Chapter: The Prostration of Forgetfulness

It is prescribed to make this prostration for an addition, an omission, or a doubt, but not for something done deliberately in either an obligatory or a voluntary prayer (1).

Whoever deliberately adds an act of the same kind as the prayer—such as an extra standing, sitting, bowing, or prostration—invalidates his prayer (2); if he does so unintentionally, he should perform the prostration of forgetfulness (3).

If he mistakenly adds a full rakʿah or more, he prostrates. Whenever he realizes, he returns, recites the tashahhud if he has not already done so, then prostrates and gives the salām (4). If two trustworthy persons alert him yet he refuses to return, his prayer is invalid unless he is absolutely certain of his own correctness; this ruling applies likewise to anyone who follows him knowingly, but not to one who leaves him or follows him while forgetful. A late-comer does not count that extra rakʿah for himself (5).

A substantial amount—by customary standards—of consecutive actions that are foreign to the prayer nullifies it, whether done intentionally or out of forgetfulness.

The prayer is not nullified by a small amount of eating or drinking done inadvertently (6), nor is a voluntary prayer spoiled by a small sip even if taken on purpose.

If a worshipper utters a prescribed statement in the wrong place—such as reciting Qur’an while bowing or saying the tashahhud while standing—the prayer is not invalidated even if done deliberately, though it is recommended to perform the prostration of forgetfulness for it.