Confusion regarding the number of Sajdahs performed

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

If you are in doubt regarding the number of Sajdahs you have performed, you should apply your honest discretion. If you are inclined more to one thought over the other (e.g., you feel you have performed two Sajdahs) then you should take it as if you have performed two Sajdahs and complete the Salah as normal.

If after applying your discretion, you are still not inclined to any side, you will consider the lesser amount of Sajdah i.e., you will consider that you have performed only one Sajdah. Thereafter, you shall do as follows:

You should go straight into Sajdah from whatever posture you are in and perform the missed Sajdah. Thereafter, you should return to your previous posture and complete the Salah as normal and perform Sajdah Sahw.[1]

Example: You stood up and were in Qiyaam of the fourth Rakat but then became doubtful as to whether you performed two Sajdahs or only one Sajdah in the third Rakat. You could not decide which it was. Therefore, you will assume that you only performed one Sajdah in the third Rakat. Upon this realization/decision, you will go into sajdah (from your Qiyaam) and make up the missed Sajdah and thereafter stand back up (Qiyaam) and complete the remaining Salah and perform Sajdah Sahw. 

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best,

Hasan Ahmed Razzak

Student – Darul Iftaa

Paterson, New Jersey, USA

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.