The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)

Sunan an-Nasa'i - Hadith 1256

Hadith Text

"Alqamah prayed five (rak'ahs) and was told about that. He said: 'Did I really do that?' I nodded yes. He said: 'What about you, O odd-eyed one?' I said: 'Yes'. So he prostrated twice, then he narrated to us from 'Abdullah that the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed five (rak'ahs), and the people whispered to one another, then they said to him: 'Has something been added the prayer?' He said: 'No.' So they told him, and he turned around and prostrated twice, then he said: 'I am only human; I forget as you forget.'"

Scholarly Commentary

This hadith establishes the legal principle of the Prostration of Forgetfulness (Sujūd al-Sahw). When the Prophet (ﷺ) added an extra rak'ah in prayer, he demonstrated the corrective measure for such oversight.

The Companions' hesitation to immediately correct him shows their reverence, while his response "I am only human" affirms his prophethood while acknowledging human fallibility in mundane matters.

Alqamah's identical action demonstrates the continuity of this Sunnah among the successors (tābi'ūn), showing this ruling remained established practice.

The two prostrations before the salām serve to compensate for the addition to prayer, maintaining the prayer's validity despite the error.

Legal Rulings Derived

• Adding an extra rak'ah requires two prostrations of forgetfulness

• The prostrations are performed before the final salām

• Forgetting in prayer is a human trait affecting even the most righteous

• Correction of prayer leaders is permissible when they err

• The prayer remains valid despite such oversights when properly corrected