Sunnahs are acts that, if performed, bring reward, and if omitted, incur no punishment. Any act of worship attains its perfection when its Sunnahs are also included.

The Sunnahs of Salah are divided into two types:

1. Sunnahs Similar to Fard (Ab’ad Sunnahs)

If any of these Sunnah acts are omitted, they can be compensated by performing Sajdah as-Sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) before concluding the prayer (before Salam).

The Sajdah as-Sahw is performed like the regular prostrations.

There are seven Ab’ad Sunnahs in Salah:

1. The first Tashahhud (Attahiyyat)
2. The Salawat (sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ) after the first Tashahhud
3. The sitting required for both the first Tashahhud and its Salawat
4. The Qunoot (special supplication) in the Fajr prayer or in the Witr prayer during the second half of Ramadan
5. Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ and his family after the Qunoot
6. The standing for the above two (Qunoot and Salawat)
7. Sending Salawat upon the Prophet’s ﷺ family after the final Tashahhud

No matter how many of these seven are omitted, performing two prostrations (Sajdah as-Sahw) suffices.

2. Hay’at Sunnahs

All other Sunnahs in Salah fall under this category.

Since they are not similar to Fard, omission does not require Sajdah as-Sahw.

Some Hay’at Sunnahs include:

1. Verbally pronouncing the intention (Niyyah)
2. Mentioning the number of Rak’ahs in the intention
3. Raising the hands at the specified points (like Takbiratul Ihram and others)
4. Placing the hands below the chest and above the navel
5. Performing the opening supplication (Du’a al-Istiftah)
6. Reciting “A’udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim” before Surah Al-Fatihah
7. Reciting aloud in the first two Rak’ahs of night prayers
8. Saying “Ameen” after Surah Al-Fatihah
9. Reciting a Surah after Surah Al-Fatihah
10. Saying “Allahu Akbar” during transitions
11. Reciting Dhikr during Ruku, I’tidal, Sujud, and sitting between the two Sujuds
    

Sajdah as-Sahw (Prostration of Forgetfulness) and Tilawah Sujud

Sajdah as-Sahw is performed before concluding the prayer (before Salam) by doing two prostrations after the sitting position.

It becomes necessary in cases such as:

• Omitting any of the Ab’ad Sunnahs
• Having doubt in acts that affect the validity of prayer
• Forgetting and thereby unintentionally adding or omitting physical Fard acts
• Prolonging acts like I’tidal or the sitting between Sujuds which should be short
• Doubting the number of Rak’ahs, especially when it may lead to adding extra units
• Uttering verbal elements incorrectly or in the wrong place

When praying in congregation, if the Imam makes such a mistake, those following the Imam must also perform Sajdah as-Sahw with him.

Tilawah Sujud (Prostration of Recitation)

If a special verse of prostration (Ayah of Sajdah) is recited, a prostration must be performed. This is called Sajdah at-Tilawah.

Only one prostration is required. There are fourteen places in the Quran where this occurs.

If a verse of Sajdah is recited during Salah:

• If praying individually, one must prostrate upon one’s own recitation.
• If hearing someone else’s recitation, the listener does not prostrate unless the Imam himself performs it during congregational prayer.

Outside of Salah:

• Hearing the recitation obligates a Sunnah prostration, but if it occurs during Salah, one should immediately perform the prostration and then return to the standing position to continue the prayer.
  

If performed outside Salah:

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Make an intention for Tilawah Sujud.

• Say Takbiratul Ihram (“Allahu Akbar”).
• Perform the Sujud.
• Then say Salam to conclude.

Supplication for Tilawah Sujud:

“Sajada wajhi lilladhi khalaqahu, wa shaqqa sam’ahu wa basarahu, bi hawlihi wa quwwatihi, fatabarakallahu ahsanul khaliqeen.”

(Meaning:

“My face has prostrated to the One who created it and brought forth its hearing and sight by His might and His power. Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.”)