ibn Mas'ud · The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we were recently in a state of ignorance, then Allah (SWT) brought Islam. Some men among us follow omens.' He said: 'That is something that they find in their own hearts; it should not deter them from going ahead.' I said: 'And some men among us go to fortune tellers.' He said: 'Do not go to them.' He said: 'Some men among us draw lines.' He said: 'One of the Prophets used to…

"We used to speak to each other during the prayer, saying whatever was necessary, at the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), until this verse was revealed: Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salah (i.e. the best prayer- 'Asr). And stand before Allah with obedience (and do not speak to others during the Salah (prayers)), so we were commanded to be silent."

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "If one of you does not know whether he prayed three or four (rak'ahs), let him pray a rak'ah then prostrate twice after that when he is sitting. Then if he prayed five (rak'ahs), they (the two prostrations) will make his prayer even-numbered, and if he had prayed four, they will annoy and humiliate the shaitan."

"If one of you is not sure about his prayer, let him estimate what he thinks is most likely to be correct and complete the prayer on that basis, then let him prostrate twice."

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'If one of you is not sure about his prayer, let him estimate and prostrate twice after he has finished."

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed and did more or less (rak'ahs). When he had said the taslim, it was said: 'O Messenger of Allah, has there been some change concerning the prayer?' He said: 'If there had been some change concerning the prayer, I would have told you. Rather I am a human being and I forget as you forget. If any one of you is not sure about his prayer, let him consider an estimate of what is…

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed Zuhr then he turned to face them and they said: 'Has there been some change concerning the prayer?' He said: 'Why are you asking?' They told him what he had done, so he turned back toward the Qiblah and prostrated twice. Then he said the salam and turned to face them and said: 'I am only human, I forget as you forget, so if I forget, then remind me.' And he said: 'If there…

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When any one of you gets up and prays, the Shaitan comes to him an confuses him until he does not know how many (Rak'ahs) he prayed. If any one of you notices that, let him prostrate twice when he is sitting."

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When the call to prayer is given, the Shaitan runs away breaking wind loudly. When the Tathwb (Iqamah) is completed, he comes back and whispers to a man in his hear, until he does not know how many (rak'ahs) he has prayed. If any one of you notices that, let him prostrate twice.'"

"I heard Ash-Sha'bi say: 'Alqamah bin Qais forgot (and made a mistake) in his prayer, and they told him about that after he had spoken, He said: 'Is that true, O odd-eyed one?' He said: 'Yes.' So he undid his cloak, then he performed two prostrations of forgtfulness,and said: 'This is what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did.' He said: And I heard Al-Hakam say: 'Alqamah had prayed five.'"

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sat to say the tashahhud, he placed his left hand on his left thigh and pointed with his forefinger, and his gaze did not go beyond he finger with which he was pointing.

"Before the tashahhud was enjoined, when we prayed we used to say: 'Peace (As-Salam) be upon Allah (SWT), pace be upon Jibril, peace be upon Mika'il.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Do not say this, for indeed Allah (SWT), the Mighty and Sublime, is As-Salam. Rather say: "At-tahiyyatu lillahi wasalawatu wat-tayibaat, as-salamu 'alaika ayah-Nabiyyu wa rahmatAllahi wa baraktuhu. As-salamu 'alaina a 'ala ibad illahis-salihin, ashadu an la ilaha ill Allah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluhu. (All compliments,…

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) addressed us and taught us our Sunnahs and our prayer. He said: 'When you stand for the prayer, make your rows straight, then let one of you lead the others. When he says the takbir, then say the takbir; when he says : "Wa lad-dallin" then say "Amin" and Allah (SWT) will answer you. Then when he says the takbir and bows, then say the takbir and bow, for the Imam bows before you and…

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever sends salah upon me once, Allah (SWT) will send salah upon him tenfold."

"I used to see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying the taslim to his right and to his left until the whiteness of his cheek could be seen."

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say the salam to his right so that the whiteness of his cheek could be seen, and to his left so that the whiteness of his cheek could be seen."

"I used to lead my people Bani Salim in prayer. I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: 'I have lost my eyesight and the rainwater prevents me from reaching the masjid of my people. I would like you to come and pray in my house in a place that I can take as a masjid.' The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'I will do that, if Allah (SWT) wills.' The next day, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came, and…