The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)

كتاب السهو

Chapter 25: Estimating (what is most likely the case)

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'If one of you is not sure about his prayer, let him estimate and prostrate twice after he has finished."

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed and did more or less (rak'ahs). When he had said the taslim, it was said: 'O Messenger of Allah, has there been some change concerning the prayer?' He said: 'If there had been some change concerning the prayer, I would have told you. Rather I am a human being and I forget as you forget. If any one of you is not sure about his prayer, let him consider an estimate of what is correct, and complete his prayer on that basis, then say the taslim and prostrate twice.'"

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said

"Whoever us not sure about his prayer, then let him estimate what is correct, then let him prostrate twice after he finished his prayer, while he is sitting."

Chapter 26: What a person should do if he prays five (rak'ahs)

It was narrated that Ibrahim bin Suwaid said

"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.'"

Chapter 29: How one should sit in the final rak'ah of the prayer

It was narrated that Wa'il bin Hujr said

"I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raise his hands when he started to pray, and when he bowed, and when he raised his head from bowing. And when he sat, he would ay his left foot on the ground and keep his right foot upright, and he placed his left hand on his left thigh, and his right hand on his right thigh, making a circle with his middle finger and thumb, and pointing."

Chapter 31: Placement of the elbows

It was narrated that Wa'il bin Hujr said

"I said: 'I am going to watch the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and see how he prays.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up and faced the Qiblah, then he raised his hands until they were in level with his ears, then he held his left hand with his right. When he wanted to bow, he raised them (his hands) likewise, then placed his hands on his knees. When he raised his head from bowing, he raised them (his hands) likewise. When he prostrated he put his hands in the same position in relation to his head, then he sat up and lay his left foot on the ground. He placed his left hand on his left thigh and his right elbow on his right thigh, and made a circle with two of his fingers. And I saw him doing like this"- Bishr (one of the narrators) pointed with the forefinger of his right hand and made a circle with the thumb and middle finger.

Chapter 36: Pointing with the finger during tashahhud

It was narrated from Malik bin Numair Al-Khuza'I that his father said

"I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) putting his right hand on his right thigh when praying and pointing with his finger."

Chapter 37: The prohibition of pointing with two fingers and with which finger one should point

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that

A man used to supplicate with two fingers and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Make it one, make it one."

Chapter 41: The obligation of tashahhud

It was narrated that Ibn Mas'ud said

"Before the tashahhud was enjoined, when we prayed we used to say: 'Peace (As-Salam) be upon Allah (SWT), pace be upon Jibril, peace be upon Mika'il.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Do not say this, for indeed Allah (SWT), the Mighty and Sublime, is As-Salam. Rather say: "At-tahiyyatu lillahi wasalawatu wat-tayibaat, as-salamu 'alaika ayah-Nabiyyu wa rahmatAllahi wa baraktuhu. As-salamu 'alaina a 'ala ibad illahis-salihin, ashadu an la ilaha ill Allah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluhu. (All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah. Peace be upon you O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger.)"

Chapter 43: What is said for the tashahhud

It was narrated that Abdullah said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, is As-Salam the source of peace; the One free from all faults), so when any one of you sits (during the prayer), let him say: At-tahiyyatu lillahi wasalawatu wat-tayibaat, as-salamu 'alaika ayah-Nabiyyu wa rahmatAllahi wa baraktuhu. As-salamu 'alaina a 'ala ibad illahis-salihin, ashadu an la ilaha ill Allah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluhu. (All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah. Peace be upon you O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger.)" Then after that, let him choose whatever words he wants."

Chapter 45: Another version of the tashahhud

It was narrated that Jabir said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach us the tashahhud just as he would teach us a surah of the Quran: 'Bismillah, wa billahi. At-tahiyyatu lillahi wasalawatu wat-tayibaat, as-salamu 'alaika ayah-Nabiyyu wa rahmatAllahi wa baraktuhu. As-salamu 'alaina a 'ala ibad illahis-salihin, ashadu an la ilaha ill Allah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluhu. As'al Allahal-jannah wa author billahi min an-nar (All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah. Peace be upon you O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger. I ask Allah for Paradise and I seek refuge with Allah from the Fire.)'"

Chapter 52: Another version

It was narrated that Musa bin Talha said

"I asked Zaid bin Kharijah who said: 'I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he said: Send salah upon me and strive hard in supplication, and say: Alahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala ali Muhammad (O Allah, send salah upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad).'"

