5/129. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1204 — Doubt About Rak‘ah Count
Forgetfulness during Prayer
What to Do When You Forget How Many Rak‘ah
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1204
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1204
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنِي عِيَاضٌ، أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ فَقَالَ أَحَدُنَا يُصَلِّي فَلاَ يَدْرِي كَمْ صَلَّى . فَقَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ فَلَمْ يَدْرِ كَمْ صَلَّى، فَلْيَسْجُدْ سَجْدَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ " .
‘Iyad Narrated from:
‘Iyad narrated that he asked Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri: “One of us prays and he does not know how many (Rak’ah) he has prayed.” He said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When anyone of you prays and does not know how many he has prayed, let him perform two prostrations while he is sitting.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1204In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 402English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1204
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1204
This Hadith focuses on doubt in prayer, especially when a person does not know how many Rak‘ah they have prayed. Iyad asked Abu Saeed Al-Khudri about this exact problem. Abu Saeed answered with the words of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم: when one of you prays and does not know how many he has prayed, he should perform two prostrations while sitting. The Hadith is short, but it gives direct help for a common prayer mistake. People often search for sujood sahw for doubt in salah, and this narration speaks to that issue in plain words. It keeps the response simple: two prostrations while sitting.
What we learn from this hadith
- A worshipper may become unsure about the number of Rak‘ah.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave a direct action for this type of doubt.
- Two prostrations while sitting are mentioned as the response.
- The Hadith teaches calm correction instead of confusion.
