13/25. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1243 — Sujood Sahw
Estimating (what is most likely the case)
Sujood Sahw After Prayer Mistake Hadith
Sunan an-Nasai : 1243
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1243
أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ الْمُجَالِدِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْفُضَيْلُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عِيَاضٍ - عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلاَةً فَزَادَ فِيهَا أَوْ نَقَصَ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ قُلْنَا يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ هَلْ حَدَثَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ شَىْءٌ قَالَ " وَمَا ذَاكَ " . فَذَكَرْنَا لَهُ الَّذِي فَعَلَ فَثَنَى رِجْلَهُ فَاسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ فَسَجَدَ سَجْدَتَىِ السَّهْوِ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ " لَوْ حَدَثَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ شَىْءٌ لأَنْبَأْتُكُمْ بِهِ " . ثُمَّ قَالَ " إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ أَنْسَى كَمَا تَنْسَوْنَ فَأَيُّكُمْ شَكَّ فِي صَلاَتِهِ شَيْئًا فَلْيَتَحَرَّ الَّذِي يَرَى أَنَّهُ صَوَابٌ ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمْ ثُمَّ يَسْجُدْ سَجْدَتَىِ السَّهْوِ " .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed and did more or less (rak'ahs). When he had said the salam we said: 'O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), has there been some change concerning the prayer?' He said: 'Why are you asking?' So we told him what he had done.He turned back toward the Qiblah and prostrated two prostrations of forgetfulness, then he turned to face us and said: 'If there had been some change concerning the prayer I would have told you.' Then he said: 'Rather I am a human being and I forget as you forget. If any one of you is not sure about his prayer, let him estimate what he thinks is correct, and complete his prayer on that basis, then say the taslim and prostrate two prostrations of forgetfulness.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1243In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 65English translation : Vol. 2, Book 13, Hadith 1244
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1243
This Hadith is about sujood sahw after a prayer mistake. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) prayed with more or fewer rak'ahs, and after the salam the Companions asked if something had changed in the prayer. He asked why they were asking, and they mentioned what had happened. He then turned toward the Qiblah and made two prostrations of forgetfulness. The Hadith also repeats the rule for doubt in prayer: estimate what seems correct, complete the prayer on that basis, say taslim, and then make two prostrations. This makes the teaching easy to follow. It also shows that asking about a mistake in prayer can help correct it, when done with respect.
What we learn from this hadith
- A prayer mistake can be corrected with two prostrations of forgetfulness.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) clarified that prayer rules would not change without being announced.
- When unsure, the worshipper should estimate what seems correct.
- Respectful correction helped identify what had happened.
