The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)

كتاب السهو

Chapter 1: The takbir when standing up following two rakahs

It was narrated that 'Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Asamm said

"Anas bin Malik was asked about the takbir in the prayer. He said: "The takbir should be said when bowing, when prostrating, when raising one's head from prostration and when standing up following the first two rak'ahs.' Hutaim said: 'From whom did you learn this?' He said: 'From the Prophet (ﷺ), Abu Bakr and 'Umar, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with them.' Then he fell silent and Hutaim said to him: 'And 'Uthman?' He said: 'And 'Uthman.'"

Chapter 3: Raising the hands in level with the shoulders when standing for the last two rak'ahs

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to raise his hands when he began to pray, when he wanted to bow, when he raised his head from bowing, and when he stood up after the first two rak'ahs, he would raise his hands likewise, level with his shoulders.

Chapter 5: Greeting people with a hand gesture while praying

It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us and we were raising our hands during the Salah. He said: 'Why are you raising your hands while praying, like the tails of wild horses? Stay still when you are praying.'"

It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said

"We used to pray behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and we would greet (others) with our hands. He said: 'What is the matter with those who greet (others) with their hands as if they were tails of wild horses? It is sufficient for any one of you to put his hand on his thigh and say: "As-salamu 'alaikum, as-salamu 'alaikum."

Chapter 6: Returning the salams with a gesture when praying

It was narrated that Jabir said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me on an errand, then I came back to him while he was facing the east or the west. I greeted him with salam and he gestured to me. Then when he finished he called me and said: "O Jabir!" So I came and said: "O Messenger of Allah, I greeted you with Salam but you did not answer." He said: 'I was praying.'

Chapter 11: Concession allowing one to turn to the right or left when praying

It was narrated that Jabir said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was ill, and we prayed behind him while he was sitting, and Abu Bakr repeated his takbirs so that the people could hear them. He turned to us and saw us standing, so he gestured to us to sit down. So we prayed behind him sitting. When he said the salam he said: 'Just now you were doing what the Persians and Romans do for their kings when they are sitting. Do not do that. Follow your Imams: If they pray standing then pray standing, and if they pray sitting then pray sitting.'"

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to turn to his right and left when praying, but he did not twist his neck to look behind him."

Chapter 12: Killing snakes and scorpions while praying

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us to kill the two black ones (snakes and scorpions) while praying."

Chapter 13: Carrying small children and putting them down while praying

It was narrated that Abu Qatadah said

"I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) leading the people in prayer, carrying Umamah bint Abi Al-'As on his shoulder. When he bowed he put her down and when he finished prostrating he picked her up again."

Chapter 14: Taking a few steps in the direction of the Qiblah

It was narrated that 'Aishah, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with her, said

"I knocked at the door when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was offering a voluntary prayer. The door was in the direction of the Qiblah so he took a few steps to his right or left and opened the door, then he went back to where he was praying."

Chapter 15: Clapping during prayer

Sa'eed bin Al-Musayyab and Abu Salamah bin 'Abdur-Rahman said that

They heard Abu Hurairah say: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The Tasbih is for men and clapping is for women.'"

Chapter 17: Clearing the throat while praying

It was narrated that 'Ali said

"I had certain times when I used to come to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). When I came to him I would ask for permission to enter. If I found him praying he would clear his throat and I would enter, and if I found him free he would give me permission (to enter)."

'Abdullah bin Nujayy narrated that his father said

"Ali said to me: 'I was so close to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), closer than anyone else. I used to come to him at the end of every night, before dawn, and say: "As-salamu 'alayka ya Nabiyy Allah (Peace be upon you, O Prophet of Allah)." If he cleared his throat I would go back to my family, otherwise I would enter upon him.'"

Chapter 20: Speaking During the prayer

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that

A Bedouin entered the masjid and prayed two rak'ahs, then he said: "O Allah, have mercy on me and on Muhammad and do not have mercy on anyone else." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "You have limited something vast."

Chapter 21: What a person should do if he stands up after two rak'ahs and forgets to say the tashahh

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Buhainah that

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up during the prayer when he should have sat, so he prostrated twice while sitting, before the taslim.

Chapter 22: What should a person do if he says the taslim following two rak'ahs by mistake and then

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in praying 'Asr, and he said the salam after two rak'ahs. Dhul-Yadain stood up and said: 'Has the prayer been shortened, O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) or did you forget?' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Neither.' He said: 'One of them happened, O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned to the people and said: 'Is Dhul-Yadain speaking the truth?' They said: 'Yes.' So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) completed what was left of the prayer, then he prostrated twice when he was sitting after the taslim."

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed Zuhr or 'Asr and said the taslim following two rak'ahs and left. Dhul-Shimalain bin 'Amr said to him: 'Has the prayer been shortened or did you forget?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'What is Dhul-Yadain saying?' They said: 'He is speaking the truth, O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).' So he led them in praying the two rak'ahs that he missed."

Chapter 6: Returning the salams with a gesture when praying

It was narrated from 'Ammar bin Yasir that

He greeted the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with the Salam when he was praying, and he returned the greeting.

It was narrated that Jabir said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me on an errand then I came back to him while he was praying. I greeted him with the salam and he gestured to me. When he finished he called me and said: 'You greeted me with Salam just now and I was praying.' And he was facing toward the east that day."

Chapter 10: Stern warning against turning around when praying

It was narrated that 'Aishah, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with her, said

"I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about looking here and there during prayer. He said: 'That is something that the Shaitan snatches from one's prayer.'"