Abdullah (bin Masud) said: The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم prayed five rak’ahs in the noon prayer. He was asked whether the prayer had been extended. He asked what they meant by that. The people said: you prayed five rak’ahs. Then he made two prostrations after having given the salutation.

Narrated Abdullah ibn Masud: The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم offered prayer. The version of the narrator Ibrahim goes: I do not know whether he increased or decreased (the rak'ahs of prayer). When he gave the salutation, he was asked: Has something new happened in the prayer, Messenger of Allah? He said: What is it? They said: You prayed so many and so many (rak'ahs). He then relented his foot and faced the Qiblah and made two prostrations. He then gave the salutation. When he turned away (finished the prayer), he turned his face to us and said: Had anything new happened in prayer, I would have informed you. I am only a human being and I forget just as you do; so when I forget, remind me, and when any of you is in doubt about his prayer he should aim at what is correct, and complete his prayer in that respect, then give the salutation and afterwards made two prostrations.

This tradition has also been transmitted by Abdullah (bin Masud) through a different chain of narrators. This version goes; when one of you forgets (in his prayer), he should perform two prostrations. Then he turned away, and performed two prostrations (due to forgetfulness). Abu Dawud said: The narrator Husain also reported it like al-Amash.

Abdullah (bin Masud) said; The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم led us in five rak’ahs of prayer. When he turned away (i, e, finished his prayer), the people whispered among themselves. He asked; what is the matter with you ? They said: Messenger of Allah, has (the number of the rak’ahs of) the prayer been increased ? he said: No. they said; you have offered five rak’ahs of prayer. He then turned away and performed two prostrations, and afterwards gave the salutation. He then said: I am only a human being, I forget, as you forget.

Narrated Muawiyah ibn Khudayj: One day the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم prayed and gave the salutation while a rak'ah of the prayer remained to be offered. A man went to him and said: You forgot to offer one rak'ah of prayer. Then he returned and entered the mosque and ordered Bilal (to utter the Iqamah). He uttered the Iqamah for prayer. He then led the people in one rak'ah of prayer. I stated it to the people. They asked me: Do you know who he was? I said: No, but I can recognise him if I see him. Then the man passed by me, I said: It is he. The people said: This is Talhah ibn Ubaydullah.