Chapter on the Rulings on Forgetfulness (Ahkam al-Sahw)

From him, from Faddalah from someone who narrated it from Abu Basir, who said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him said: "A man’s prayer may be raised up for him as a fourth of it, or an eighth of it, or a half of it, or more, according to how much he was heedless. But Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, completes that through the supererogatory prayers."

From him, by Hammad ibn ‘Isa, said: One of our companions narrated to me from Abu Hamzah al-Thumali: I (Abu Hamza) saw (Imam) Ali ibn al-Husayn عليه السلام, peace be upon them both, praying, and His عليه السلام cloak fell from His عليه السلام shoulders. Imam عليه السلام did not adjust it until He عليه السلام had completed His عليه السلام prayer. I asked Imam عليه السلام about that, and Imam عليه السلام said: "Woe to you! Do you know before whom I was standing? Indeed, a servant’s prayer is not accepted from him except that part of it in which he was fully attentive." I (Abu Hamza) asked: “May I be your ransom! Then we are doomed.” Imam عليه السلام said: "No, indeed Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, completes that with the supererogatory prayers."

From him, from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Abi Hamzah from Abu Basir, who said: A man said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, while I was listening: "May I be your ransom! I am very forgetful in prayer." Imam عليه السلام said: "And is there anyone who is safe from it?" I said: "I do not think anyone is more forgetful than I am." Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: "O Aba Muhammad, a servant’s prayer may be raised for him as a third, or a half, or three-quarters, or less, or more, according to the extent of his forgetfulness in it. But it is completed for him through the supererogatory prayers." Then Abu Basir said to Imam عليه السلام: "I see that the supererogatory prayers should never be abandoned under any circumstance." Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: "Yes, indeed."

Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Hammad ibn Isa from Hariz from al-Fudayl ibn Yasar from Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام and Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon them both: (Imam عليه السلام) said: "You are granted from your prayer only that portion of it to which you give your attention. So if you are heedless of it entirely, or neglect its performance, it is wrapped up and struck against the face of its performer."

Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Abdullah ibn al-Mughirah, who said: In the book of Hariz, he said: “I forgot that I was in an obligatory prayer until I had already bowed, and I had intended it as a supererogatory prayer.” He said: "It is according to what you stood for, if you stood with the intention of an obligatory prayer and then doubt entered upon you, then you are in the obligatory prayer. But if you began with the intention of a supererogatory prayer and then intended it to be obligatory, then you are in the supererogatory prayer. And if you began in an obligatory prayer and then remembered a supererogatory prayer that was due upon you, then proceed with the obligatory prayer."

Muhammad ibn Mas‘ud al-‘Ayyashi from Ja‘far ibn Ahmad from Ali ibn al-Hasan from Muhammad ibn Isa from Yunus from Mu‘awiyah, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about a man who stood for an obligatory prayer but due to forgetfulness thought it was a supererogatory one, or was in a supererogatory prayer and thought it was an obligatory one. Imam عليه السلام said: "It is according to what he began the prayer upon."

From him, from Hamdawayh, from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn, from al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, from Abdul-Aziz, from Abdullah ibn Abi Ya‘fur, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a man who stood for an obligatory prayer and prayed one rak‘ah while intending it to be a supererogatory prayer. Imam عليه السلام said: "It is according to what you stood for and intended." And Imam عليه السلام said: "If you stood while intending an obligatory prayer, and then doubt entered upon you afterward, then you are in the obligatory prayer according to what you stood for. But if you began it while intending it as a supererogatory prayer, and then afterward you intend it as obligatory, then you are in the supererogatory prayer. Indeed, what is counted for the servant from his prayer is what he began with at the start of his prayer."

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn al-Hasan from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah from ‘Ammar ibn Musa al-Sabati: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, (was asked) regarding a man who intends to pray eight rak‘ahs but ends up praying ten rak‘ahs, are the two extra rak‘ahs counted as part of another prayer upon him? Imam عليه السلام said: "No, unless he deliberately intends that. But if he did not intend it, then no."

Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Faddalah and Safwan from al-‘Ala’ from Muhammad ibn Muslim from one of the two (Imams عليه السلام), peace be upon them, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about forgetfulness in the supererogatory prayer. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is nothing upon you."

From him, from Faddalah, from Ibn Sinan, from more than one person: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: "If forgetfulness becomes frequent for you, then proceed with your prayer."

From him, from Faddalah, from al-‘Ala’, from Muhammad ibn Muslim: Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: "If forgetfulness becomes frequent for you, then proceed with your prayer, for it is likely to leave you. Indeed, it is from Shaytan."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Bukayr from Ubaydullah al-Halabi, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about forgetfulness (in prayer), for it occurs frequently with me. Imam عليه السلام said: "Merge your prayer with merging (idraj)." I asked: “What is merging?” Imam عليه السلام said: "Three tasbihat (glorifications) in the bowing and prostration."

Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Safwan from Ibn Bukayr from Muhammad ibn Muslim: Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: "Everything you doubt from what has already passed, proceed with it as it is."

From him, from al-Nadr, from Muhammad ibn Abi Hamzah, from Abdur-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj and Ali: Abu Ibrahim عليه السلام, peace be upon him, (was asked) regarding forgetfulness in prayer. Imam عليه السلام said: "You build upon certainty, act upon what is firm, and apply precaution to the entire prayer."

Ali from his father from Ibn Abi Umayr from Hafs ibn al-Bukhtari: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: "There is no forgetfulness upon the Imam (of prayer), nor upon the one who is behind the Imam (of prayer). There is no forgetfulness upon forgetfulness, and there is no repetition upon repetition."

Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Ibn Abi Umayr from Hammad ibn Uthman from al-Halabi: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: "If you stand up after the two rak‘ahs of Dhuhr or any other prayer and did not recite the tashahhud in them, and you remember that in the third rak‘ah before bowing, then sit and recite the tashahhud, then stand and complete your prayer. But if you do not remember until after you have bowed, then proceed with your prayer until you complete it. Once you have finished, perform the two prostrations of forgetfulness after the taslim and before you speak."

Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Abi Hamzah, who said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: "If you stand up after the first two rak‘ahs and did not recite the tashahhud, and you remember before you bow, then sit and recite the tashahhud. But if you do not remember until after you have bowed, then proceed with your prayer as you are. Then, when you have finished, perform two prostrations in which there is no bowing, then recite the tashahhud that you missed."

Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Ibn Abi Umayr from ‘Umar ibn Udhaynah from al-Fudayl ibn Yasar: Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, (was asked) regarding a man who prays the first two rak‘ahs of an obligatory prayer, then forgets and stands up before sitting between them. Imam عليه السلام said: "Then let him sit down as long as he has not yet bowed, and his prayer is complete. But if he does not remember until after he has bowed, then let him continue in his prayer. When he finishes with the salam, he should peck out (quickly perform) two (rak‘ahs) while sitting."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi from Mansur ibn al-‘Abbas from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id from al-Hasan ibn Sadaqah: I said to Abu al-Hasan al-Awwal عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “Did the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, ever end his prayer with the taslīm after only the first two rak‘ahs?” Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes." I asked: “Even in his state, as he was?” Imam عليه السلام said: "Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, only intended to teach them (people around Him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) jurisprudence."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa from Ali ibn al-Nu‘man from Sa‘id al-A‘raj, who said: I heard Abu Abdillah عليه السلام say: "The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, once prayed and then performed the salam after two rak‘ahs. Those behind Him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: 'O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, has something occurred in the prayer?' He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: 'What is that?' They said: 'You only prayed two rak‘ahs.' He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: 'Is that so, O Dhu al-Yadayn?', as he used to be called Dhu al-Shimalayn. He (Dhu al-Shimalayn) replied: 'Yes.' So the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم continued from where He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم had left off, completed the prayer as four rak‘ahs, and said: 'Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, is the One عز وجل who made me forget, as a mercy to the ummah. Do you not see that if a man were to do this, he would be reproached, and it would be said to him: ‘Your prayer is not accepted?' But whoever experiences this now, let him know that the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, has already established the precedent and it has become a model to follow.' And He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم performed two prostrations (sajdatayn) because of the speech that took place."

Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Ibn Abi Umayr from Jamil, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about a man who had prayed two rak‘ahs and then stood up. Imam عليه السلام said: "He must start over." I asked: “What about what people narrate, then I mentioned to him the narration of Dhu al-Shimalayn.” Imam عليه السلام said: "The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, did not leave His صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم place, and had He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم left it, He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would have had to start over."

