the prostrations by which the prayer is made whole.

It may also be said that some prostrations rectify the prayer when performed after the salām, so that the prayer does not contain two additions. Moreover, once the prayer is complete, they humiliate Satan and counter his intention with its very opposite. He sought to impair the servant’s prayer through the addition he introduced into it, so the servant is commanded to humiliate him by performing two additional prostrations after the salām. This increases his worship of Allah, his prostration before Allah, and his drawing near to Allah—the very thing Satan sought to diminish for him. Satan sought to reduce his good deeds, but Allah commanded him to complete his prayer and humiliate Satan.

Allah has pardoned whatever a person inadvertently adds to the prayer, whether a salām, an extra rak‘ah, or anything else, so he incurs no sin thereby. Nevertheless, his drawing near to Allah may be deficient because of the shortcomings caused by his forgetfulness. Allah therefore commanded him to make this complete through two prostrations in addition to the prayer. And Allah knows best.

Section

As for the obligation to perform these prostrations, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded them merely on account of doubt in the previously cited hadith of Abū Hurayrah, saying:

“When any one of you stands to pray, Satan comes to him and confuses him about his prayer until he no longer knows how much he has prayed. If any one of you experiences this, let him perform two prostrations while seated.”

He also commanded them when a person sets doubt aside