Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led us in one of the two afternoon prayers, perhaps it was the Zuhr prayer or perhaps the Asr prayer, though I am more inclined to think it was the Asr prayer. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ended the prayer after two rak‘ahs by saying salam. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) went towards a trunk present in the mosque and leaned against it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) was in a state of anger at that time. The hasty people left the mosque, saying: “The prayer has been shortened. The prayer has been shortened.” Among those present were Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), but neither of them had the courage to speak to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about this. Sayyiduna Dhul-Yadayn (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Has the prayer been shortened or did you (peace and blessings be upon him) forget?” The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: “What is Dhul-Yadayn saying?” The people replied: “He is speaking the truth.” So the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) led us in two rak‘ahs, then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said salam, then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said takbir, then he (peace and blessings be upon him) performed a prostration like his usual prostration, or perhaps a lengthy prostration. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his head, then said takbir and performed a prostration, then he (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his head saying takbir. The narrator named Muhammad bin Sirin says: I have come to know that Sayyiduna Imran bin Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated regarding the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Then the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said salam.
Hadith Referenceمسند الحميدي / 1013
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده صحيح
Hadith Takhrij«إسناده صحيح ، وأخرجه البخاري فى «صحيحه» برقم: 482، 714، 715، 1227، 1228، 1229، 6051، 7250، ومسلم فى «صحيحه» برقم: 573، ومالك فى «الموطأ» برقم: 309 ، 310، 311، 312، وابن خزيمة فى «صحيحه» برقم: 860، 1035، وابن حبان فى «صحيحه» برقم: 2249، 2251، 2252، 2253، 2254، 2255، 2256، 2675، 2684، 2685، 2686، 2687، 2688، والنسائي فى «المجتبیٰ» برقم: 1223، 1224 ، 1225، 1226، وأبو داود فى «سننه» برقم: 1008، وابن ماجه فى «سننه» برقم: 1214، والبيهقي فى«سننه الكبير» برقم: 3405، 3887 وأحمد فى «مسنده» برقم: 5046، 7321، وأبو يعلى فى «مسنده» برقم: 5860»
Benefit: In this hadith, it is mentioned that if the imam, due to forgetfulness, leads a prayer with fewer units (rak‘ahs), and later remembers himself or someone reminds him, then the missed rak‘ahs should be performed again in congregation, and the prostration of forgetfulness (sujud as-sahw) should be performed either before or after the salutation (salam).
From this, it is also established that the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was human.
If someone says that the imam has forgotten, then the imam should further investigate, and it is also established that it is correct to call a person with long hands "Dhul-Yadayn."
Source: Musnad al-Humaydi: Commentary by Muhammad Ibrahim bin Bashir, Page: 1013
Abu Hurairah said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led us in one of the evening (Asha) prayers, noon or afternoon. He led us in two Rak’ahs and gave the salutation. He then got up going towards a piece of wood which was placed in the front part of the mosque. He placed his hands upon it, one on the other, looking from his face as if he were angry. The people came out hastily saying: the prayer has been shortened. Abu Bakr and Umar were among the people, but they were too afraid to speak to him. A man whom the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would call “ the possessor of arms” (Dhu al-Yadain) stood up (asking him): Have you forgotten. The Messenger of Allah, or has the prayer been shortened? He said: I have neither forgotten nor has it been shortened. He said: Messenger of Allah, you have forgotten. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ turned towards the people and asked: did the possessor of arms speak the truth? They made a sign, that is, yes. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned to his place and prayed the remaining two Rak’ahs, then gave the salutation; he then uttered the takbir and prostrated himself as usual or prolonged. He then raised his head and uttered the takbir; then he uttered the takbir and made prostration as usual or made longer (prostration). Then he raised his head his and uttered the takbir (Allah is most great). The narrator Muhammad was asked: Did he give the salutation (while prostrating) dueto forgetfulness? He said: I do not remember it from Abu Hurairah. But we Are sure that Imran bin Husain (in his version) said; he then gave the salutation.
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
1008. Commentary: ➊ The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) experienced forgetfulness on a few occasions so that the principles of the Shariah could be clarified for the Ummah. ➋ The name of Dhu’l-Yadayn (Dhul-Yadayn) is mentioned as (Khiraaq). And such nicknames, if not intended as disparagement, are permissible as a jest. ➌ Even if there are many mistakes (sahw) in the prayer, two prostrations (sajdah sahw) must still be performed, as in this hadith where he gave salam after two rak‘ahs, then left and spoke. ➍ A claim made due to forgetfulness is not counted as a lie. ➎ In the prostration of forgetfulness (sajdah sahw), there is also the takbir (saying “Allahu Akbar”) and the salam (salutation). ➏ Speaking out of forgetfulness does not invalidate the prayer, nor does giving salam out of the belief that the prayer is complete. ➐ In such a situation, it is correct to build upon the prayer; that is, the entire prayer does not need to be repeated, but only the remaining rak‘ahs should be performed and then two prostrations of forgetfulness (sajdah sahw) should be made.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 1008