Sajda of Forgetfulness...

[Sadiyah]

Re: Sajda of Forgetfulness…

Here is what I could find:

1. When to offer Sujood al-Sahw (aka Sajdah of Forgetfullness)?

The prostration of forgetfulness in prayer is generally prescribed for three reasons:

1- Doing something extra - if a person adds something to his prayer – bowing, prostrating, standing or sitting – deliberately, then his prayer becomes invalid, because when he added it, that means that he did not do the prayer in the manner ordained by Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

2- Omitting something - if a person omits one of the essential parts of the prayer, one of the following two scenarios must apply:

Either he remembers it before he reaches the same point in the following rak’ah, so he has to go back and do that essential part of the prayer and whatever came after it,

Or he does not remember it until he reaches the same point in the following rak’ah, in which case the following rak’ah takes the place of the one in which he omitted that essential part, and he should make up the invalid rak’ah.

3- Being uncertain - such as if a person is not sure if he has done something extra or omitted something, e.g., he is not sure whether he has prayed three rak’ahs or four, one of the following two scenarios must apply:

Either he thinks that one or the other is more likely to be case, whether it is doing more or omitting something, in which case he should proceed on the basis of what he thinks is more likely to be the case, complete his prayer accordingly, then do the prostration of forgetfulness after saying the salaam;

Or neither appears more likely to be the case, so he should proceed on the basis of what is certain, namely the lesser amount, and complete his prayer accordingly, then do the prostration of forgetfulness before saying the salaam.

**2. When to offer the sujood (before or after salaam)? **

Thus it becomes clear that this should be done before the salaam if you have omitted one of the obligatory parts of the prayer or if you are not sure how many rak’ahs you have done, and neither of the two choices seems more likely to be the case. And it should be done after the salaam if you have added something extra to the prayer or you are not certain but one of the two choices seems more likely to be the case.

Source: Reasons for doing the prostration of forgetfulness

**3. How to do it? **

The prostration of forgetfulness is two prostrations, sitting in between them. It is Sunnah to sit muftarishan (with the left foot lying along the ground and sitting on it) in between them, and to sit mutawarrikan (with the left upper thigh on the ground and both feet protruding from one (i.e., the right) side) after them until one says the salaam. The way in which the prostrations are done and the dhikr to be said in them is the same as in the prayer. And Allaah knows best.

Source: What should be said in the two prostrations of forgetfulness and in between them?

There’s plenty more just in case anyone is interested: Forgetfulness During Prayer

I believe there is a bit more to it, which I cannot find the evidence for.

Barbie_Girl, I’ve been doing something similar to what you have said, but not exactly the same. Anyway, I feel I may not have been correct entirely.