Forgetfulness in Prayer

'Abdullah ibn Yusuf narrated to us; Malik ibn Anas informed us, from Ibn Shihab, from 'Abd al-Rahman al-A'raj, from 'Abdullah ibn Buhaynah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in two rak'ahs of one of the prayers, then stood without sitting. The people stood with him. When he completed the prayer, and we were waiting for his taslim, he said the takbir before the taslim, performed two prostrations while seated, then said the taslim.

'Abdullah ibn Yusuf narrated to us; Malik narrated to us, from Yahya ibn Sa'id, from 'Abd al-Rahman al-A'raj, from 'Abdullah ibn Buhaynah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood after two rak'ahs of Zuhr without sitting between them. When he finished the prayer, he performed two prostrations, then said the taslim.

Abu al-Walid narrated to us; Shu'bah narrated to us, from al-Hakam, from Ibrahim, from 'Alqamah, from 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed Zuhr with five rak'ahs. He was asked, ‘Has something been added to the prayer?’ He said, ‘What is that?’ They said, ‘You prayed five rak'ahs.’ Then he performed two prostrations after saying the taslim.

Adam narrated to us; Shu'bah narrated to us, from Sa'd ibn Ibrahim, from Abu Salamah, from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Prophet (ﷺ) led us in Zuhr or 'Asr and said the taslim. Dhu al-Yadayn said to him: ‘Messenger of Allah, has the prayer been shortened?’ The Prophet (ﷺ) asked his Companions: ‘Is what he says true?’ They said: ‘Yes.’ He prayed two more rak'ahs, then performed two prostrations.

Sa'd said: I saw 'Urwah ibn al-Zubayr pray two rak'ahs of Maghrib, say the taslim, and speak. Then he prayed what remained and performed two prostrations, saying: ‘The Prophet (ﷺ) did this.’

'Abdullah ibn Yusuf narrated to us; Malik ibn Anas informed us, from Ayyub ibn Abi Tamimah al-Sakhtiyani, from Muhammad ibn Sirin, from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ended the prayer after two rak'ahs. Dhu al-Yadayn said to him: ‘Has the prayer been shortened, or did you forget, Messenger of Allah?’ The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Did Dhu al-Yadayn speak truthfully?’ The people said: ‘Yes.’ The Messenger of Allah stood and prayed two more rak'ahs, then said the taslim, said the takbir, and performed two prostrations like his usual prostration or longer, then raised his head.

Sulayman ibn Harb narrated to us; Hammad narrated to us, from Salamah ibn 'Alqamah, who said: I asked Muhammad about whether the two prostrations of forgetfulness are followed by the tashahhud. He said: ‘It is not in the narration of Abu Hurayrah.’

Hafs ibn 'Umar narrated to us; Yazid ibn Ibrahim narrated to us, from Muhammad, from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed one of the two afternoon prayers—Muhammad said: ‘I think it was most likely 'Asr’—two rak'ahs, then said the taslim. He stood by a wooden post at the front of the mosque and placed his hand on it. Abu Bakr and 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) were there, but they were reluctant to speak to him. The people in a hurry went out, saying: ‘Has the prayer been shortened?’ A man whom the Prophet (ﷺ) called Dhu al-Yadayn said: ‘Did you forget, or was it shortened?’ He said: ‘I did not forget, and it was not shortened.’ The man said: ‘Indeed, you forgot.’ The Prophet prayed two rak'ahs, said the taslim, then said the takbir and prostrated like his usual prostration or longer. Then he raised his head and said the takbir, lowered his head and said the takbir, and prostrated like his usual prostration or longer. Then he raised his head and said the takbir.

Qutaybah ibn Sa'id narrated to us; Layth narrated to us, from Ibn Shihab, from al-A'raj, from 'Abdullah ibn Buhaynah al-Asadi, an ally of Banu 'Abd al-Muttalib: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood during the Zuhr prayer, though he was supposed to sit. When he completed his prayer, he performed two prostrations, saying the takbir for each while seated, before saying the taslim. The people performed the two prostrations with him in place of the sitting he had omitted.

Ibn Jurayj corroborated him, from Ibn Shihab, regarding the takbir.