From him, from Faddalah, from al-Husayn ibn ‘Uthman, from Sama‘ah, from Abu Basir, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about a man who prayed two rak‘ahs and then got up and went about his need. Imam عليه السلام said: "He must begin the prayer anew." I asked: “Why is it that the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, did not restart the prayer when He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم had prayed two rak‘ahs?” Imam عليه السلام said: "The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, had not left his place."

As for what was narrated by al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Safwan by al-‘Ala’ from Muhammad by Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: Imam عليه السلام was asked about a man who joined the Imam (of prayer) in prayer while the Imam (of prayer) had already performed one rak‘ah before him. When the Imam completed the prayer, the man left with the people, then afterward remembered that he had missed a rak‘ah. Imam عليه السلام said: "He should repeat it as one rak‘ah."

From him, from Ibn Abi Umayr, from Abdullah ibn Bukayr, from Ubayd ibn Zurarah, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about a man who performs the morning prayer as one rak‘ah, recites the tashahhud, then finishes, leaves, and goes about, and afterward remembers that he had only prayed one rak‘ah. Imam عليه السلام said: "He should add one rak‘ah to it."

Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Hasan from Zur‘ah from Sama‘ah: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever remembers his forgetfulness and completes the prayer, then there are no two prostrations of forgetfulness (sajdatay al-sahw) required upon him. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, once led the people in Dhuhr prayer, prayed two rak‘ahs, then due to forgetfulness stopped. Dhu al-Shimalayn said to Him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم: 'O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, has something new been revealed in the prayer?' He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: 'What is that?' He (Dhu al-Shimalayn) said: 'You only prayed two rak‘ahs.' The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, said: 'Do you all say what he (Dhu al-Shimalayn) is saying?' They said: 'Yes.' So He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم stood up and completed the prayer with them and performed two prostrations of forgetfulness." He (Sama‘ah) said: “I asked, ‘What about someone who prays two rak‘ahs and thinks they were four, so he gives salam and leaves, then afterward remembers that he only prayed two rak‘ahs?’" Imam عليه السلام said: "He must begin the prayer from the start." I (Sama‘ah) asked: "Then why did the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, not restart the prayer, and instead just completed what remained of it?" Imam عليه السلام said: "The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, had not left His صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم place. So if one has not left his place, then let him complete what is missing from his prayer, so long as he has retained the two initial rak‘ahs."

As for what was narrated by Sa‘d from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ja‘far ibn Bashir from Hammad ibn Uthman from Ubayd ibn Zurarah, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about a man who performed one rak‘ah of the morning prayer, then finished and went out to attend to his needs, then remembered that he had only prayed one rak‘ah. Imam عليه السلام said: "Then let him complete what remains."

As for what was narrated by Sa‘d ibn Abdullah from Ibn Abi Najran from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Hammad from Hariz from Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a man who prayed two rak‘ahs in Kufa, then remembered, while he was in Mecca, or in Medina, or in Basra, or in another town among the towns, that he had only prayed two rak‘ahs. Imam عليه السلام said: "He should pray two rak‘ahs."

Muhammad ibn Mas‘ud from Ja‘far ibn Ahmad, who said: Ali ibn al-Hasan and Ali ibn Muhammad narrated to me by al-‘Ubaydi from Yunus from al-‘Ala’ from Muhammad ibn Muslim from one of the two (Imams عليه السلام): He was asked about a man who joined the Imam (of prayer) in prayer after the Imam (of prayer) had already completed one rak‘ah. When the Imam (of prayer) finished, the man left with the people, then remembered that he had missed a rak‘ah. He said: “He should repeat one rak‘ah, it is permissible for him to do so as long as he has not turned his face away from the qiblah. But if he has turned his face away, then he must begin the prayer anew from the start.”

Ali ibn Mahziyar from al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Faddal from Yunus ibn Ya‘qub, who said: I said to Abu al-Hasan عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “I led a group in prayer, and I sat for the tashahhud, then stood up and forgot to offer the salam to them.” So they said (to narrator): "You did not offer salam to us." Imam عليه السلام said: "Did you not offer salam while you were sitting?" I said: “Yes.” Imam عليه السلام said: "Then there is no harm upon you. And even if you had forgotten, when they said that to you, and you turned your face to them and said, 'Peace be upon you,' it would have been acceptable."

Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Ibn Abi Umayr from Abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from Muhammad ibn Muslim: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, (was asked) regarding a man who has doubt after he has finished his prayer. Imam عليه السلام said: "He does not repeat it, and there is nothing upon him."

From him, from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from Abu Isma‘il al-Sarraj from Habib al-Khath‘ami, who said: I complained to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about frequent forgetfulness in prayer. Imam عليه السلام said: "Count your prayers with pebbles," or Imam عليه السلام said: "Keep track of them with pebbles."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi Umayr from Hammad ibn Uthman from Ubaydullah al-Halabi: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, (was asked) regarding a man who is standing behind the Imam (of prayer) and the Imam (of prayer) prolongs the tashahhud. Imam عليه السلام said: “He may give salam behind him and go about his need if he wishes.”

From him, from Musa ibn al-Qasim from Ali ibn Ja‘far from his brother (Imam) Musa ibn Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon them both, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a man who is behind the Imam (of prayer), and the Imam (of prayer) prolongs the tashahhud, and the man is taken by the need to urinate, or he fears something may be missed, or he experiences pain, what should he do? Imam عليه السلام said: "He should recite the tashahhud himself and leave, and leave the Imam."

Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Faddalah from Abu al-Maghra, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about a man who is behind the Imam (of prayer) and, due to forgetfulness, gives salam before the Imam (of prayer) does. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm."

Sa‘d from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Musa ibn ‘Umar from Musa ibn Isa from Marwan ibn Muslim from ‘Ammar ibn Musa al-Sabati, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about something regarding forgetfulness in prayer. Imam عليه السلام said: "Shall I not teach you something that, if you do it, and then afterward remember that you either completed or left something out, there will be nothing upon you?" I said: “Yes.” Imam عليه السلام said: "If you forget, then build upon the greater number (of rak‘ahs). Then, when you finish and give salam, stand and pray what you thought you had left out. If it turns out that you had completed the prayer, then what you prayed afterward is not counted against you. And if you remember that you had actually missed something, then what you prayed afterward completes what was missing."

Sa‘d from Abu al-Jawza’ from al-Husayn ibn ‘Alwan from ‘Amr ibn Khalid from Zayd ibn Ali from his forefathers: (Imam) Ali عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: "The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, led us in the Dhuhr prayer and prayed five rak‘ahs. Then He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم finished, and one of the people said to Him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, 'O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, has something been added to the prayer?' He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: 'What is that?' He (the man) said: 'You صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم prayed five rak‘ahs with us.' So He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم turned to face the qiblah, said takbir while seated, then performed two prostrations in which there was no recitation and no bowing, then gave salam. And He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم used to say: "They (sajda tu sahw) are the two that humiliate Satan (al-murghimatan).’"

Al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Faddalah from Abdullah ibn Sinan: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: "If you forget something from the prayer, whether bowing, prostration, or takbir, and then you remember it, then perform whatever you missed, just the same."

From him, from Abdur-Rahman ibn Abi Najran from Safwan from al-‘Ayyas, who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about a man who forgot a rak‘ah from his prayer until he finished it, then remembered that he had not bowed. Imam عليه السلام said: "He should stand, perform the bowing, and then perform two prostrations."

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub from Hamzah ibn Ya‘la from Ali ibn Idris from Muhammad from his brother Abu Jarir: Abu al-Hasan (Imam) Musa عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: "When a man is in prayer and his father calls him, he should glorify (say tasbih); but if his mother calls him, he should respond by saying, 'Here I am (labbayk).'"

From him, from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Musa ibn al-Qasim from Ali ibn Ja‘far from his brother (Imam) Musa ibn Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon them both, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a man who is praying behind an Imam (of prayer) and does not know how many rak‘ahs have been prayed, does he have to perform anything for forgetfulness? Imam عليه السلام said: "No."

From him, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hasan ibn Mahbub from Abdullah ibn Bukayr from Zurarah: I asked Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “Did the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, ever perform the two prostrations of forgetfulness? Imam عليه السلام said: "No, and no Faqih (Jurist) performs them."

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Abdullah ibn al-Hajjal from Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Ash‘ari from Hamzah ibn Humran: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "No Faqih (Jurist) has ever repeated a prayer; rather, he finds a solution and manages it so that he does not have to repeat it."

