Discussion of the Hadith of the Man with Two Hands

The Shaykh: But it suffices for him to do so before the prayer. Once the prayer is finished, it is obligatory that he... In "Sahih al-Bukhari" it is stated: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the 'Asr prayer with his companions one day. He said the closing salam after two rak'ahs, then moved to a side of the mosque and rested; he sat with one leg over the other and interlaced his fingers." This is after the prayer... We mention the full story for the benefit: "Among the Companions was a man nicknamed 'the Man with Two Hands.' He said: 'O Messenger of Allah, was the prayer shortened, or did you forget?' He prayed 'Asr for two rak'ahs, said the salam, and moved to a side of the mosque as we said, placing one leg over the other and interlacing his fingers. They understood that his sitting meant the prayer had ended, and they always knew that 'Asr is prayed for four rak'ahs. So one stood up, and he was the one nicknamed 'the Man with Two Hands,' and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, was the prayer shortened, or did you forget?' He (peace be upon him) said: . They said to him: ... We pray four, and you prayed two. He looked at the Companions, among whom were Abu Bakr and 'Umar—meaning the senior Companions—and said to them: . They said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah. He returned to his place at the prayer station." I do not say he returned to the mihrab, because the mihrab was not in the mosque of the Messenger (peace be upon him); it only appeared about a hundred years later . And with that, the prayer was completed. This is the full hadith. The point is that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) interlaced his fingers while in the mosque. So the scholars distinguished between interlacing the fingers while waiting for the prayer and interlacing the fingers after finishing the prayer. The first type, which is before the prayer, is prohibited. Then, after the prayer is finished, it is permissible if...

The questioner: Regarding the prostration for forgetfulness, if the imam prostrates after the closing salam, is he required to say the salam again?

The Shaykh: Meaning, for example, in this story, he came with the two rak'ahs, and... he has the choice: if he wishes, he says the salam and prostrates, and if he wishes, he does not say the salam and prostrates. The salam is a fixed action, but some scholars distinguish between forgetfulness involving an addition and forgetfulness involving an omission. So the conclusion, when we gather the hadiths, is that it has an effect. Therefore, the one who forgets, if he wishes, says the salam and prostrates, and if he wishes, does not say the salam and prostrates.

The questioner : to our Shaykh.

The Shaykh: Yes.