And the command to perform the two prostrations of forgetfulness is mentioned in a brief report, not a detailed one. Many of those who cannot distinguish between what is explained and what is general, and do not understand the brief and the detailed reports, may think that the one who is doubtful in his prayer is allowed to end his prayer upon doubt after performing the two prostrations of forgetfulness.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Satan comes to one of you while he is performing his prayer, and he confuses his prayer for him, until he does not know how many rak‘ahs he has prayed. So whoever faces such a situation should perform two prostrations while sitting." The meaning of the narration from Yahya bin Abi Kathir and Muhammad bin ‘Amr is also similar, that Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates from the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: "Until the state of the one praying becomes such that he does not know how many rak‘ahs he has prayed, whether three or four? So he should perform two prostrations while sitting (in tashahhud)."

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates from the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he (peace be upon him) said: "When a person (the one praying) forgets and does not know how many units of prayer he has performed, then he should perform two prostrations while he is sitting (in Tashahhud)."

In the narration from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Ja'far and Sayyiduna Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with them both) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), it is stated: "Whoever has doubt in his prayer should perform two prostrations while sitting in Tashahhud." (The author of the book states:) I have mentioned these ahadith with their chains of narration in Kitab al-Kabir. And these words are brief and not detailed.

And the evidence that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, only commanded the one who is doubtful in his prayer to perform the two prostrations of forgetfulness after he builds upon the lesser (number), so he completes his prayer based on certainty if he does not have any inclination.

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "When any of you has doubt in his prayer, he should leave the doubt and act upon what is certain. Then, if he becomes certain that his prayer is complete, he should perform two (prostrations of forgetfulness) sajdahs. If his prayer was complete, then that rak'ah and the two sajdahs will be counted as voluntary (nafl) acts, and if the prayer was not complete, then this rak'ah will complete his prayer and the two sajdahs will be a means of humiliating and disgracing Satan."

If he builds upon certainty, then he performs the two prostrations before the salam, not after the salam, contrary to the statement of those who claim that the two prostrations of forgetfulness are, in all cases, to be performed after the salam.

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri رضي الله عنه narrates from the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم that he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "When any one of you is uncertain in his prayer and does not know how many rak'ahs he has prayed—one, two, three, or four—then he should complete the number of rak'ahs about which he is in doubt, then while sitting in tashahhud, he should perform two prostrations. Thus, if his prayer was incomplete, he has now completed it, and the two prostrations will be a means of humiliation and disgrace for Satan. And if he had already completed his prayer, then this (extra) rak'ah and the two prostrations will be counted as voluntary (nafl) for him."

Imam Sahib says that Imam Rabi’ once narrated to us from his book, saying: Therefore, he should act on certainty, then perform two prostrations before saying the salam. And Abu Musa Durti and Yunus said in their narration that when any of you has doubt in his prayer, and he does not know whether he has prayed three rak‘ahs or four, then he should pray one rak‘ah and perform two prostrations before saying the salam. The rest of their narration is similar to the narration of Rabi’. Imam Abu Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, said: In my view, this hadith is evidence that if a wealthy person’s wealth is not present with him (for example, he is sitting in another area for business, etc.), then he may separate the zakat from it and give it to those entitled to charity, with the intention that if his wealth remains safe, then this is its zakat, and if his wealth has been destroyed or lost, then this is voluntary charity. Then, if he receives correct information that his wealth is safe, then the wealth he gave to the entitled recipients as obligatory zakat for his absent wealth will be valid and correct. Because the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, has declared the rak‘ah of the one praying to be valid, which he performed with two kinds of intention: that if his performed prayer was three rak‘ahs, then this would be his fourth obligatory rak‘ah, and if his prayer was already complete, then this rak‘ah would be nafl (supererogatory). And this rak‘ah will suffice for his obligatory prayer, even though he performed this rak‘ah with the intention of either obligatory or nafl.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When any one of you performs prayer and does not know how many units he has prayed, whether three or four, then he should perform one (additional) unit, perfecting its bowing and prostration, and (at the end) perform two prostrations." Muhammad bin Yahya states that I have also seen this narration as mawquf (stopped at the Companion) in another place in the book of Ayyub. Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that Umar bin Muhammad is the son of Zaid bin Abdullah bin Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), and he is the elder brother of Asim and Waqid. He says that I heard Ahmad bin Sa'id al-Dari (may Allah have mercy on him) say that Asim, Umar, Zaid, Waqid, Abu Bakr, and Farqad are all brothers. And Asim is the son of Muhammad bin Zaid bin Abdullah bin Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that Imam Darimi mentioned this to us after his narration.