The Frequency of Prostration for Forgetfulness and Its Relationship to Whispers
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Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. A questioner says: I often forget in my prayers and perform the prostration for forgetfulness. A man told me that constantly performing the prostration for forgetfulness is a form of whispering (waswasah). He says: I often forget in my prayer and perform the prostration for forgetfulness. A man told me that constantly performing the prostration for forgetfulness is a form of whispering (waswasah). Is what he mentioned correct?
Answer:
The prostration for forgetfulness is for one who leaves an obligatory part, such as the first tashahhud. If he stands up and does not perform the first tashahhud, he performs the prostration for forgetfulness. For example, if he adds to the prayer by standing up for a fifth rak'ah in a four-rak'ah prayer, or for a third rak'ah in a two-rak'ah prayer, and he stands up for an extra unit, he performs the prostration for forgetfulness. He performs the prostration for forgetfulness for an addition or a deficiency in the prayer. It is not for whispers. Every time you have a whisper, you prostrate. No. You seek refuge in Allah from Satan, and that is sufficient. As for the prostration, it is specific to one who leaves something of the prayer by mistake. The first tashahhud, or if he stands up for an addition in the prayer, he performs the prostration for forgetfulness. Yes.
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. A questioner says: I often forget in my prayers and perform the prostration for forgetfulness. A man told me that constantly performing the prostration for forgetfulness is a form of whispering (waswasah). He says: I often forget in my prayer and perform the prostration for forgetfulness. A man told me that constantly performing the prostration for forgetfulness is a form of whispering (waswasah). Is what he mentioned correct?
Answer:
The prostration for forgetfulness is for one who leaves an obligatory part, such as the first tashahhud. If he stands up and does not perform the first tashahhud, he performs the prostration for forgetfulness. For example, if he adds to the prayer by standing up for a fifth rak'ah in a four-rak'ah prayer, or for a third rak'ah in a two-rak'ah prayer, and he stands up for an extra unit, he performs the prostration for forgetfulness. He performs the prostration for forgetfulness for an addition or a deficiency in the prayer. It is not for whispers. Every time you have a whisper, you prostrate. No. You seek refuge in Allah from Satan, and that is sufficient. As for the prostration, it is specific to one who leaves something of the prayer by mistake. The first tashahhud, or if he stands up for an addition in the prayer, he performs the prostration for forgetfulness. Yes.
Source
شرح إغاثة اللهفان من مصائد الشيطان لابن القيم، تتمة فصل ومن كيده الذي بلغ به من الجهال ما بلغ : الوسواس — islamhouse.com (53:20)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.