Ruling on prolonging the final Sajdah of the Salaah

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

From the Fatwa of Shaikh `Abdul `Azeez Ibn Baaz رحمه الله:

QUESTION: Some people prolong the last Sajdah (prostration) in the last Raka`ah (unit) of the prayer. They exclusively mark the last Sajdah for making Du`aa while leaving out the other Sujood. And sometimes it is the Imaam (of the Masjid) who does this, while we, the followers behind him, observe him prolonging only the last Sajdah. What is the ruling on this?

Shaikh Baaz رحمه الله: ❝We do not know of any evidence in the Sharee`ah regarding prolonging (only) the last Sajdah (prostration) of the prayer. Rather, the Sunnah is that all the Sujood (prostrations) should be in accordance (i.e. without marking anyone of them as special), and he (the Imaam) should not lengthen it on the people (while in congregation). Indeed the prostrations of the one offering the Salaah should be moderate and consistent (with each other). This should also be applied to his Rukoo` (bowing) and his Qiyaam (standings) in the prayer.

So, he prolongs (the standing) in the first and the second Raka`ah (units) of the prayer, while maintaining moderation in his Sujood; and he does not lengthens the prostration on the people such that it brings difficulty on them. This should also be applied to the third and the fourth Raka`ah of the prayer while one is offering the Dhuhr, `Asr and `Ishaa’ prayers. So, he (only) recites Surah al-Faatihah (in these last two Raka`aat), then he bows in a moderate bowing that is not too long, and he does it moderately without elongating it on the people. Similarly, this should also be applied to the Sujood, all of them in the same proportion.

Meanwhile, there should be tranquility (sequential rest) in these procedures with moderation, devoid of hastiness; but the one observing the Salaah should not select the last Sajdah such that he prolongs it (by adding to it), for it is not proven in the Sunnah. Indeed the one offering the Salaah is commanded upon tranquility devoid of hastiness throughout his prayers. In the Qiyaam (standings), he should observe humility in his recitation and he avoid hastiness; in his bowing, he should observe humility and avoid hastiness; and in his rising after bowing, he should maintain moderation with tranquility, and he should not be in a haste; and the same goes for the Sujood, and the same goes for the sittings between the two Sujood; such that his prayer is in sequential approximation, just as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم observed it.❞

Source: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/noor/6085

۝۝۝۞۝۝۝

From the Fatwa of Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله:

QUESTION: What is the ruling on prolonging only the last Sajdah, other than the other pillars of prayer, (marking it specially) for making Du`aa and Istighfaar (seeking forgiveness). Does it affect the prayer if one prolongs the last Sajdah?

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله: ❝It is not from the Sunnah to prolong the final Sajdah, because the Sunnah is to have all parts of the prayer to be equal in length, i.e., Rukoo`, and the standing after it, the Sujood, and the sitting between the two Sujood, as Al-Baraa’ Ibn `Aazib رضي الله عنه said: ❝I witnessed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم offering the Salaah, and saw his Qiyaam (standing), his Rukoo` (bowing), and (the period of) standing after rising from Rukoo`, his Sujood (prostration), and his sitting between the two prostrations, and his sitting at the end before the departure (Tasleem), used to be equal in length.❞*

This is best (way to pray), but know that there is another place for making Du`aa other than Sujood, and that is the Tashahhud. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught `Abdullaah Ibn Mas`ood the Tashahhud and said: ❝Then let him choose whatever Du`aa he likes.❞** He thus made the Du`aa permissible, whether short or long, after the final Tashahhud, prior to saying Tasleem.❞

*[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (792, 801, 820) and Saheeh Muslim (1057, 1058) and the wordings are his]

**[Saheeh Muslim (897, 898, 899)]

Source: فتاوى نور على الدرب (8/2)

۝۝۝۞۝۝۝

From the Fatwa of Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan حفظه الله:

QUESTION: It is seen that some of the Imaams (of the Masjid) prolong the final Sajdah of the prayer…*

Shaikh al-Fawzaan حفظه الله: ❝The evidence is in opposition to this… (The Salaah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to be equal in length. He did not use to prolong some parts of it (and shorten some other parts), as Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله had mentioned…the first part of the prayer is better than the last part. (He صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to prolong (the standing) in the first Raka`ah, then the second Raka`ah used to be a bit shorter than the first one. The prayer (Raka`aat) of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to be consecutively (shorter than the previous Raka`ah).❞

*[The recording was not clear]

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG5vJWH5DoM

۩۞۞۞۩