upright he would certainly have returned ﷺ, and for that very reason he commanded that one should go back in such a case. That command by itself is an independent proof that this tashahhud is obligatory—and that is the correct view. The obligation is confirmed by several other hadiths, as will be cited below. Al-Shawkani (2/228) comments: “Arguing that the omission can always be rectified by the prostration of forgetfulness would only prove non-obligation if we first concede that the prostration of forgetfulness compensates only for recommended acts and not for obligatory ones—but that premise is itself unproven.” (4) There are a number of relevant reports. The first is from Abdullah ibn Buhayna, who said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led us in two rakahs, then stood up without sitting; the people stood with him. When he had finished his prayer and we were awaiting his taslim, he pronounced takbir, then while seated performed two prostrations before the taslim, and only then gave the taslim.” It is related by Malik (1/118)—and from him Imam Muhammad (104)—as well as al-Bukhari (3/171), Muslim (2/83), Abu Dawud (1/162), al-Nasai (1/181), al-Tahawi (1/254), al-Bayhaqi (2/333, 343, 352), and Ahmad (5/345), all through the chain Malik → Ibn Shihab → al-Araj → Ibn Buhayna. The report is also transmitted by al-Tirmidhi (2/235), Ibn Majah (1/364), likewise by al-Bukhari (2/246), Muslim, al-Nasai (1/186), al-Tahawi, al-Bayhaqi (2/134, 352), and Ahmad (5/346) via other chains from Ibn Shihab; al-Tirmidhi declared it sahih. Malik further reports it—and through him al-Bukhari (3/72), Muslim, al-Nasai (1/175, 276), al-Darimi (1/353), al-Daraqutni (144), al-Bayhaqi (340, 344), and Ahmad (5/345)—all from Yahya ibn Saʿid, from al-Araj. Al-Bukhari (2/247) likewise relates it through Jaʿfar ibn Rabiʿa, while al-Tahawi records it through Yahya ibn Abi Kathir;