow and then prostrate.

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Circle the One Does Not Belong?

Arkan (Pillars) of Salah

• Rukoo`
• Final tashahhud
• Opening takbeer
• Al-Fatihah
• Sajood
• Putting right hand over
left on chest after the
opening takbeer
• Sitting for tashahhud
• Raising from rukoo`
• Correct order

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 Arkaan Mistakes With
Corrections
Mistake
You are sitting for the first
tashahhud of maghreb and you
realize you forgot the opening
takbeer.
Correction
You have to restart salah
because the opening
takbeer is a pillar. Without
the opening takbeer you
never started salah.
Mistake
You are reading the final tashahhud
of ‘Isha when you realize you only
prayed 3 rak`aat.
Correction
You need to stand up, add
another rak`ah, redo the
tashuhhud, and do the two
sajdas of sahw.
Mistake
You are in sujood and realize you
forgot to make rukoo`,
Correction
You need to go back and do
rukoo’ and what is after it,
and finish the prayer. Do
sajda sahw.
Mistake
You are in the third rak`ah of
dhuhr. You start reciting surah Al-
ikhlas, then you realize that you
have not recited Al-Fatihah.
Correction
You recite al-Faatihah,
then a surah, and continue
your prayer. Do sajda
sahw.
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Zainab joins salat-ul Maghreb
quickly without say takbeer while
the Imaam is in rak’oo?
A) Her salah is correct
because she joined
in rak’oo.

B) Her salah is incorrect

because she forgot a
takbeer, she must make
sajda sahw after salam.
Remember to say
C) Her salah is invalid
because without the
opening takbeer she
didn’t enter salah. She when you join
must restart her salah. congregational salah.
There is no salah without
the opening takbeer.

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 Sujood as-sahw
The prostration for forgetfulness is two prostrations towards the
Qiblah.

Behind an Imam
It is obligatory to follow the Imam in performing sajda sahw.
"The Imam is appointed to be followed, so do not differ with him
… " until he said, " … so when he prostrates then prostrate …
" This hadith is agreed upon from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah
(may Allah be pleased with him).

Except if you arrived late and need to make up the part of the
prayer missed. You should not follow the Imam in performance of
prostration after the salutation. This is because, you cannot give the
salutation along with the Imam, you should first make up what you
missed, give the salutation, then prostrate for forgetfulness, then give
the salutation again. If, however, he does the sujood as-sahw before
the salutation you follow him.

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 Omission of Arkan Guidelines
Arkan (Pillar) Omitted
The initial takbeer
Prayer not valid whether
deliberate or not.
If something other than the
initial takbeer is
deliberately omitted, the
prayer is nullified.
If something else is omitted
out of forgetfulness
Remedy
Must redo the prayer.
No sajda sahw (prostration
for forgetfulness) is needed.
Must redo the prayer.
No sajda sahw (prostration
for forgetfulness) is needed.
If you continue until reaching
its place in the next rak'at,
then you discard
that rak'at which you forgot it
in, and the following one
takes its place.
If you have not reached its
place in the next rak'at, then
it is obligatory upon you to
return to the missed pillar
and to perform it and
whatever comes after it.
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 Additions to Salah

• Deliberately adding extra standing, sitting, bowing

or prostration invalidates salah.

• If any of these actions are added out of

forgetfulness and it is not remembered until the
salah is completed the remedy is sajda sahw.

• If you remember while performing the action, it is

obligatory to leave the action and perform sajda
sahw at the end.

• Deliberately giving Salutations (Salam) before

completing the salah invalidates salah.

• If done out of forgetfulness and you do not

remember for a long time, the salah needs to be
repeated.

• If you remember right away, complete the prayer,

give salams, do sajda sahw (prostration of
forgetfulness), and give salam again.

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Addition Examples With Remedy

You are praying the Dhuhr salah as five raka'at, but you do
not remember until in the final Tashahhud.. You should
complete Tashahhud , give salam and then sajda sahw
(prostrate for forgetfulness), give salam again.
If however, you remembered after giving salam, then you
should do sajda sahw, give salams again.

Prophetic Example:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said
that, "The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam lead them in
the Dhuhr prayer or the 'Asr prayer and gave the salutation
after two raka'at. Then he departed quickly from one of the
doors of the mosque, and the people were saying that the
prayer had been decreased. The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi
wa sallam meanwhile, stood by a piece of wood placed in
the mosque, leaning against it, as if he was angry. So a man
stood and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, have you forgotten or
has the prayer been reduced?' So the Prophet of Allah
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, 'I did not forget nor has it
been reduced.' So the man said, 'Rather you have indeed
forgotten.' So the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said
to the Companions, 'Is what he is saying true?' They said 'Yes'
So the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam went forward
and prayed what remained of the prayer, then he gave the
salutation, then he prostrated twice, then he gave the
salutation." [Agreed Upon]

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 What Should You Do?
You are in sujood when you realize this is your third
sujood?
a) You restart your salat from the opening takbeer.
b) Get up from sujood, complete your salah, and
perform sujood sahw.
c) Do nothing, and the salah is fine.

You accidently say the tasleem after the first

tashuhhud in Salat-ul ‘Asr.
a) Do nothing. Your salah is fine.
b) Discard your second rak’a.
c) Complete your salah and perform sajda sahw.

You deliberately add a fourth rak’aa to salat-Al-

Maghreb.
a) That is good. You want to pray more.
b) Complete your salah and perform sajda sahw
c) Your salah is invalid. You need to repeat that
prayer.

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 Waajibaat
(Obligations) Of Salat

Saying takbeer Saying ‫ربنا ولك احلمد‬

Allah Akbar ‫هللا أكرب‬ Rabbana wa lakal hamd

for the movements in Our Lord for You is the

the prayers praise

Saying ‫محده‬ ‫مسع هللا ملن‬

Sami Allahu liman hamidah The first Tashahhud
Allah hears him who
praises Him.

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 Join

Saying ‫ربنا ولك احلمد‬

First tashahhud Obligation

Correct order

Final tashahhud

Takbeer with Pillar

movements

Opening takbeer

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 Sunan Acts Perfect the Prayer
The recommended or sunan acts of prayer are of two types;
statements and actions. The sunan should not be ignored is
unimportant; “They are only sunnah.” It is these important
acts that complete our prayer and raise our status with Allah.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and

blessings be upon him, said, “The first action for which a
servant of Allah will be held accountable on the Day of
Resurrection will be his prayers. If they are in order, he will
have prospered and succeeded. If they are lacking, he will
have failed and lost. If there is something defective in his
obligatory prayers, then the Almighty Lord will say: See if my
servant has any voluntary prayers that can complete what is
insufficient in his obligatory prayers. The rest of his deeds will
be judged the same way.”
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 413
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani

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Recommended Statements
Saying the opening supplication (Du’a al-istiftaah)
Seeking refuge with Allah
Saying “Ameen” after Al-Fatihah
Reciting a Surah after Al-Fatihah
Saying dhikr after the tahmeed (Rabbana wa laka’l-
hamd),
Saying the tasbeeh when bowing
Saying the tasbeeh in prostration
Saying “Rabb ighfir li between the two prostrations
Sending prayers upon the Prophet - sallallaahu 'alayhi
wa sallam - and his family after the first tashahhud

Saying du’a after the final tashahhud

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 Recommended Actions
Sunnah Actions

Raising the hands when saying the opening takbeer

Raising the hands when bowing
Raising the hands when rising from bowing
Placing the right hand on the left one
Looking at the place of prostration
Holding the knees with fingers spread apart when bowing, and
holding the back straight and making the head parallel with it.
Putting the hands on floor before knees when prostrating
Placing parts of the body on which one prostrates firmly on the
ground.

Ways of sitting between the two prostrations

Sitting after the second prostration before standing up for the

following rak`ah

Placing the hands on the ground before standing up for the

following rak`ah

Place of the hands during tashahhud and between the two sajdas

Pointing the right index finger during tashahhud

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Reflect

Why is it important to perfect the

sunan, that is non-obligatory
statements and actions?

How confident are you that your salah

is correct?

What can you do to improve your

salah?

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23
 Summary of
Sujood As-Sahw (Prostration of Forgetfulness)

The prostration of forgetfulness consists of two sajdas that one does at the end of
the prayer because addition, omission, or doubt during the prayer.

Before explaining these cases, one must know that the prayer consists of different
actions and statements.

 Some are arkaan (pillars) from the Arabic singular “rukn”.

They are actions and statements without which the prayer is not valid, and the
prostration of forgetfulness is not sufficient if they are missed unintentionally.
One must do them as will be explained below.

 Some are waajibaat (obligatory acts) from the Arabic singular “waajib”.

They are actions and statements that are obligatory. If they are missed
unintentionally, one performs the prostration of forgetfulness after the tasleem.
 Others are sunan (recommended acts) from the Arabic singular “sunnah”

They are of two types: actions and statements. They are not obligatory but
recommended. There is no prostration of forgetfulness if they are missed
intentionally or unintentionally, and the prayer is valid.

However, one must strive to perform all the sunan (recommended) actions and
statements. This way the prayer is better, more rewarding, and in accordance
with the guidance of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam), who said,
“Pray as you have seen me pray.”
Moreover, when one does not observe certain recommended acts, such as
looking towards the place of sujood, one can easily look around or up, which is
forbidden.

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 Some Sunan
Arkaan Waajibaat Some Sunan
(Recommended)
(Recommended)
(Pillars) (obligatory acts) Statements
Actions
Standing for the able The takbeerat of Du`aa’ al-istiftaah Raising the hand with
Takbeerat al-ihraam movement from one (opening supplication) takbeerat al-ihraam
(initial takbeer) pillar to the next
Recitation of al- Isti`aadhah Raising the hands
Faatihah Saying, “sami`a upon rukoo`,
Rukoo` Allaah liman Saying, “Aameen” rising from
Rising from rukoo` hamidah” rukoo`, and
Sujood (prostration) Qur’aan recitation when standing
Sitting between the 2 Saying. “rabbanaa after al- up for the third
prostrations laka-lhamd” Faatihah rak`ah
Last tashahhud
Sitting for the last The first tashahhud Saying “subhaana Placing the hands on
tashahhud rabbi al- the chest
Salat for the Prophet `adheem”
in the last during rukoo` Looking towards the
tashahhud place of sujood
Saying “subhaana
Tasleem
rabbi al-a`laa” Ways of sitting
Composure during
during sujood
each pillar
Sitting between the 2
Order of these pillars
Dhikr after saying, prostrations
“rabbanaa laka-
lhamd” Pointing with the
index finger
Du`aa’ between the 2 during
prostrations tashahhud

Salat for the Prophet Moving the index

in the last finger during
tashahhud tashahhud

Du`aa’ after the last Looking to the right

tashahhud and the left
during tasleem

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Chart Notes:
The prayer is not valid in these cases and must be redone,
and no prostration of forgetfulness is required:
Not saying takbeerat al-Ihraam intentionally or
forgetfully because the prayer has not actually started.
Intentionally skipping a rukn (pillar) or an obligatory act
of the prayer
Intentionally adding a standing, a sitting, a rukoo`, or a
sajdah
Intentionally ending the prayer before tasleem

If the prostration of forgetfulness is after the tasleem,

another tasleem must be done.

The prostration of forgetfulness is not required if one skips a

sunnah (recommended) act of the prayer, intentionally or
not. However, it is better if the prostration is done.

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 Place of the Prostration of
Issue
Forgetfulness
Saying tasleem before the end of the prayer
a) If one remembers after a long time, one must redo the  No prostration of forgetfulness in case (a)
whole prayer.
 After tasleem in case (b), and does tasleem
b) If one remembers after a short time, one must go back again.
and finish the prayer.
Addition to the Prayer, such as a standing, a sitting, a rukoo`, or a sajdah
a) If one remembers during the addition, one must refrain  After tasleem in both cases (a) and (b); and
immediately. one does tasleem again.

b) If one remembers after the addition, one continues

praying.
Forgetting a pillar other than takbeerat al-Ihraam
a) If one reaches the place of the forgotten pillar in the  After tasleem in all 3 cases (a), (b) and (c);
following rak`ah, then that rak`ah replaces the one wher and one does tasleem again.
there was an omission.

b) If one has not reached the place of the pillar in the

following rak`ah, one returns to the place of forgotten
pillar and does it and what comes after it.

c) If one remembers the forgotten pillar after the

completion of the prayer, one must add one whole
rak`ah.
Forgetting an obligatory act, such as the first tashahhud
a) If one remembers after standing up, one continues and  Before tasleem in cases (a) and (b)
does not go back.
 No prostration in case (c) because there was
b) If one remembers while getting up before standing no omission nor addition
straight, one sits, does the tashahhud, and continue
praying.

c) If one remembers at the time of the obligatory act, one

does that act.
Doubt: If one does not remember the number of rak’aat performed, or if he has done something or not,
then there are 2 cases:
a) If one is more certain about one possibility over the  After tasleem in case (a), and does tasleem
other, then one continues praying based on that again.
possibility.
 Before tasleem in case (b)
For example: If one is more certain about the number of
rak`as or whether one has done an act or not, then one
goes with the more likely possibility.

a) If one is not certain, then one does the act again.

For example: If one is not certain if he has performed 2 or 3

rak`as, then one goes with what is certain, which is 2
rak`aas.

If one is not certain if an act was done or not, then one

assumes it wasn’t.
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 Answer Key
Page 7
False It’s good to repeat if a mistake is
made in a pillar but not
required.

Two prostrations of Page 9

True forgetfulness are required if we Putting right
forget an obligation.
hand over left
on chest after
True Salah is invalid if we skip the the opening
opening takbeer.
takbeer

False If we missed a sunan we most

go back and repeat from that
point
Page 16

Page 11

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Page 18
Saying ‫ربنا ولك احلمد‬

First tashahhud

Correct order Obligation

Final tashahhud

Takbeer with Pillar

movements

Opening takbeer

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 References

The Concise Presentation of the Fiqh of the Sunnah

and the Noble Book, Abdul-Azeem Badawi,
translator Jamaal al-Din M. Zarabozo International
Islamic Publishing House, 2007

Ibn Al-’Uthaymin (04/03/1400H), The Prostration of

Forgetfulness (Sajda sahw), Translated by Abu Talhah
Daawood Retrieved January 2, 2021,
SunnahOnline.com

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