Sahih al-Bukhari #1193
Forgetfulness in Prayer
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ صَلَّى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِحْدَى صَلاَتَىِ الْعَشِيِّ ـ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ وَأَكْثَرُ ظَنِّي الْعَصْرَ ـ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى خَشَبَةٍ فِي مُقَدَّمِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَيْهَا وَفِيهِمْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ فَهَابَا أَنْ يُكَلِّمَاهُ وَخَرَجَ سَرَعَانُ النَّاسِ فَقَالُوا أَقَصُرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ وَرَجُلٌ يَدْعُوهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ فَقَالَ أَنَسِيتَ أَمْ قَصُرَتْ فَقَالَ
" لَمْ أَنْسَ وَلَمْ تُقْصَرْ ". قَالَ بَلَى قَدْ نَسِيتَ. فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ فَسَجَدَ مِثْلَ سُجُودِهِ أَوْ أَطْوَلَ، ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَكَبَّرَ، ثُمَّ وَضَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَكَبَّرَ فَسَجَدَ مِثْلَ سُجُودِهِ أَوْ أَطْوَلَ، ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَكَبَّرَ.
The Prophet (ﷺ) offered one of the evening prayers (the sub-narrator Muhammad said, "I think that it was
most probably the `Asr prayer") and he finished it after offering two rak`at only. He then stood near a
price of wood in front of the Mosque and put his hand over it. Abu Bakr and `Umar were amongst
those who were present, but they dared not talk to him about that (because of excessive respect for
him), and those who were in a hurry went out. They said, "Has the prayer been reduced?" A man who
was called Dhul-Yadain by the Prophet (ﷺ) said (to the Prophet), "Has the prayer been reduced or have
you forgotten?" He said, "Neither have I forgotten, nor has the prayer been reduced." He said,
"Certainly you have forgotten." So the Prophet (ﷺ) offered two more rak`at and performed Taslim and
then said Takbir and performed a prostration of Sahu like his ordinary prostration or a bit longer and
then raised his head and said Takbir and then put his head down and performed a prostration like his
ordinary prostration or a bit longer, and then raised his head and said Takbir.
Narrated by Narrated Abu Huraira:
Context
This hadith recounts an incident where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) led a prayer and mistakenly prayed only two rak`at. After being reminded by a companion, he completed the prayer and performed prostrations of forgetfulness. This event illustrates the human aspect of the Prophet (ﷺ) and serves as a lesson on the importance of attentiveness in prayer.
Modern Application
In daily salah, this hadith teaches us that mistakes can happen even in worship. If one loses count during prayer, they can follow the Prophet's (ﷺ) example by performing prostrations of forgetfulness, allowing for a graceful correction in our spiritual practice.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer because it provides guidance on handling forgetfulness during prayer, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus in worship.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Al-Israa (The Night Journey)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًۭا
Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.
سُورَةُ المُزَّمِّلِ
Al-Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
۞ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَىِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُۥ وَثُلُثَهُۥ وَطَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَعَكَ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَىٰ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ ۚ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًۭا ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍۢ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًۭا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًۭا ۚ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۢ
Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allah determines [the extent of] the night and the day. He has known that you [Muslims] will not be able to do it and has turned to you in forgiveness, so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur'an. He has known that there will be among you those who are ill and others traveling throughout the land seeking [something] of the bounty of Allah and others fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
سُورَةُ عَبَسَ
Abasa (He frowned)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
The Prophet frowned and turned away
سُورَةُ مَرۡيَمَ
Maryam (Mary)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِمْ أَن سَبِّحُوا۟ بُكْرَةًۭ وَعَشِيًّۭا
So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [Allah] in the morning and afternoon.
Common Words
129 total97 unique15 repeated
ٱلله8x
من6x
ٱلصلوة5x
إن4x
ٱليل3x
أن3x
ٱلفجر2x
علم2x
فٱقرءوا2x
ما2x
تيسر2x
وءاخرون2x
فى2x
فإذا2x
على2x
أقم1x
لدلوك1x
ٱلشمس1x
إلى1x
غسق1x
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About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #1193 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Forgetfulness in Prayer. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Abu Huraira:.