5/19. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 389h — Shaytan’s Distraction and Sujud Sahw
As-Sahw (forgetfulness) in prayer and prostrating to compensate for it
Devil Distracts Prayer Hadith: Sujud Sahw for Doubt in Salah
Sahih Muslim : 389h
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 389h
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، حَدَّثَهُمْ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا نُودِيَ بِالأَذَانِ أَدْبَرَ الشَّيْطَانُ لَهُ ضُرَاطٌ حَتَّى لاَ يَسْمَعَ الأَذَانَ فَإِذَا قُضِيَ الأَذَانُ أَقْبَلَ فَإِذَا ثُوِّبَ بِهَا أَدْبَرَ فَإِذَا قُضِيَ التَّثْوِيبُ أَقْبَلَ يَخْطُرُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَنَفْسِهِ يَقُولُ اذْكُرْ كَذَا اذْكُرْ كَذَا . لِمَا لَمْ يَكُنْ يَذْكُرُ حَتَّى يَظَلَّ الرَّجُلُ إِنْ يَدْرِي كَمْ صَلَّى فَإِذَا لَمْ يَدْرِ أَحَدُكُمْ كَمْ صَلَّى فَلْيَسْجُدْ سَجْدَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When there is a call to prayer the devil runs back breaking the wind so that he may not hear the call, and when the call is complete he comes back. And when the takbir is pronounced he again runs back, and when takbir is over he comes back and distracts a man saying: Remember such and such, remember such and such, referring to something the man did not have in his mind. with the result that he does not know how much he has prayed; so when any one of you is not sure how much he has prayed. he should perform two prostrations while sitting (qa'da).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 389hIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 105USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1161
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 389h
This hadith about the devil distracting prayer gives more detail about how distraction is described. Abu Huraira reported that when the call to prayer is made, the devil runs away so he does not hear the adhan. When the call ends, he returns. When the takbir is pronounced, he runs away again, and after it ends, he returns and distracts a person by saying, “Remember such and such,” about matters the person was not thinking of. The result is that the worshipper may not know how much he prayed. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then taught that if someone is unsure how much he prayed, he should perform two prostrations while sitting. The hadith gives both a warning about distraction and a practical response.
What we learn from this hadith
- The devil is described as fleeing from the adhan and returning after it.
- He distracts a worshipper by reminding him of other matters.
- If the person becomes unsure how much he prayed, he should make two prostrations while sitting.
- The hadith links distraction with a clear way to respond.
