Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the muezzin gives the call to prayer (adhan), Satan leaves the mosque, passing wind as he goes. When the muezzin becomes silent, Satan returns. Then when the muezzin gives the iqamah, Satan again leaves the mosque, passing wind as he goes. When the muezzin becomes silent, he returns. He comes to the Muslim person during his prayer and creates various thoughts in his mind, so that he no longer remembers whether he has added to or omitted something from his prayer. When a person faces this situation, then when he is sitting (i.e., during the tashahhud), he should perform two prostrations of forgetfulness (sajda sahw); he should do this before saying the final salam, and then say the salam."

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If someone is in doubt during prayer and does not know whether he has performed three rak'ahs or four, then he should stand up and perform another rak'ah, and then, while he is sitting, before saying the salam, he should perform two prostrations of forgetfulness (sajda sahw). If the rak'ah he performed was the fifth, then these two prostrations will make it even, and if it was the fourth, then these two prostrations will disgrace the nose of Satan."

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When a person performs prayer and is unsure whether he has prayed three rak'ahs or four, he should complete it until he is certain that he has completed the prayer. Then, before saying the final salam, he should perform two prostrations of forgetfulness (sajda sahw). If his prayer was odd, these (prostrations) will make it even, and if his prayer was already even, then these prostrations will be a means of humiliating Satan."

Muhammad bin Yusuf narrates: I heard my father narrate: Once, Sayyiduna Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) led the people in prayer. After performing two rak‘ahs, he stood up again, although he was supposed to sit. The people said "Subhan Allah" at this, but he did not sit down, until when he sat for the final tashahhud to say the salam, he performed two prostrations of forgetfulness (sajda sahw). He said: I saw the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) perform the prayer in this manner. The words of the narrator named Nishapuri are: I saw the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) do this.