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Hilal from ‘Uqbah ibn Khalid: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام (said) regarding a man who was called by someone while he was praying, and due to forgetfulness, he answered him for his need, what should he do? Imam عليه السلام said: "He should continue with his prayer and perform a lot of takbirs (saying 'Allahu Akbar')."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn Umayrah from Bakr ibn Abi Bakr, who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “Sometimes I doubt in the surah, I do not know whether I have recited it or not, so I repeat it.” Imam عليه السلام said: "If it is a long surah, then no, do not repeat it. But if it is a short surah, then repeat it."

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub from al-‘Abbas from Abdullah ibn al-Mughirah from Mu‘awiyah ibn Wahb, who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “I recite a surah and then, due to forgetfulness, realize it when I am at its end, should I return to the beginning of the surah or continue?” Imam عليه السلام said: "Rather, continue."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Abi Nasr from Hammad ibn Isa from Hariz ibn Abdullah from Zurarah, who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “A man doubts about the adhan while he has already entered into the iqamah.” Imam عليه السلام said: "He continues." I asked: “A man doubts about the adhan and the iqamah and he has already said the takbir.” Imam عليه السلام said: "He continues." I asked: “A man doubts about the takbir and he has already begun the recitation.” Imam عليه السلام said: "He continues." I asked: “He doubts about the recitation and he has already bowed.” Imam عليه السلام said: "He continues." I asked: “He doubts about the bowing and he has already prostrated.” Imam عليه السلام said: "He continues with his prayer." Then Imam عليه السلام said: "O Zurarah, when you have left something and moved on to something else, your doubt regarding the former is of no consequence."

From him, from al-Hasan ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Ri'ab from Muhammad ibn Muslim: Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: "Whenever you have doubt about something after you have finished your prayer, proceed and do not repeat it."

Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Faddal from Abu Jamilah from Zayd al-Shahham Abu Usamah, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a man who prayed ‘Asr with six rak‘ahs or five rak‘ahs. Imam عليه السلام said: "If he is certain that he prayed five or six, then he must repeat it. But if he does not know whether he added or shortened, then he should say the takbir while sitting, then perform two rak‘ahs, reciting in them the Opening of the Book (Al-Fatihah), at the end of his prayer, then perform the tashahhud. And if he is certain that he prayed only two or three rak‘ahs, and then left and spoke without realizing that he had not completed the prayer, then he must complete what remains of the prayer. For indeed, the Prophet of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, once prayed two rak‘ahs with the people, then forgot until He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم finished. Dhu al-Shimalayn said to Him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم: 'O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, has something happened in the prayer?' So He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: 'O people, did Dhu al-Shimalayn speak the truth?' They said: 'Yes, you only prayed two rak‘ahs.' So He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم stood and completed what remained of His صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم prayer."

From him, from al-Hasan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from a man from Jamil ibn Darraj from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: I said to Imam عليه السلام: “A man misses the Dhuhr, ‘Asr, and Maghrib prayers, and he remembers them at the time of the last Isha prayer.” Imam عليه السلام said: "He should begin with the prayer whose time he is currently in, because he does not know if death might come to him and he would have left an obligatory prayer within its time. Then he should make up what he missed, starting with the earliest first."

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya from Ayyub ibn Nuh from Safwan from ‘Anbasah, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a man who does not know whether he performed two rak‘ahs, one rak‘ah, or three. Imam عليه السلام said: "He should build his prayer upon one rak‘ah, recite in it the Opening of the Book (Al-Fatihah), and perform two prostrations of forgetfulness (sajdatay al-sahw)."

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ja‘far ibn Bashir from Yunus from Minhal al-Qassab, who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “I experience forgetfulness in prayer while I am behind the Imam (of prayer)”. Imam عليه السلام said: "When the Imam gives salam, then perform two prostrations of forgetfulness, and do not worry."

From him, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr from Abdul-Karim from al-Husayn ibn Hammad: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: "If a man senses moisture on his garment while he is praying, then let him take hold of his private part with the edge of his garment and wipe it against his thigh. If it turns out to be a moisture he recognizes (actual impurity), then let him perform ablution and repeat the prayer. But if it is not a known moisture, then that is from Shaytan."

