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.
