The Prophet ﷺ offered one of the evening prayers (the sub-narrator Muhammad said, "I think that it was most probably the ʿAsr prayer") and he finished it after offering two rakʿat only. He then stood near a price of wood in front of the Mosque and put his hand over it. Abu Bakr and ʿUmar were amongst those who were present, but they dared not talk to him about that (because of excessive respect for him), and those who were in a hurry went out. They said, "Has the prayer been reduced?" A man who was called Dhul-Yadain by the Prophet ﷺ said (to the Prophet), "Has the prayer been reduced or have you forgotten?" He said, "Neither have I forgotten, nor has the prayer been reduced." He said, "Certainly you have forgotten." So the Prophet ﷺ offered two more rakʿat and performed Taslim and then said Takbir and performed a prostration of Sahu like his ordinary prostration or a bit longer and then raised his head and said Takbir and then put his head down and performed a prostration like his ordinary prostration or a bit longer, and then raised his head and said Takbir.  

صَلَّى النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِحْدَى صَلاَتَىِ الْعَشِيِّ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ وَأَكْثَرُ ظَنِّي الْعَصْرَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى خَشَبَةٍ فِي مُقَدَّمِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَيْهَا وَفِيهِمْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ ؓ فَهَابَا أَنْ يُكَلِّمَاهُ وَخَرَجَ سَرَعَانُ النَّاسِ فَقَالُوا أَقَصُرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ وَرَجُلٌ يَدْعُوهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ فَقَالَ أَنَسِيتَ أَمْ قَصُرَتْ فَقَالَ لَمْ أَنْسَ وَلَمْ تُقْصَرْ قَالَ بَلَى قَدْ نَسِيتَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ فَسَجَدَ مِثْلَ سُجُودِهِ أَوْ أَطْوَلَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَكَبَّرَ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَكَبَّرَ فَسَجَدَ مِثْلَ سُجُودِهِ أَوْ أَطْوَلَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَكَبَّرَ  

The Prophet ﷺ led us in the Zuhr prayer, offering only two rakʿat and then (finished it) with Taslim, and went to a piece of wood in front of the mosque and put his hand over it. Abu Bakr and ʿUmar were also present among the people on that day but dared not talk to him (about his unfinished prayer). And the hasty people went away, wondering. "Has the prayer been shortened" Among the people there was a man whom the Prophet ﷺ used to call Dhul-Yadain (the longarmed). He said, "O Allah's Prophet! Have you forgotten or has the prayer been shortened?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Neither have I forgotten, nor has it been shortened." They (the people) said, "Surely, you have forgotten, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ!" The Prophet ﷺ said, Dhul-Yadain has told the truth." So the Prophet ﷺ got up and offered other two rakʿat and finished his prayer with Taslim. Then he said Takbir, performed a prostration of ordinary duration or longer, then he raised his head and said Takbir and performed another prostration of ordinary duration or longer and then raised his head and said Takbir (i.e. he performed the two prostrations of Sahu, i.e., forgetfulness).  

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ صَلَّى بِنَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الظُّهْرَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى خَشَبَةٍ فِي مُقَدَّمِ الْمَسْجِدِ وَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَيْهَا وَفِي الْقَوْمِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ فَهَابَا أَنْ يُكَلِّمَاهُ وَخَرَجَ سَرَعَانُ النَّاسِ فَقَالُوا قَصُرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ وَفِي الْقَوْمِ رَجُلٌ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَدْعُوهُ ذَا الْيَدَيْنِ فَقَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ أَنَسِيتَ أَمْ قَصُرَتْ فَقَالَ لَمْ أَنْسَ وَلَمْ تَقْصُرْ قَالُوا بَلْ نَسِيتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ صَدَقَ ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ فَسَجَدَ مِثْلَ سُجُودِهِ أَوْ أَطْوَلَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَكَبَّرَ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ مِثْلَ سُجُودِهِ أَوْ أَطْوَلَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَكَبَّرَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished praying two rak'ahs,and Dhul-Yadain said to him: "Has the prayer been shortened or did you forget, O Messenger of Allah?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Is Dhul-Yadain speaking the truth?" The people said: "Yes." So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up and prayed two, then he said the takbir and prostrated as usual or longer than that. Then he raised his head, then he prostrated as usual or longer than that, then he sat up."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ انْصَرَفَ مِنَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ لَهُ ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ أَقُصِرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ أَمْ نَسِيتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَصَدَقَ ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ نَعَمْ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى اثْنَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ فَسَجَدَ مِثْلَ سُجُودِهِ أَوْ أَطْوَلَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ مِثْلَ سُجُودِهِ أَوْ أَطْوَلَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led us in one of the evening (‘Asha) prayers, noon or afternoon. He led us in two Rak’ahs and gave the salutation. He then got up going towards a piece of wood which was placed in the front part of the mosque. He placed his hands upon it, one on the other, looking from his face as if he were angry. The people came out hastily saying: the prayer has been shortened. Abu Bakr and ‘Umar were among the people, but they were too afraid to speak to him. A man whom the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would call “ the possessor of arms” (Dhu al-Yadain) stood up (asking him): Have you forgotten. The Messenger of Allah, or has the prayer been shortened? He said: I have neither forgotten nor has it been shortened. He said : Messenger of Allah , you have forgotten. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ turned towards the people and asked : did the possessor of arms speak the truth? They made a sign , that is, yes. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned to his place and prayed the remaining two Rak’ahs, then gave the salutation; he then uttered the takbir and prostrated himself as usual or prolonged. He then raised his head and uttered the takbir; then he uttered the takbir and made prostration as usual or made longer (prostration). Then he raised his head his and uttered the takbir (Allah is most great). The narrator Muhammad was asked : Did he give the salutation (while prostrating) dueto forgetfulness? He said : I do not remember it from Abu Hurairah. But we Are sure that ‘Imran b. Husain (in his version) said; he then gave the salutation. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1008)   

صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِحْدَى صَلَاتَيِ الْعَشِيِّ وَأَظُنُّ أَنَّهَا الظُّهْرُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى خَشَبَةٍ فِي قِبْلَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَوَضَعَ يَدَيْهِ عَلَيْهَا إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى الْأُخْرَى وَخَرَجَ سَرَعَانُ النَّاسِ وَقَالُوا قُصِرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ وَفِي الْقَوْمِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ رِضْوَانُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمَا فَهَابَا أَنْ يُكَلِّمَاهُ قَالَ وَفِي الْقَوْمِ رَجُلٌ إِمَّا قَصِيرُ الْيَدَيْنِ وَإِمَّا طَوِيلُهُمَا يُقَالُ لَهُ ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ فَقَالَ أَقُصِرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمْ نَسِيتَ؟ فَقَالَ ﷺ «لَمْ تُقْصَرِ الصَّلَاةُ وَلَمْ أَنَسَ» فَقَالَ بَلْ نَسِيتَ فَقَالَ «أَصَدَقَ ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ؟ » فَقَالُوا نَعَمْ فَصَلَّى بِنَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ وَسَجَدَ مِثْلَ سُجُودِهِ أَوْ أَطْوَلَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَكَبَّرَ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ وَسَجَدَ مِثْلَ سُجُودِهِ أَوْ أَطْوَلَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَكَبَّرَ قَالَ وَنُبِّئْتُ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ «ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ»  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished praying two rak'ahs,and Dhul-Yadain said to him: "Has the prayer been shortened or did you forget, O Messenger of Allah?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Is Dhul-Yadain speaking the truth?" The people said: "Yes." So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up and prayed two, then he said the takbir and prostrated as usual or longer than that. Then he raised his head, then he prostrated as usual or longer than that, then he sat up." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1225)  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ انْصَرَفَ مِنَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ لَهُ ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ أَقُصِرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ أَمْ نَسِيتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «أَصَدَقَ ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ» فَقَالَ النَّاسُ نَعَمْ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى اثْنَتَيْنِ أُخْرَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ فَسَجَدَ مِثْلَ سُجُودِهِ أَوْ أَطْوَلَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ فَسَجَدَ مِثْلَ سُجُودِهِ أَوْ أَطْوَلَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ  

"Abu Hurairah said: 'The Prophet ﷺ led us in one of the nighttime prayers.'" He said: "Abu Hurairah said: 'But I forgot (which one).' He said: 'He led us in praying two rak'ahs, then he said the taslim and went to a piece of wood that was lying in the masjid and leaned his hand on it as if he was angry. Those who were in a hurry left the masjid, and said: "The prayer has been shortened." Among the people were Abu Bakr and 'Umar but they hesitated to ask him for they revere him. Also among the people was a man with long hands who was known as Dhul-Yadain. He said: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, did you forget or has the prayer been shortened? He said: I did not forget and the prayer has not been shortened. He said: Is it as Dhul-Yadain says? They said: yes. So he came and prayed what he had missed, then he said the salam, then he said the takbir and prostrated as usual or longer than that. Then he raised his head and said the takbir, and prostrated as usual or longer than that. Then he raised his head and said the takbir.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1224)   

صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِحْدَى صَلَاتْيِ الْعَشِيِّ قَالَ ابْنُ سِيرِينَ سَمَّاهَا لَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فَنَسِيتُ أَنَا فَصَلَّى بِنَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى خَشَبَةٍ مَعْرُوضَةٍ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى الْيُسْرَى وَشَبَّكَ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِهِ وَاتَّكَأَ عَلَى خَشَبَةٍ كَأَنَّهُ غَضْبَانُ قَالَ وَخَرَجَ سَرَعَانُ النَّاسِ قَالَ النَّضْرُ يَعْنِي أَوَائِلَ النَّاسِ فَقَالُوا أَقُصِرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ وَفِي الْقَوْمِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ؟ فَهَابَاهُ أَنْ يُكَلِّمَاهُ وَفِي الْقَوْمِ رَجُلٌ فِي يَدِهِ طُولٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ فَقَالَ أَقُصِرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ أَمْ نَسِيتَ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «لَمْ تُقْصَرِ الصَّلَاةُ وَلَمْ أَنَسَ» فَقَالَ لِلْقَوْمِ «أَكَمَا يَقُولُ ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ؟ » قَالُوا نَعَمْ فَصَلَّى مَا كَانَ تَرَكَ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ وَسَجَدَ مِثْلَ سُجُودِهِ أَوْ أَطْوَلَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَكَبَّرَ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ وَسَجَدَ مِثْلَهُ أَوْ أَطْوَلَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