The Prostration of Forgetfulness
Creator: Shaikh Abdullaah bin Saalih Al-Ubaylaan
Date: 2007-07-25
Format: text
Identifier: http://web.archive.org/web/20020626061147/www.al-manhaj.com/articleprnt.cfm?ArticleID=142
Language: en
Subject: prayer
Title: The Prostration of Forgetfulness
Created on: Wed Jul 25 21:10:58 -0400 2007
Updated on: Wed Jul 25 21:10:58 -0400 2007
Version: 1
Abstract: ... e takbeer and prostrated just like before or perhaps longer and then raised his head. Then he said takbeer again and prostrated just like before or perhaps longer and then raised his head saying takbeer…” So in this hadeeth there was something added to the prayer and it was saying the Salaam after the (first) two raka’aat. This is why Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) prostrated out of forgetfulness after the Salaam, setting the previous principle as a guideline. As for when one has doubt, then he must prostrate, as mentioned previously, before saying the Salaam. This is based on the narration of Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudree (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) who reported that Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “If one of you has doubt in his prayer and he doesn’t know how many (rak’aat) he has prayed – either three or four – then he should cast away the doubt and base it on what he is certain of. Then he should make two prostrations before making the Salaam. So if he prayed five (rak’aat), his prayer will intercede for him. And if he prayed his prayer completely, then in both cases it will serve as a spite against the Devil.” [Reported by Muslim] In the case of taharr (second consideration), which is when doubt overcomes the person praying, then he realizes the correct status of his prayer and continues, then its ruling is that he perform the prostration of forgetfulness after the Salaam. This is based on what has been reported by Ibn Mas’ood (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) who said: “The Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) once prayed and when he (finished and) made the tasleem it was said to him: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, something has been introduced into the prayer.’ So he said: ‘And what is it?’ So they said: ‘You prayed in such and such manner.’ So he bent his knees below him and faced the Qiblah. Then he made two prostrations and made the tasleem. Then he turned around and faced the people, saying: ‘If something were to be introduced into the prayer, I would surely inform you of it. However, I am... [Full Article...]
