Forgetfulness in Prayer

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) performed one of the afternoon prayers (the sub-narrator Muhammad said: "I think that it was most probably the ‘Asr prayer") and he finished it after offering two Rak‘ahs only. He then stood near a piece of wood in front of the mosque and put his hand on it. Abu Bakr and ‘Umar were amongst those who were present, but they dared not talk to him about it (because of being awed by him), and those who were in a hurry went out. They said: "Has the prayer been reduced?" A man who was called Dhu al-Yadayn by the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said (to the Prophet): "Has the prayer been reduced or have you forgotten?" He said: "Neither have I forgotten, nor has the prayer been reduced." He said: "Certainly you have forgotten." So the Prophet offered two more Rak‘ahs and ended the prayer with Taslīm. Then he said Takbīr and performed a prostration like his ordinary prostration or a bit longer. Then he raised his head and said Takbīr. Then he put his head down and performed a prostration like his ordinary prostration or a bit longer. Then he raised his head and said Takbīr. [Al-Bukhāri]

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the call to prayer is announced, the devil takes to his heels and breaks wind with noise so as not to hear the call. When the call to prayer is over, he returns. When the Iqāmah is announced, he takes to his heels, and after it is over, he returns again to distract the attention of the worshiper and make him remember things which were not on his mind before the prayer, saying: 'Remember such-and-such, and remember such-and-such,' until the worshiper forgets how many units of prayer he performed.”

Sahl ibn Sa‘d As-Sā‘idi (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: News about the dispute among the people of Banu ‘Amr ibn ‘Awf reached the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and so he went to them, along with some of his Companions, to effect reconciliation between them. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not come back, and the time of the prayer was due. Bilāl went to Abu Bakr and said to him: "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) has not come yet and the time of prayer is due. Could you lead the people in prayer?" Abu Bakr said: "Yes, if you wish." Bilāl pronounced the Iqāmah and Abu Bakr went forward and said Takbīr and the people said it after him. In the meantime, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came in crossing the rows (of the praying people) and stood in the (first) row and the people started clapping. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) would never glance side-ways in his prayer, but when the people clapped much he looked back and saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) beckoned to him to carry on with the prayer. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) raised his hands and praised Allah, and retreated till he reached the (first) row. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went forward and led the people in the prayer. When he completed the prayer, he faced the people and said: "O people, why did you start clapping when something unusual happened to you in the prayer? Clapping is only for women. So whoever among you comes across something in the prayer should say 'Subhān Allah' for there is none who will not turn around on hearing 'Subhān Allah'. O Abu Bakr, what prevented you from leading the people in the prayer when I beckoned to you to do so?" Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: "How dare the son of Abu Quhāfah lead the prayer in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)?"