What is Sunan Ibn Majah 951 about?

This hadith from Sunan Ibn Majah (Book of Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them), narrated by It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:, states: "“The Satan comes between the son of Adam and his soul, and he does not know how many Rak’ah he has prayed. If a person notices that, then let him prostrate twice before he says the Salam.”"

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan Ibn Majah, which contains 4,345 hadiths across 38 books. It is hadith number 951 in the Book of Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

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#950

#951

Sunan Ibn Majah

#952

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Sunan Ibn Majah #951

Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ وَكِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، أَخْبَرَنِي سَلَمَةُ بْنُ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَدْخُلُ بَيْنَ ابْنِ آدَمَ وَبَيْنَ نَفْسِهِ فَلاَ يَدْرِي كَمْ صَلَّى فَإِذَا وَجَدَ ذَلِكَ فَلْيَسْجُدْ سَجْدَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

“The Satan comes between the son of Adam and his soul, and he does not know how many Rak’ah he has prayed. If a person notices that, then let him prostrate twice before he says the Salam.”

Narrated by It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

Context

This hadith addresses the distractions that can occur during prayer, particularly the influence of Satan, who may cause a person to lose track of how many units of prayer they have completed. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) provided a practical solution for this issue by instructing individuals to perform two additional prostrations if they are uncertain, ensuring their prayer remains valid.

Modern Application

In daily salah, if you find yourself unsure about the number of rak'ahs you have prayed, you can follow the Prophet's guidance by performing two extra prostrations. This practice helps maintain the integrity of your prayer and fosters a sense of peace.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Prophetic Conduct because it offers a method to address uncertainty during prayer, reflecting the Prophet's (ﷺ) guidance on maintaining focus.

Prayer Prophetic Conduct

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ الأَعۡرَافِ

Al-A'raaf (The Heights)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

يَٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ كَمَآ أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْءَٰتِهِمَآ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ يَرَىٰكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُۥ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا ٱلشَّيَٰطِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.

وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ نَزْغٌۭ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing.

سُورَةُ الفُرۡقَانِ

Al-Furqaan (The Criterion)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

لَّقَدْ أَضَلَّنِى عَنِ ٱلذِّكْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَآءَنِى ۗ وَكَانَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ لِلْإِنسَٰنِ خَذُولًۭا

He led me away from the remembrance after it had come to me. And ever is Satan, to man, a deserter."

سُورَةُ النُّورِ

An-Noor (The Light)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

۞ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّبِعْ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ مَا زَكَىٰ مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَدًۭا وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ

O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever, but Allah purifies whom He wills, and Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

سُورَةُ فُصِّلَتۡ

Fussilat (Explained in detail)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ نَزْغٌۭ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

And if there comes to you from Satan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

Common Words

96 total71 unique14 repeated

ٱلشيطن6x

من6x

لا4x

إنه3x

هو2x

وإما2x

ينزغنك2x

نزغ2x

فٱستعذ2x

بٱلله2x

سميع2x

عليم2x

خطوت2x

ٱلله2x

يبنى1x

ءادم1x

يفتننكم1x

كما1x

أخرج1x

أبويكم1x

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About Sunan Ibn Majah

This hadith is #951 from Sunan Ibn Majah, in the Book of Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:.

Browse all Sunan Ibn Majah All Hadith Collections

Sunan Ibn Majah #951

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sunan Ibn Majah

About This Hadith