Abu al-Malih bin Usamah narrates from his father that a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! I wish to complain to you of a whispering that I find in my chest: when I begin my prayer, I do not know whether I have ended the rak'ahs on an even number or on an odd number." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When you experience this, raise the index finger of your right hand and jab it into your left thigh, and say: 'Bismillah' (In the name of Allah), for it is a knife against Shaytan."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, and al-Bazzar also recorded it, but he did not present the wording of this hadith well; perhaps this is due to a defect in the manuscript, and Allah knows best. Its chain contains al-Muhajir bin al-Munib, narrating from Abu al-Malih, and he is majhul (unknown).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب الصلاة / 2913
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«أخرجه المعجم الكبير للطبراني برقم: 512»