The principle is now consistent in both its inclusion and exclusion: the prostration of forgetfulness is obligatory for every act or omission which, if done deliberately, would invalidate a person’s prayer. However, this principle must be qualified by saying that it applies only where the matter is of the nature of the prayer itself, such as bowing, prostration, standing, and sitting. Thus, for example, ordinary human speech is excluded: deliberate speech invalidates the prayer, whereas forgetful speech does not invalidate it, according to the sounder view, nor does it require the prostration of forgetfulness.

Question: If someone recites while bowing or prostrating out of forgetfulness, must he perform the prostration of forgetfulness, or is it recommended?

Answer: The majority of the scholars do not regard it as obligatory, because they do not hold that deliberately reciting while bowing or prostrating invalidates the prayer. (1)

Some scholars, along with some of the literalists, held that if one deliberately recites while bowing or prostrating, his prayer is invalidated, because the Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, I have been forbidden to recite the Quran while bowing or prostrating.” (2) Thus, if he recites the Quran while bowing or prostrating, he has done something prohibited by the Lawgiver, and the prayer is invalidated, just as it is invalidated if he speaks. Zayd ibn Arqam said: “We were commanded to remain silent and forbidden to speak.” (3)

This is a strong proof. Yet, upon reflection, the difference between “We were forbidden to speak” and “I was forbidden to recite the Quran” becomes clear: the prohibition of reciting the Quran is a prohibition of reciting it in this particular position, not a prohibition of reciting it altogether. For recitation of the Quran is a legislated utterance in the prayer; indeed, in general, it is a pillar of it. Thus, al-Fātiḥah—