Mu'adh ibn Fadalah narrated to us; Hisham ibn Abi 'Abdullah al-Dastawa'i narrated to us, from Yahya ibn Abi Kathir, from Abu Salamah, from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When the call to prayer is given, Satan turns away, passing wind so that he cannot hear the adhan. When the adhan is finished, he returns. When the prayer is announced, he turns away; when the announcement is finished, he returns and intrudes between a person and his thoughts, saying, “Remember this and that,” things he had not been thinking of, until the person no longer knows how much he prayed. If one of you does not know whether he prayed three or four rak'ahs, let him perform two prostrations while seated.’

'Abdullah ibn Yusuf narrated to us; Malik informed us, from Ibn Shihab, from Abu Salamah ibn 'Abd al-Rahman, from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When one of you stands to pray, Satan comes and confuses him until he no longer knows how much he has prayed. When this happens to one of you, let him perform two prostrations while seated.’

Yahya ibn Sulayman said: Ibn Wahb narrated to me; 'Amr informed me, from Bukayr, from Kurayb: Ibn 'Abbas, al-Miswar ibn Makhramah, and 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Azhar (may Allah be pleased with them) sent me to 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her). They said: ‘Give her our collective greetings and ask her about the two rak'ahs after the 'Asr prayer. Tell her, “We have been told that you pray them, although we have heard that the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade them.”’ Ibn 'Abbas said: ‘I used to beat people, together with 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, for doing them.’ Kurayb said: I went to 'A'ishah and conveyed their message. She said: ‘Ask Umm Salamah.’ I went back to them and told them what she said, and they sent me to Umm Salamah with the same question they had sent me with to 'A'ishah. Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: ‘I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) forbid them, then I saw him pray them after he had prayed 'Asr. Then he came in to me while some women of Banu Haram among the Ansar were with me. I sent a young woman to him and said: “Stand beside him and tell him, ‘Messenger of Allah, Umm Salamah says: I heard you forbid these two rak'ahs, yet I see you praying them.’ If he gestures with his hand, step back from him.”’ The young woman did so. He gestured with his hand, and she stepped back from him. When he finished, he said: ‘Daughter of Abu Umayyah, you asked about the two rak'ahs after 'Asr. People from 'Abd al-Qays came to me and kept me occupied, so I missed the two rak'ahs that follow Zuhr. These are those two.’

Qutaybah ibn Sa'id narrated to us; Ya'qub ibn 'Abd al-Rahman narrated to us, from Abu Hazim, from Sahl ibn Sa'd al-Sa'idi (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) learned that there had been a dispute among Banu 'Amr ibn 'Awf. He went out with a group of people to reconcile them. The Messenger of Allah was delayed, and the time for prayer arrived. Bilal came to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: ‘Abu Bakr, the Messenger of Allah has been delayed and the time for prayer has arrived. Will you lead the people?’ He said: ‘Yes, if you wish.’ Bilal gave the iqamah, and Abu Bakr went forward and said the takbir for the people. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came walking through the rows and stood in a row. The people began clapping. Abu Bakr did not turn around during prayer, but when the people clapped repeatedly, he turned and saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), who gestured to him to lead. Abu Bakr raised both hands, praised Allah, and stepped backward until he stood in the row. The Messenger of Allah went forward and led the people in prayer. When he finished, he turned to the people and said: ‘People, why, when something happens to you in prayer, do you clap? Clapping is for women. Whoever has something happen to him in prayer, let him say, “Glory be to Allah.” No one hears him say “Glory be to Allah” without turning around. Abu Bakr, what prevented you from leading the people when I gestured to you?’ Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ‘It would not be fitting for Ibn Abi Quhafah to lead the prayer in front of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).’

Yahya ibn Sulayman said: Ibn Wahb narrated to me; al-Thawri narrated to us, from Hisham, from Fatimah, from Asma', who said: I entered upon 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) while she was praying standing, and the people were standing too. I asked: ‘What is the matter with the people?’ She gestured with her head toward the sky. I said: ‘A sign?’ She nodded, meaning: ‘Yes.’

Isma'il narrated to us; Malik narrated to me, from Hisham, from his father, from 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ), who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed at home while ill, seated, and some people prayed behind him standing. He gestured to them to sit. When he finished, he said: ‘The imam is appointed to be followed. When he bows, bow; when he rises, rise.’