And the command regarding the two prostrations of forgetfulness if one prays five (units) without adding a sixth to them, and the evidence against the statement of those among the Iraqis who claimed that if he sat in the fourth (unit) for the duration of the tashahhud, he should add a sixth to the fifth, then perform the two prostrations of forgetfulness; and if he did not sit in the fourth (unit) for the duration of the tashahhud, then he must repeat the prayer. They claimed this, and this statement is an opinion from among them, contrary to the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, which Allah, Glorified and Exalted, commanded to follow. For the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in the fourth (unit), either sat in it or did not sit for the duration of the tashahhud. If he sat in it for the duration of the tashahhud, he did not add a sixth to the fifth as they claimed, and if he did not sit in the fourth (unit) for the duration of the tashahhud, he did not repeat his prayer from the beginning. So their statement, in any case, is contrary to the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and they did not use as evidence for their opposition to the established Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, any Sunnah that contradicts it, neither with an authentic nor a weak narration. And this is forbidden for every scholar to oppose the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, by his own opinion or by the opinion of anyone after the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led us in five rak‘ahs (units of prayer), so we said,“O Messenger of Allah, has a new command been revealed regarding the prayer?”He (peace and blessings be upon him) said,“No.”We said,“You have led us in such and such number of rak‘ahs.”He (peace and blessings be upon him) said,“Indeed, I am a human being; I forget just as you forget. Therefore, when any one of you forgets, he should perform two prostrations (sujood).”Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) faced the qiblah and performed two prostrations.