Speaking During Salah (Prayer), or Turning Away Before Completion

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one knows the kind of mistake he has made, he completes it, and Sajdah (prostration) for mistake is not necessary for him. The Messenger of Allah performed al-Dhuhr Salah (prayer) with people as two Rak‘at, then he mistakenly said Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace). Dhu al-Shamalayn asked him, “O Messenger of Allah, is anything revealed about Salah (prayer)?” The Messenger of Allah asked, “Why is that?” He said that it is because you performed two Rak‘at. The Messenger of Allah then asked others, “Do you also say what he says?” They replied, “Yes, he is right.” The Messenger of Allah stood up, completed Salah (prayer) with them and performed two Sajdah (prostration) with them because of mistake? He (the narrator) has said that I then asked, ‘What do you say about the case of one who performs two Rak‘at and thinks that it is four, then says Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) and moves away; then remembers after moving away that he has performed two Rak‘at? He (the Imam) said, ‘He performs it again from the beginning? He (the narrator) has said that he then asked, ‘Why did the Messenger of Allah not perform again? He only completed with them whatever remained of his Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because the Messenger of Allah had not left his place. If one does not leave his place, he completes what is deficient of his Salah (prayer), provided, he has secured the first two Rak‘at?”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), about a man who performs two Rak‘at obligatory, then forgets and stands up before sitting between them, has said, ‘He sits down until he has not assumed Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees). His Salah (prayer) is complete. If he does not remember until he assumes Ruku‘, he then continues and after Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) performs two Sajdah (prostration) because of mistake in a sitting position?”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan al-Awwal (a.s.), ‘Did the Messenger of Allah say Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) in the first two Rak‘at while his status was as it was? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes; Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, willed to give them (people) proper understanding?”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who speaks because of forgetfulness in Salah (prayer) saying, ‘Straighten your rows? He (the Imam) said, ‘He completes his Salah (prayer), then performs two Sajdah (prostration)? I then asked, ‘Are the two Sajdah (prostration) because of mistake after or before Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is afterward?”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘In the two Sajdah (prostration) because of mistake say, ‘In the name of Allah and with Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause.’ Al-Halabiy has said that I heard him (the Imam) in another time say, ‘In the name of Allah and with Allah, O Holy prophet, Allah has granted you kindness and blessings.”’

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘The Messenger of Allah once said Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) in two Rak‘at and those behind him asked, “O Messenger of Allah, has something happened to Salah (prayer)?” The Messenger of Allah asked, “Why is that?” They replied, “You performed only two Rak‘at.” The Messenger of Allah then asked, “Was it so, O Dhu al- Yadayn?” - he was also called Dhu al-Shamalayn - He replied, “Yes, it was so.” The Messenger of Allah based his Salah (prayer) on that and completed it as four Rak‘at.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah made him to forget to grant and make it a mercy for the nation (his followers). Is it not true that if a man does so, he is reproached and is told that his Salah (prayer) is not accepted? If today someone experiences such condition he says that the Messenger of Allah has established a Sunnah (tradition) and it has become a guideline to follow. He (the Messenger of Allah) then performed two Sajdah (prostration) because of speaking.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If you stand up in the first two Rak‘at without saying Tashahhud (testimonies of belief), then remember before Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees), you must sit down. You must say Tashahhud (testimonies of belief). In case, if you do not remember until Ruku‘, then continue your Salah (prayer) as you are. When you end, perform two Sajdah (prostration) without Ruku‘, then say Tashahhud (testimonies of belief) which you had missed.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has stated this Hadith. He (the Imam) has said, ‘You may stand up in the two Rak‘at of al-Dhuhr or others without saying Tashahhud (testimonies of belief) and remember it in the third Rak‘at before Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees), you must sit down, then say Tashahhud (testimonies of belief), then stand up and complete your Salah (prayer). In case, if you do not remember until Ruku‘, then continue your Salah (prayer) until the end. When you complete it, then perform two Sajdah (prostration) because of mistake after Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) and before speaking.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who mistakenly stands up where he was to sit or sits down where he was to stand up. He (the Imam) said, ‘He performs two Sajdah (prostration) after Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) which are destroyers to destroy Satan.’”