The default principle about the one who forgets the middle Tashahūd and stands up right away is referred to different situations:
First situation: if he stands up, not completely upright and the followers did not remind him as he remembered by himself, he is not obligated to anything because this is not considered full forgetfulness and he is not obliged to prostrate for forgetfulness.
Second situation: if he stands up, not completely upright but the followers reminded him, he is obligated to retract and prostrate for forgetfulness. The evidence for this is what Ibn Mājah narrated that the Messenger of Allāh (P.B.U.H) said: “If any of you stands up right away after two Rakʽahs, not completely upright, he is obligated to sit down again. If he stands up completely upright, he is not obligated to sit down, but he is obligated to perform two prostrations for forgetfulness.”
Third situation: if he stands up from prostration of the second Rakʽah to the third Rakʽah right away, and the followers reminded him, he is obligated to continue and not retract. He is also obligated to prostrate for forgetfulness. The evidence for this is that ʽAbdullāh ibn Buḥaynah said that the Prophet (P.B.U.H) was praying and stood up after the second Rakʽah, and the followers said, “Subḥan Allāh”, but he continued. After he finished, he prostrated two prostrations for forgetfulness. (This narration is narrated by Imāms of Ḥadīth collections).
Fourth situation: if he stands up, and the followers remind him and he sits down, the scholars differed on the ruling of his prayer. The majority hold the view of considering his prayer invalid, and he is obligated to make it up because he diverted from standing, which is a pillar, to something lower in rank which is the middle Tashahūd.
However, Imām ʼAḥmad believe that there is a fine line between two situations:
– If he sits down before starting recitation, his prayer is valid.
– If he sits down intentionally after starting recitation, his prayer is invalid.
According to the Ḥanbaliys, if he retracts from standing in both situations due to his forgetfulness or his unfamiliarity with the due ruling, his prayer is valid.
Fatwa by Dr. Khālid Naṣr