5/135. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1217 — Doubt Caused During Salah
Concerning the two prostration of forgetfulness before the Salam
When You Do Not Know How Many Rak‘ah You Prayed
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1217
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1217
حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ وَكِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، أَخْبَرَنِي سَلَمَةُ بْنُ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ " إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَدْخُلُ بَيْنَ ابْنِ آدَمَ وَبَيْنَ نَفْسِهِ فَلاَ يَدْرِي كَمْ صَلَّى فَإِذَا وَجَدَ ذَلِكَ فَلْيَسْجُدْ سَجْدَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The Satan comes between the son of Adam and his soul, and he does not know how many Rak’ah he has prayed. If a person notices that, then let him prostrate twice before he says the Salam.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1217In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 415English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1217
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1217
This Hadith is closely tied to doubt in Rak‘ah count during salah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that Satan comes between the son of Adam and his soul, so the person does not know how many Rak‘ah he has prayed. If a person notices that, he should perform two prostrations before saying the Salam. The Hadith is simple and very practical. It does not list many cases; it focuses on one common problem: losing track of the number of Rak‘ah. For people searching what to do when you forget how many Rak‘ah in prayer, this narration gives a direct answer connected to sujood sahw before Salam.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person may lose track of the number of Rak‘ah in prayer.
- The Hadith links this confusion to Satan’s interference.
- The response mentioned is two prostrations before Salam.
- The Hadith gives a clear action when the person notices this doubt.
