The Book of Prayer

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Pray standing and if you are unable, pray sitting and if you cannot, pray lying on your side, [otherwise pray by signs]."[Reported by al-Bukhari, (without the final words)].

The saying of the Prophet (ﷺ) to a sick person who prayed on a cushion: The Prophet (ﷺ) threw it away and said, "Pray on the ground, if you are able to do so; otherwise, pray by gesturing signs and make your prostration lower than your bowing."[al-Baihaqi reported it through a strong chain of narrators, but Abu Hatim regarded it as Mauquf (saying of a Companion)].

The Prophet (ﷺ) led them in the Zuhr prayer, and when he stood up at the end of the first two Rak'at and did not sit, the people stood up with him. When he finished the Salat (prayer) and the people expected him to do the Taslim (salutation), he uttered the Takbir while sitting and made two prostrations before sayingthe Taslim (salutation), then he uttered the Taslim (salutation).[Reported by as-Sab'ah and this is al-Bukhari's wording].

In the narration of Muslim it is mentioned that, "He (ﷺ) uttered the Takbir for each prostration while sitting and the people prostrated with him to make up for the sitting he had forgotten."

The Prophet (ﷺ) led us in two Rak'at of one of the two, Zuhr or 'Asr prayers, and said the Taslim (salutation). He then got up and went towards a piece of wood which was at the front part of the mosque and placed his hands upon it. Abu Bakr and 'Umar were among the people, but they were afraid to speak to him. Then some of the hasty type of people came out and said, "Has the Salat (prayer) been shortened?" A man whom the Prophet (ﷺ) called Dhul Yadain (the long armed) asked: "Have you forgotten, O Allah's Messenger or has the prayer been shortened?" He said, "I have neither forgotten nor has it been shortened." He said, "Indeed you have forgotten." He [the Prophet (ﷺ)] then prayed the remaining two Rak'at, then said the Taslim (salutation). He then uttered the Takbir and prostrated similar to his normal prostration or longer, then raised up his head and uttered the Takbir. He then prostrated and uttered the Takbir, and the prostration was similar to his normal prostration or longer. He then raised his head and uttered the Takbir.[Agreed upon, and it is al-Bukhari's wording].

"'Asr prayer".

"He said, 'Has Dhul-Yadain spoken the truth?' Then they said 'Yes' with gesture".

This is found in Sahihain, but with the word "Fa qalu".

"and he did not prostrate till Allah made him certain of this (i.e. as-Sahw)."

The Prophet (ﷺ) led them [the Companions (RA)] in prayer and forgot (something). He then made two prostrations and then said the Tashahhud and uttered the Taslim (salutation).[Reported by Abu Dawud, and at-Tirmidhi who graded it Hasan (good), and al-Hakim who graded it Sahih (authentic)].

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "When anyone of you is in doubt about his Salat (prayer) and does not know how many he has prayed, three or four (Rak'at) he should cast aside his doubt and base his prayer on what he is sure of. Then, he should perform two prostrations before Taslim (salutation). If he has prayed five Rak'at, they will make his Salat (prayer) an even number for him and if he has prayed exactly four, they (i.e. two prostrations) will be humiliation for the devil."[Reported by Muslim].

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered prayer and when he said Taslim (salutation), he was asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Has something new happened to the Salat (prayer)?" He asked, "What is that?" They said, "You have prayed so many and so many (Rak'at)." He [Ibn Mas'ud (RA)] said, "He then bent his legs, faced the Qiblab, and made two prostrations and then said the Taslim (salutations). Then he faced us and said, "If something new is introduced to the Salat (prayer), I shall inform you but I am a human being like you, I forget just as you forget; so if I forget remind me and if any of you is in doubt about his Salat (prayer) he should act upon what he thinks is correct and complete his prayer in that respect and then he should make two prostrations."[Agreed upon].

'he should complete (the prayer) then he should say Taslim and then perform the prostration'.

'the Prophet (ﷺ) performed two Sajdatus-Sabw after Taslim and talking'.

'Whoever doubts about his Salat (prayer), should make two prostrations after the Taslim (salutations).'[Ibn Khuzaimah graded it Sahib (authentic)].

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "When one of you doubts and stands at the end of two Rak'at, if he remembers while having stood up completely he should continue and should not return (to the sitting position) and he should make two prostrations, but if he did not stand up straight he should sit down and there is no forgetfulness (prostration) upon him."[Reported Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and ad-Daraqutni, with a weak Sanad (chain); the wording is ad-Daraqutni's].

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "There is no (prostrations of) forgetfulness for one who is led (in prayer) by an Imam, but when the Imam forgets, both should then make prostrations due to forgetfulness."[al-Bazzar and al-Baihaqi reported it through a weak chain of narrators].

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "There are two prostrations after the Taslim (salutation) for each forgetfulness."[Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah reported it through a weak chain of narrators].

We prostrated with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (as he recited these Surah) "When the heaven split asunder" (Surah 84) and "Read in the Name of your Lord" (Surah 96).[Reported by Muslim).

A prostration while reciting Surat Sad (Surah 38) is not one of the 'Azaa'im (those which are alwaysrequired), but I have seen Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) prostrating while reciting it.[Reported by al-Bukhari].