Chapter 56: Choosing a supplication after sending salah upon the Prophet (SAW)

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said

"When we sat during the prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we used to say: 'Peace (salam) be upon Allah(SWT), peace be upon so-and-so and so-and-so.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Do not say peace (salam) be upon Allah (SWT), for Allah (SWT) is As-Salam (the Source of peace; the One free from all faults). Rather say: At-tahiyyatu lillahi wasalawatu wat-tayibaat, as-salamu 'alaika ayah-Nabiyyu wa rahmatAllahi wa baraktuhu. As-salamu 'alaina a 'ala ibad illahis-salihin (All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah. Peace be upon you O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah.) If you say that, it will be for every righteous slave in the heavens and on earth, "ashadu an la ilaha ill Allah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluhu (I bear witness that that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger.) Then let him choose any supplication that he likes to say after that.'"

Chapter 60: Another kind of supplication

It was narrated that Mu'adhbin Jabal said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) took my hand and said: 'I love you, O Mu'adh!' I said: 'And I love you, O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).' Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Never forget to say in every prayer: Rabbi a'inni 'ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni 'ibadatik (My Lord, help me to remember You, give thanks to You and worship You well.)"

Chapter 61: Another kind of supplication

It was narrated from Shadad bin Aws that

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say in his prayer: "Allahumma inni as'aluka at-thabbuta fi al-amr wal-'azimata 'alar-rushdi wa as'aluka shukr ni'matik wa husna 'ibadatik wa as'aluka qalban saliman wa lisanan sadiqan wa as'aluka min khairi ma at'lamu wa author bika min sharri ma at'lamu wastaghfiruka lima ta'lam (O Allah, I ask You for steadfastness in all my affairs and determination in following the right path, I ask You to make me thankful for Your blessings and to make me worship You properly. I ask You for a sound heart and a truthful tongue. I ask You for the best of what You know and I seek refuge in You from the worst of what You know and I seek Your forgiveness for what You know.)"

Chapter 62: Another Kind

It was narrated that Qais bin 'Ubad said

"Ammar bin Yasir led the people in prayer and he made the prayer short. It was as if they disliked that, so he said: 'Did I not do bowing and prostration properly?' They said: 'Yes.' He said: 'And I said a supplication that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say:Allahumma bi 'ilmikal-ghaiba wa qudratika 'alal-khalqi ahini ma 'alimtal-hayata khairan li, wa tawaffani idha 'alimtal-wafata khairan li. Allahumma as'aluka khashyataka fil-ghaibi wash-shahadati wa as'aluka kalimatul-aqua fir-rida'i wal ghadab, wa as'alukal-qasda fil faqr wal-ghina, wa as'aluka na'iman la yanfadu wa as'aluka qurrata ainan la tanqati'u wa as'alukar-rida'i ba'dal-qada'i wa as'aluka bardal 'aishi ba'dal-mawti, wa as'aluka ladhatan-nazari ila wajhika wash-shawqa ila liqa'ika fi fitnatin mudillatin, Allahumma zayyina dizinatil-imani waj'alna hudatan muhtadin (O Allah, by Your knowledge of the unseen and Your power over creation, keep me alive so long as You know that living is good for me and cause me to die when You know that death is better for me. O Allah, cause me to fear You in secret and in public. I ask You to make me true in speech in times of pleasure and of anger. I ask You to make me moderate in times of wealth and poverty. And I ask You for everlasting delight and joy that will never cease. I ask You to make me pleased with that which You have decreed and for an easy life after death. I ask You for the sweetness of looking upon Your face and a longing to meet You in a manner that does not entail a calamity that will bring about harm or a trial that will cause deviation. O Allah, beautify us with the adornment of faith and make us among those who guide and are rightly guided."

Chapter 68: The salam

'Amr bin Sa'd narrated from his father

That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say the taslim to his right and to his left.

Chapter 69: Placement of the hands when saying the salam

It was narrated that Ubaidullah bin Al-Qibtiyyah said

"I heard Jabir bin Samurah say: 'When we prayed behind the Prophet (ﷺ) we used to say: As-salamu 'alaykum, as-salamu 'alaykum (peace be upon you, peace be upon you)" - and Mis'ar (one of the narrators) pointed with his hand to the right and the left. He (ﷺ) said: 'What is the matter with these people who wave their hands as if they are the tails of wild horses? It is sufficient for one to place his hands on his thighs and to say the salam to his brother to his right and left."

Chapter 71: How to say the salam to one's left

It was narrated that Wasi' bin Habban said

"I said to Ibn 'Umar: "Tell me about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ); how was it?" He mentioned the takbir and he mentioned: As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah) to his right and: As-salamu 'alaykum (peace be upon you) to his left."

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say the salam to his right so that the whiteness of his cheek could be seen, and to his left so that the whiteness of his cheek could be seen."