Forgetting the Fourth Rak'ah in a Four-Rak'ah Prayer

8-7-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the ruling according to Islamic injunction on an Imam who sits down, instead of standing in the 3rd Rak'ah of a Zuhr Salat?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The Imam who sits for Tashahhud in the third Rak'ah of a four-Rak'ah Prayer should rise to perform the fourth Rak'ah if he remembers or if reminded, whether that is before Tasleem or after that as long as there is a short time between Tasleem and his remembrance. The evidence is the Hadeeth reported by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim, that “The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) concluded a four-Rak'ah Prayer after two Rak'ahs and Dhul-yadayn told him, “Has the Prayer been shortened (to two Rak'ahs) or you just forgot, O Messenger of Allah!’ The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) then asked people, “Is Dhul-yadayn right?” They said, “Yes”. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) then rose, prayed another two Rak'ahs and made Tasleem. He then said, “Allahu Akbar” and prostrated as he used to do or longer than that.”

Allah knows best.

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