5/135. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1216 — Satan’s Distraction in Prayer
Concerning the two prostration of forgetfulness before the Salam
Satan’s Distraction and Doubt in Salah
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1216
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1216
حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ وَكِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنِي الزُّهْرِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ " إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَأْتِي أَحَدَكُمْ فِي صَلاَتِهِ، فَيَدْخُلُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ نَفْسِهِ حَتَّى لاَ يَدْرِي زَادَ أَوْ نَقَصَ. فَإِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ، فَلْيَسْجُدْ سَجْدَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ. ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمْ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The Satan comes to any one of you while he is praying and comes between him and his soul, until he does not know whether he as added something or omitted something. If that happens, then he should prostrate twice before the Salam, then he should say the Salam.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1216In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 414English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1216
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1216
This Hadith speaks about a cause of confusion during prayer. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that Satan comes to a person while he is praying and comes between him and himself until he does not know whether he added something or omitted something. If that happens, the person should prostrate twice before saying Salam, then say Salam. This is an important Hadith for searches like waswasah in salah, Satan causing doubt in prayer, and sujood sahw before Salam. The text does not tell the person to stop praying or panic. It gives a direct response: make two prostrations before the Salam when this kind of doubt happens.
What we learn from this hadith
- Satan may cause a person to become unsure during prayer.
- The doubt may be about adding or omitting something.
- The Hadith teaches two prostrations before the Salam in this case.
- The person then says the Salam after the two prostrations.
