Religious experts stated that posting dhikr notes in public areas is permissible if certain conditions are met: preserving the sanctity of Allah’s name, coordinating with the authorities responsible for the place, and following regulations to prevent desecration, damage, or exposure to dirt. Posting notes solely to encourage dhikr does not allow ignoring these rules, as there are multiple ways to remind people without compromising the sanctity of the text.
Regarding sujud al-sahw (prostration of forgetfulness), the fatwa clarified that it is a confirmed sunnah to correct mistakes or omissions in prayer, whether forgetting a rak‘ah, extra actions, missing the middle tashahhud, or doubt in the number of rak‘ahs. If the prostration is missed, the prayer remains valid because it is a recommended act, not an obligatory pillar. The timing of sujud al-sahw differs by jurisprudential school:
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Hanafi: after the taslim for both addition and omission is preferable.
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Maliki: before taslim preferable for omission, after taslim preferable for addition.
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Shafi‘i: before taslim preferred in both cases.
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Hanbali: the worshiper may choose either option.
Concerning ablution and purity before dhikr, the fatwa confirmed that dhikr does not require ablution. The Prophet ﷺ engaged in dhikr in all circumstances. Performing ablution before dhikr grants additional reward, but dhikr is permissible in all conditions, including the junub state, promoting inner peace and consistent remembrance.
The fatwa also stated that dhikr, including tasbih, tahleel, sending prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ, and supplication, is valid for everyone: the ritually impure, junub, menstruating, and postnatal women, according to scholarly consensus, without a specific purification requirement.
