Question: What do I do if I doubt that I recited the Salat Ibrahimiyya (Durud Ibrahim), omitted it entirely, or recited it incorrectly? How does this ruling apply, if one is praying behind an Imam? What is the appropriate method of the prostration of forgetfulness (Sajda al-Sahw)?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate,
The Ruling Of the Prayer On the Prophet
Sending prayers of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) after the Tashahhud is an emphasized Sunna. [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah]
Therefore, omitting it, though undesirable and sinful if habitual, does not invalidate the prayer nor is the prostration of forgetfulness necessary because of it.
Mistakes In Pronunciation
As for mistakes in the recitation of the prayer on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and other remembrances of the prayer, scholars have given a more relaxed position. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar citing al-Hinduwani, al-Halwani and others]
Due to widespread ignorance and a common inability to refrain from errors in Arabic pronunciation, scholars have overlooked such mistakes and have deemed that the validity of the prayer is unaffected because of it. [Ibid.]
Dealing With Doubts
Any doubts that do not reach the strength of reasonable surety or certainty must be ignored, especially when habitually occurring. Such doubts are cast in one’s heart from the Shaytan.
For the one who is constantly in doubt abandoning caution is often the best cure.
“As for the one who is often inflicted with misgivings, it is necessary for them to sever the cause of the misgivings and not to give it any consideration. This is because it is the doing of Shaytan, and we have been commanded to oppose him.” [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
Prostration Of Forgetfulness
Prostration of forgetfulness is not necessary in this situation, however, we will mention its method for additional benefit.
The Prostration of Forgetfulness is performed by making one salaam to the right side after completing the tashahhud of the final sitting. Thereafter, one will make two prostrations just as they would normally do in the prayer. After prostrating twice, one will sit, re-recite the tashahhud supplication, and continue to finish the prayer as normal. [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah]
Note that if you did not make the one salaam directly after the tashahhud supplication and continued on, this does not affect the validity of the prayer. Rather, one will make the salaam whenever they realize it and continue as above. [Ibid.]
I hope this helps,
Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani