Question Summary:
: Do I have to do sajdah sahw or not?

Question Detail:

Instead off praying 4 rakat farz namaz, (1) I make salam after third rakat or (2) I make salam after second rakat. How to make up for remaining rakat (s). Also consider the fact if I am praying alone or leading a jamat. Is Sajad Sahw is required.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
 
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
 
If a person prays two or three rakats instead of four rakats, then there are two situations:
 
1.      He speaks or does something that nullifies salah after the untimely salam
2.      He does not speak or do something that nullifies salah after the untimely salam
 
If one speaks or does something that breaks and nullifies salah after the untimely salam, then the salah will be nullified the salah and will have to be performed again. The ruling is the same whether one is an Imam or praying salah individually.[1] [2]
 
If one does not speak or do anything that nullifies the salah after the untimely salam, then he should resume his salah and perform a sajdah sahw at the end.[3]
 
The following masāil should be noted.
 
1.      If one is praying salah individually and turns away from the qibla out of the masjid after the untimely salam, his salah will be nullified and he will have to repeat the entire salah.
2.      If one is praying salah individually and does not turn away from the qibla after the untimely salam, he should resume his salah and perform sajdah sahw.
3.      If one is in a masjid and turns away from the qibla after the untimely salam, then this will not invalidate his salah as long as he doesn’t do anything else that nullifies salah (speaking…) [4]
4.      If one praying in a masjid makes an untimely salam and thereafter leaves the masjid, his salah will be nullified and he will have to repeat it.[5]
 
To conclude, if makes salam after two or three rakats instead of four, he should continue his salah and perform sajdah sahw if he does not do anything that nullifies salah after the untimely salam. If he does do anything that nullifies his salah, they salah will be void and he will have to perform it again.
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
 
Mawlana Saanwal ibn Muhammad,
UK
Student Darul Iftaa
 
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net