Subchapter

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Buhainah (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) led them in the Zuhr prayer, and when he stood up at the end of the first two Rak'at and did not sit, the people stood up with him. When he finished the Salat (prayer) and the people expected him to do the Taslim (salutation), he uttered the Takbir while sitting and made two prostrations before saying the Taslim (salutation), then he uttered the Taslim (salutation). [Reported by as-Sab'ah and this is al-Bukhari's wording]. In the narration of Muslim it is mentioned that, "He (ﷺ) uttered the Takbir for each prostration while sitting and the people prostrated with him to make up for the sitting he had forgotten."

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) led us in two Rak'at of one of the two, Zuhr or 'Asr prayers, and said the Taslim (salutation). He then got up and went towards a piece of wood which was at the front part of the mosque and placed his hands upon it. Abu Bakr and 'Umar were among the people, but they were afraid to speak to him. Then some of the hasty type of people came out and said, "Has the Salat (prayer) been shortened?" A man whom the Prophet (ﷺ) called Dhul Yadain (the long armed) asked: "Have you forgotten, O Allah's Messenger or has the prayer been shortened?" He said, "I have neither forgotten nor has it been shortened." He said, "Indeed you have forgotten." He [the Prophet (ﷺ)] then prayed the remaining two Rak'at, then said the Taslim (salutation). He then uttered the Takbir and prostrated similar to his normal prostration or longer, then raised up his head and uttered the Takbir. He then prostrated and uttered the Takbir, and the prostration was similar to his normal prostration or longer. He then raised his head and uttered the Takbir. [Agreed upon, and it is al-Bukhari's wording]. And in the narration of Muslim: "'Asr prayer". And in Abu Dawud: "He said, 'Has Dhul-Yadain spoken the truth?' Then they said 'Yes' with gesture". This is found in Sahihain, but with the word "Fa qalu". And in another narration: "and he did not prostrate till Allah made him certain of this (i.e. as-Sahw)."

Narrated 'Imran bin Husain (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) led them [the Companions (RA)] in prayer and forgot (something). He then made two prostrations and then said the Tashahhud and uttered the Taslim (salutation). [Reported by Abu Dawud, and at-Tirmidhi who graded it Hasan (good), and al-Hakim who graded it Sahih (authentic)].

Narrated Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "When anyone of you is in doubt about his Salat (prayer) and does not know how many he has prayed, three or four (Rak'at) he should cast aside his doubt and base his prayer on what he is sure of. Then, he should perform two prostrations before Taslim (salutation). If he has prayed five Rak'at, they will make his Salat (prayer) an even number for him and if he has prayed exactly four, they (i.e. two prostrations) will be humiliation for the devil." [Reported by Muslim].

Narrated Ibn Mas'ud (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered prayer and when he said Taslim (salutation), he was asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Has something new happened to the Salat (prayer)?" He asked, "What is that?" They said, "You have prayed so many and so many (Rak'at)." He [Ibn Mas'ud (RA)] said, "He then bent his legs, faced the Qiblab, and made two prostrations and then said the Taslim (salutations). Then he faced us and said, "If something new is introduced to the Salat (prayer), I shall inform you but I am a human being like you, I forget just as you forget; so if I forget remind me and if any of you is in doubt about his Salat (prayer) he should act upon what he thinks is correct and complete his prayer in that respect and then he should make two prostrations." [Agreed upon]. And in the narration of al-Bukhari: 'he should complete (the prayer) then he should say Taslim and then perform the prostration'. And in the narration of Muslim: 'the Prophet (ﷺ) performed two Sajdatus-Sabw after Taslim and talking'. In the narration of Ahmad, Abu Dawud and an-Nasa'i from the Hadith of 'Abdullah bin Ja'far (RA) Marfu' [attributed to the Prophet(ﷺ)]: 'Whoever doubts about his Salat (prayer), should make two prostrations after the Taslim (salutations).' [Ibn Khuzaimah graded it Sahib (authentic)].

Narrated al-Mughira bin Shu'ba (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "When one of you doubts and stands at the end of two Rak'at, if he remembers while having stood up completely he should continue and should not return (to the sitting position) and he should make two prostrations, but if he did not stand up straight he should sit down and there is no forgetfulness (prostration) upon him." [Reported Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and ad-Daraqutni, with a weak Sanad (chain); the wording is ad-Daraqutni's].

Narrated 'Umar (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "There is no (prostrations of) forgetfulness for one who is led (in prayer) by an Imam, but when the Imam forgets, both should then make prostrations due to forgetfulness." [al-Bazzar and al-Baihaqi reported it through a weak chain of narrators].

Narrated Thawban (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "There are two prostrations after the Taslim (salutation) for each forgetfulness." [Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah reported it through a weak chain of narrators].

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): We prostrated with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (as he recited these Surah) "When the heaven split asunder" (Surah 84) and "Read in the Name of your Lord" (Surah 96). [Reported by Muslim).

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas (RA): A prostration while reciting Surat Sad (Surah 38) is not one of the 'Azaa'im (those which are always required), but I have seen Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) prostrating while reciting it. [Reported by al-Bukhari].

Narrated [Ibn 'Abbas (RA)]: The Prophet (ﷺ) prostrated in Surat an-Najm (Chapter 53). [Reported by al-Bukhari].

Narrated Zaid bin Thabit (RA): I recited to the Prophet (ﷺ) "an-Najm" (Surah 53) but he did not prostrate in it. [Agreed upon).

Narrated Khalid bin Ma'dan (RA): Surat al-Hajj has been distinguished by two prostrations. [Abu Dawud reported it among al-Marasil (a broken chain after the Tabi'i)]. Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi reported the above Hadith through a full chain of narrators from 'Uqba bin 'Aamir. It has the addition: "If anyone does not make two prostrations (when reciting Surat Al-Hajj), he should not recite it." [The chain of this Haditb is Da'if (weak)].

Narrated 'Umar (RA): He said, "O people! We pass (in our recitation) verses to be prostrated at, so whoever prostrates has done the right thing, and there is no sin upon the one who does not prostrate." [al-Bukhari reported it]. It also contains the words: 'Allah the Most High has not made the prostration (of recitation) compulsory, unless one wishes (to do so).' [This Hadith is in the Muwatta' of Imam Malik).

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite the Qur'an to us, and when he came to a place where a prostration should be made, he uttered the Takbir and prostrated and we prostrated with him. [Reported by Abu Dawud through a chain containing some weakness].

Narrated Abu Bakra (RA): Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) received a matter which pleased him he used to prostrate to Allah [out of thankfulness]. [Reported by al-Khamsa except an-Nasa'i].

Narrated 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Auf (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) prostrated and prolonged the Sajda, he then raised his head and said, "Jibrael (Gabriel) had come and given me glad tidings, thereafter I prostrated in gratitude to Allah." [Ahmad reported it and al-Hakim graded it Sahih (authentic)].

Narrated Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) sent 'Ali to Yemen. The narrator mentioned the complete Hadith. He said, "Ali sent a letter regarding their (the people of Yemen) acceptance of Islam. When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) read the letter, he prostrated in gratitude to Allah the Most High for that." [Reported by al-Baihaqi]. And its basic meaning is found in Sahih al-Bukhari.