so the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, believed them to be telling the truth, until the matter later became clear.

In the hadith concerning the shortening of the prayer, he said:

“I have neither forgotten nor has the prayer been shortened.” They replied, “Yes, you have forgotten.”

He had indeed forgotten, and had spoken according to his supposition and belief, until the matter later became clear.

It is also narrated that he said:

“Indeed, I forget so that I may establish the Sunnah.”

Moreover, Allah’s words in the Quran:

“Our Lord, do not hold us accountable if we forget or make a mistake”

include both the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his community. For He says at the beginning of these verses:

“The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, as do the believers. All believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers,”

and the verses that follow.

In Sahīh Muslim, ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Īsā al-Ansārī narrates from Sa‘īd ibn Jubayr, from Ibn ‘Abbās, who said:

“While Gabriel was sitting with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, he heard a creaking sound above him. He raised his head and said, ‘This is a gate in heaven that has been opened today; it has never been opened before today.’ An angel descended through it, and he said, ‘This is an angel who has come down to earth; he has never come down before today.’ The angel offered greetings and said, ‘Rejoice in two lights you have been given, which no prophet before you was given: the Opening of the Book and the concluding verses of Sūrat al-Baqara. You will not recite any part of them without being granted what it contains.’”

In Sahīh Muslim, Ādam narrates from Sa‘īd ibn Jubayr, from Ibn ‘Abbās, who said:

“When this verse was revealed: ‘Whether you reveal what is within yourselves or conceal it, Allah will call you to account for it,’ it troubled their hearts as nothing had before. Then the Prophet said: