REMEDIAL PROSTRATION - SIJDAH SAHV

REMEDIAL PROSTRATION

(SIJDAH SAHV)

Q.   What is Sijdah Sahv?

  Sahv in Arabic means to forget. Salat sometimes becomes faulty because of forgetfulness on the part of the worshipper. Some of the lapses are such as can be remedied by means of a couple of Sijdah in the last sitting. They are known as remedial Sijdahs.

Q.   What is the proper way to do the remedial Sijdah?

  The way to do it is as follower:

After Tashah-hud in the last sitting turn your face to one side in Salam, then say Al-lahu Akbar and pass on to Sijdah. Say the Tasbih thrice in Sijdah. Then raise your head saying Al-lahu Akbar and pass on to the second Sijdah. Once again raise your head saying Al-lahu Akbar, sit down and say Tashah-hud, send blessings on the Prophet (peace be on him) (say Darud), recite the invocation to Al-lah and turn your face in Salam on both sides, one after the other.

Q.   How is it if one also recites the Darud and the invocation between Tashah-hud and Salam?

  Some scholars favour the saying of Tashah-hud, Darud and Dua before the remedial Sijdah as well as after it. It is, therefore, better to say them, but there is no harm either in skipping them.

Q.   Is the remedial Sijdah ordained only for commanded prayers or other prayers as well?

  Injunctions about the remedial Sijdah are the same as for other categories of prayer.

Q.   What will be the position if a person passes on to the remedial Sijdah without turning his face in Salam on either side?

  The Salat shall be valid, but it is undesirable to do it deliberately.

Q.   What will be the position if a person does the remedial Sijdah after he has turned his face in Salam on both sides?

  According to one tradition it is permissible. But the more weighty opinion is that we must turn the face only on one side. If, however, no remedial Sijdah will do. The Salat has to be gone over again.

Q.   What things make the remedial Sijdah compulsory?

  The remedial Sijdah falls due in anyone of the following contingencies:

             i.     A Wajib having been omitted;

           ii.     Delay occurring in performing a Wajib act;

         iii.     Delay occurring in commanded act;

          iv.     Some commanded act having been advanced in order;

            v.     Some commanded act having been repeated (such as doing the bowing twice) or procedure for some Wajib act having been altered.

All the above contingencies shall render a remedial Sijdah necessary.

Q.   What if one deliberately does the acts which, if done inadvertently, necessitate a remedial Sijdah?

  The remedial Sijdah cannot make good a deliberate error. Saying the Salat again in such a case is imperative.

Q.   How many remedial Sijdah must be performed if several things happen in a Salat which wauld even singly necessitate a remedial Sijdah?

  It is enough to do two Sijdah in one continuation.

Q.   What deviations from the norms of recitation render a remedial Sijdah necessary?

  The following deviations from the norms of recitation would render a remedial Sijdah Wajib:

             i.     Al-Fatihah having being left out in the first or second Rak'ah or both in a Fard Salat and in one or more Rak'ahs of a Wajib, Masnun or Nafl prayer;

           ii.     The whole of Al-Fatihah or greater part of it having been repeated in anyone of the above said Rak'ahs.

         iii.     The surah having been advanced and recited before the Al-Fatihah;

          iv.     The surah having been left out in any prayer (whether Fard, Masnun or Nafl) except in the third and fourth Rak'ahs of a Salat.

Provided always that all the above acts were committed inadvertently.

Q.   Will a remedial Sijdah e necessary if a person fails to do justice with or proper gaping between the various constituents of the Salat?

  Yes, the remedial Sijdah will be necessary.

Q.   What should one do if one has forgotten to do the first sitting?

  In rising from prostration of one is still nearer the position for sitting. In case he remembers the Qa’dah when he has already risen so much as to be nearer the position for standing, he should skip sitting for the time being and do the standing. To remedy it, he should do the Sijdah towards the end and the Salat will be good.

Q.   What other things render a remedial Sijdah necessary?

  The following lapses, if done by a person render a Sijdah necessary to remedy them:

             i.     Doing the bowing twice;

           ii.     Doing three Sijdah in place of two;

         iii.     Tashah-hud being ledt out in the first or second Qa'dah;

          iv.     Darud at least as much as AL-LAHUM-MA SAL-LI ‘ALA MUHAM-MAD having been recited after Tashah-hud in the first sitting or sitting idle as long as one would take in saying the aforesaid words;

            v.     The Imam having recited underlips (below the audible pitch) in prayers meant to be said audibly;

          vi.     The Imam having recited audibly in prayers meant to be said below the audible pitch.

Anyone of the acts detailed above will render a remedial Sijdah necessary, provided the lapses are genuine i.e., they have been committed without intentions.

Q.   What should a follower do if, in following the head of the prayer, he himself commits some lapse or error?

  A lapse or error on the part of the follower does not render the remedial Sijdah necessary for him.

Q.   What should a junior partner of the Imam (Masbuq) do, if he commits some error or lapse in saying the missed part of the prayer after the Imam has finished?

  In such an event a remedial Sijdah in the last sitting of the prayer is compulsory.