Hadith #65

Arabic Text

English Translation

It was narrated from Abu Hurayra (رضي الله عنه) — via Muhammad ibn Abi 'Adiyy, from Ibn 'Awn, from Muhammad [Ibn Sirin] — that the Prophet ﷺ prayed one of the two afternoon prayers [Abu Hurayra specified which, but Muhammad forgot], and prayed only two rak'ahs then gave salam. He then came to a wooden plank propped in the mosque and rested his hand on it, appearing as though angry. The hasty people rushed out through the mosque doors saying: 'The prayer has been shortened!' Among those present were Abu Bakr and 'Umar, who were too awed to speak to him. But there was a man with long arms [named] Dhu al-Yadayn, who said: 'O Messenger of Allah, did you forget or was the prayer shortened?' He said: 'I did not forget and it was not shortened.' Then he asked: 'Is it as Dhu al-Yadayn says?' They said: 'Yes.' So he came forward and prayed the rak'ah he had omitted, then gave salam, then said Allahu Akbar and prostrated like his regular prostration or longer, then raised his head and said Allahu Akbar. [Ibn Sirin, when asked about whether the Prophet ﷺ gave salam after the prostration of forgetfulness, would say:] 'I have been informed that 'Imran ibn Husayn said: Then he gave salam.'