"The Prophet(ﷺ) prayed Zuhr with five rak'ahs, and it was said to him: 'Has something been added to the prayer?' He said: 'Why are you asking?' They said: 'You prayed five.' So he turned around and prostrated twice."
The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)
Sunan an-Nasa'i - Hadith 1254
Hadith Text
"The Prophet(ﷺ) prayed Zuhr with five rak'ahs, and it was said to him: 'Has something been added to the prayer?' He said: 'Why are you asking?' They said: 'You prayed five.' So he turned around and prostrated twice."
Scholarly Commentary
This noble hadith demonstrates the perfection of the Prophetic Sunnah regarding forgetfulness in prayer. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) inadvertently added a rak'ah to the noon prayer, his companions observed this with proper etiquette, asking indirectly if the prayer had been increased.
The Prophet's response shows his humility and openness to correction from his ummah. His performing two prostrations of forgetfulness (sujud al-sahw) after the tasleem establishes the ruling that if one adds to the prayer unintentionally, one should perform the prostrations of forgetfulness after completing the prayer.
This incident contains profound wisdom: it teaches us that even the infallible in conveying revelation was subject to human forgetfulness in personal acts, thereby comforting the ummah when they experience similar lapses. The method of correction shown by the companions exemplifies the proper manner of advising those in authority - with gentleness and respect.
Legal Rulings Derived
1. The prostrations of forgetfulness are performed after the tasleem when adding rak'ahs to prayer
2. It is permissible for the congregation to inform the imam of his mistake with proper etiquette
3. Forgetfulness can occur even to the best of creation, and the Shari'ah provides remedies for such occurrences
4. The prayer remains valid despite such additions when followed by the prescribed prostrations