5/19. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 573a — Sujood Sahw After Forgetting Rak'ahs
As-Sahw (forgetfulness) in prayer and prostrating to compensate for it
Sujood Sahw Hadith: Correcting a Forgotten Rak'ah in Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 573a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 573a
حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ، - قَالَ عَمْرٌو حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، - حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ سِيرِينَ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِحْدَى صَلاَتَىِ الْعَشِيِّ إِمَّا الظُّهْرَ وَإِمَّا الْعَصْرَ فَسَلَّمَ فِي رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَتَى جِذْعًا فِي قِبْلَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَاسْتَنَدَ إِلَيْهَا مُغْضَبًا وَفِي الْقَوْمِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ فَهَابَا أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَا وَخَرَجَ سَرَعَانُ النَّاسِ قُصِرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَقَامَ ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَقُصِرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ أَمْ نَسِيتَ فَنَظَرَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَمِينًا وَشِمَالاً فَقَالَ " مَا يَقُولُ ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ " . قَالُوا صَدَقَ لَمْ تُصَلِّ إِلاَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ . فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ فَرَفَعَ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ وَسَجَدَ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ وَرَفَعَ . قَالَ وَأُخْبِرْتُ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ وَسَلَّمَ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in one of the two evening prayers, Zuhr or `Asr, and gave salutations after two rak`ahs and going towards a piece of wood which was placed to the direction of the Qibla in the mosque, leaned on it looking as if he were angry. Abu Bakr and `Umar were among the people and they were too afraid to speak to him and the people came out in haste (saying): The prayer has been shortened. But among them was a man called Dhul-Yadain who said: Messenger of Allah, has the prayer been shortened or have you forgotten?The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) looked to the right and left and said: What was Dhul-Yadain saying? They said: He is right. You (the Holy Prophet) offered but two rak`ahs. He offered two (more) rak`ahs and gave salutation, then said takbir and prostrated and lifted (his head) and then said takbir and prostrated, then said takbir and lifted (his head).He (the narrator) says: It has been reported to me by `Imran b. Husain that he said: He (then) gave salutation.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 573aIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 126USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1182
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 573a
This hadith is about sujood sahw, the prostration of forgetfulness, when a prayer mistake happens. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم led an evening prayer, either Zuhr or Asr, and gave salutation after only two rak'ahs. People became unsure and some thought the prayer had been shortened. Dhul-Yadain asked a clear question: had the prayer been shortened, or had the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم forgotten? The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not ignore the concern. He checked with the people, accepted the truthful correction, completed the remaining rak'ahs, and then made two prostrations. The main lesson is simple: when a mistake in prayer is noticed, it should be handled with truth, calm checking, and the proper prayer correction shown in the hadith.
What we learn from this hadith
- When a mistake in prayer is noticed, it is right to seek clarification respectfully.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم verified the concern with others before completing the prayer.
- The missed rak'ahs were completed, followed by prostrations connected to forgetfulness.
- People should speak truthfully when asked about a matter in prayer.