By him, by Ahmad ibn al-Hasan by ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id by Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah by ‘Ammar ibn Musa al-Sabati: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about forgetfulness, what cases require two prostrations of forgetfulness. Imam عليه السلام said: "If you intended to sit but stood, or intended to stand but sat, or intended to recite but instead glorified, or intended to glorify but instead recited, then you must perform two prostrations of forgetfulness. But in anything that completes the prayer, there is no forgetfulness." And (Imam عليه السلام was asked) regarding a man who intended to sit but stood up, and then remembered before initiating anything further or committing any additional act. Imam عليه السلام said: "There are no two prostrations of forgetfulness upon him until he speaks something." And (Imam عليه السلام was asked) about a man who forgets to perform the two prostrations of forgetfulness in the prayer. Imam عليه السلام said: "He should perform them whenever he remembers." And (Imam عليه السلام was asked) regarding a man who prayed three rak‘ahs thinking that they were four, and after giving salam remembered that they were only three. Imam عليه السلام said: "He builds upon his prayer whenever he remembers, performs one more rak‘ah, then recites the tashahhud, gives salam, and performs two prostrations of forgetfulness, and his prayer is valid." And Imam عليه السلام was asked about a man who forgets the bowing or forgets a prostration, whether he must perform a prostration of forgetfulness. Imam عليه السلام said: "No, he has completed the prayer." And (Imam عليه السلام was asked) regarding a man who joins the Imam (of prayer) in prayer after the Imam (of prayer) has already prayed one rak‘ah or more, and then the Imam (of prayer) makes a mistake, what should the man do? Imam عليه السلام said: "When the Imam (of prayer) gives salam and performs the two prostrations of forgetfulness, the man who joined him does not perform the prostrations. But when the man stands, continues his prayer, completes it, and gives salam, then he must perform two prostrations of forgetfulness." And (Imam عليه السلام was asked) regarding a man who makes a mistake in his prayer and does not remember it until he has prayed the Fajr prayer, what should he do? Imam عليه السلام said: "He should not perform the two prostrations of forgetfulness until the sun rises and its glare disappears." And (Imam عليه السلام was asked) regarding a man who makes a mistake behind the Imam (of prayer) and does not perform the opening takbir of prayer. Imam عليه السلام said: "He must repeat prayer, for there is no prayer without opening takbir." And (Imam عليه السلام was asked) regarding a man upon whom prayer is obligatory in a sitting position, but he forgets and stands to initiates prayer while standing, then remembers. Imam عليه السلام said: "He must sit down and initiate the prayer while sitting. Likewise, if the prayer was obligatory upon him while standing, but he forgot and initiated the prayer while sitting, then he must cut off his prayer, stand, and initiate the prayer while standing. The initial opening (takbir) he made while sitting is not counted."

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya from ‘Abbad ibn Sulayman from Sa‘d ibn Sa‘d from Muhammad ibn al-Qasim ibn al-Fudayl ibn Yasar from al-Hasan ibn al-Jahm, who said: I asked Abu al-Hasan عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about a man who prayed Dhuhr or ‘Asr and experienced an invalidating event (hadath) while sitting in the fourth rak‘ah. Imam عليه السلام said: "If he had already said “Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah wa anna Muhammada Rasulullah” (I bear witness that there is no god but Allah سبحانه وتعالى and that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم is the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى), then he does not need to repeat the prayer. But if he had not yet recited the tashahhud before the invalidating event occurred, then he must repeat the prayer."

From him, from Musa ibn ‘Umar ibn Yazid from Ibn Sinan from Abu Sa‘id al-Qammat, who said: I heard a man asking Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about a man who experiences cramping in his stomach, discomfort, or pressure from urine while he is in an obligatory prayer during the first, second, third, or fourth rak‘ah. Imam عليه السلام said: "If something like that happens to him, there is no harm in him leaving for his need, then performing ablution, and returning to his place of prayer where he was praying, and he should continue his prayer from the point where he left for his need, as long as he has not invalidated the prayer by speaking." He (narrator) said: “I asked, ‘Even if he turned to the right or left, or turned away from the qiblah?’" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, all of that is permissible. It is like the case of a man who forgets and leaves during one rak‘ah, or two, or three of an obligatory prayer. All that is required of him is to continue his prayer based on what he had already prayed." Then Imam عليه السلام mentioned the forgetfulness of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم. peace be upon him and his family.