1. During recitation of the Quran (Sujood Ul-Telawa): There are fifteen verses in the Quran that refer to sujood. They are clearly marked in the current prints of the Quran. It is a sunnah (voluntary act) that when one listens to a recitation of one or more of these verses, he or she is to say Takbir (Allah is Greater), prostrate and repeat the Takbir when rising. There is no tasleem.

2. For thankfulness (Sujood Ul-shukr) When one receives a bounty, good tidings or is relieved from hardship, and wants to express gratitude to Allah, he may do so by prostrating in thankfulness.

3. For forgetfulness during prayer (salat) (Sujood Ul- Sahwi): To make up for such forgetfulness, one performs two prostrations preferably before (but may be after) the final salutation (tasleem). This is done when:

A. One performs tasleem and concludes the prayer before it is complete. In this case one goes back to complete the prayer and performs two sujoods.

B. Praying more than the prescribed rak`as. One then prostrates twice after tasleem.

C. There is doubt about the number of rak`as one has performed. In this case, the smaller number is considered, the prayer is completed and two sujoods are performed before tasleem.

D. Forgetting the first Tashahud or one of the sunnah acts of prayer.

E. However, if one forgets an obligatory (fardh) act of prayer, the two prostrations cannot make up for it (Ibn Hajar in Fat hul Bari) and the prayer is invalid.