2/203. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1021 — Two Prostrations for Forgetfulness in Prayer
If One Prays Five Rak'ah
Sujood as-Sahw: Two Prostrations for Forgetfulness in Prayer
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1021
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1021
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، بِهَذَا قَالَ " فَإِذَا نَسِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَسْجُدْ سَجْدَتَيْنِ " . ثُمَّ تَحَوَّلَ فَسَجَدَ سَجْدَتَيْنِ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَاهُ حُصَيْنٌ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ الأَعْمَشِ .
‘Abd Allah Narrated from:
This tradition has also been transmitted by ‘Abd Allah (b. Mas’ud) through a different chain of narrators. This version goes; when one of you forgets (in his prayer), he should perform two prostrations. Then he turned away, and performed two prostrations (due to forgetfulness). Abu Dawud said: The narrator Husain also reported it like al-A'mash.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1021In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 632English translation : Book 2, Hadith 1016
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1021
This hadith focuses on sujood as-sahw, the two prostrations linked to forgetfulness in prayer. The wording is short, but the lesson is clear: when a worshipper forgets something in salah, he should make two prostrations. The report also mentions that the narrator turned away and then performed two prostrations because of forgetfulness. For someone searching for a hadith about forgetting in prayer, this gives a direct action rather than leaving the person confused. It does not describe every possible case of prayer mistakes. It simply gives a clear rule from the text: forgetfulness in salah is answered with two prostrations. This keeps the prayer connected to certainty and humble correction.
What we learn from this hadith
- Forgetfulness in prayer is treated with a clear action, not panic.
- The text points to two prostrations when a person forgets in salah.
- A worshipper should correct a prayer mistake in the way taught in the report.
