Question:
Is there an evidence that states the encouragement of reciting praise and salutations to the Prophet PBUH when one forgets something?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
It is inevitable for everyone to forget, for it is one of the weakness of mankind. Hence, it is impossible for Allah SWT to have this attribute. It is unseemly for Allah SWT as recorded in the Quran through the words of the Prophet Moses AS:
قَالَ عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّي فِي كِتَابٍ ۖ لَّا يَضِلُّ رَبِّي وَلَا يَنسَى
[Moses] said, "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a record. My Lord neither errs nor forgets."
Surah Taha (52)
Scholars have differing opinions while commenting on the above verse; where for the phrase “لَّا يَضِلُّ رَبِّي وَلَا يَنسَى” there are several opinions as to its meaning. One of it is that the Prophet Moses AS started his speech by purifying Allah SWT from these two attributes (which is erring or forgetting). (See: Fath al-Qadir, 436/3)
According to the above question, there is a hadith narrated by Anas bin Malik, where the Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا نَسِيْتُمْ شَيْئًا فَصَلُّوْا عَلَيَّ تَذْكُرُوْهُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ تَعَالَى
“When you forget something, then offer praise and salutations to me, surely you will remember it, insya-Allah.”
Reviewing the hadith, here, we include several opinions of scholars from their books where they discuss this issue:
In Jala’ al-Afham number 32, it is stated when one should recite praise and salutations to the Prophet PBUH and one of it is when one forgets something and is trying to remember it. (See: ala’ al-Afham, 429/1). Furthermore, the author also included the above hadith from Anas bin Malik.
Imam al-Sakhawi (902 H) in his book said that reciting praise and salutations to the Prophet PBUH when someone forgets something and is trying to remember it or when one feared that he may forget something is in accordance with the above hadith from Anas bin Malik. This is stated by Abu Musa al-Madiniy with a weak sanad (chain of narrators). (See: al-Qaul al-Badi’, 227/1)
Al-Qasthalani (923 H) in his book said that among the sanctioned time to recite praise and salutations to the Prophet PBUH is when one forgets something. (See: al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyah, 672/2). The author also included the narration from Anas bin Malik. Under this chapter.
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Haitami (974 H) said in his book under chapter six of stating specific time as to one should recite praise and salutations to the Prophet PBUH. One of them is when one is trying to remember something that he had forgotten or when one fears that he may forget something. (See: al-Dhur al-Mandhud, 238/1)
- It is stated in a narration with a weak sanad:
إِذَا نَسِيْتُمْ شَيْئًا فَصَلُّوْا عَلَيَّ تَذْكُرُوْهُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ تَعَالَى
“When you forget something, then offer praise and salutations to me, surely you will remember it, insya-Allah.”
- In a weak mursal hadith, it is stated:
مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِحَدِيْثٍ فَنَسِيَهُ فَلْيُصَلِّ عَلَيَّ
“Whoever is narrating a hadith and he forgets the hadith, then offer praise and salutations for me.”
- From Abu Hurairah RA (with a broken chain of narrators):
مَنْ خَافَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ النِّسْيَانَ فَلْيُكْثِرِ الصَّلَاة عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
“Whoever fears forgetfulness on himself then increase his praise and salutations on the Prophet PBUH.”
According to the above opinions of scholars, then we would conclude that reciting praise and salutations when one forgets something is encouraged even if the sanad of the related hadith is weak and it is included as fadhail al-A’mal. This is proven with the statement from Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jauziyyah, Imam al-Sakhawi, Imam al-Qusthalani and Imam Ibn Hajar al-Haitami.
Furthermore, it is stated in the Quran that we should remember Allah SWT when we forget something. Allah SWT state:
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ
“And remember your Lord when you forget,”
Surah al-Kahfi (24)
Imam Ibn Kathir (774 H) commented on the above verse stating that the attribute of forgetting something is common for someone who commits sins as stated by al-Dhahhak bin Muzahim. Due to this, Allah SWT commanded us to remember Him and protect our hearts from the shaytan the same as how the shaytan will run away when it hears the adhan. When the reason one forgets something is gone, then the forgetfulness will disappear and he will be able to remember when he remembers Allah. (See: Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 76/1)
From the above statement and commentary of Imam Ibn Kathir, then we are commanded to recite zikr or remember Allah SWT when we forget something for the reason of why we forget may be because of our sins without us realizing it. Hence, through zikr or remembering Allah SWT, the disturbance of shaytan can be avoided. Imam al-Qurthubi (671 H) in his commentary also said that the above verse commanded us to remember Allah when we forget something. (See: Tafsir al-Qurthubi, 385/10)
Closing
To conclude, the commandment of reciting praise and salutations to the Prophet PBUH is stated by early scholars in accordance with the hadith narrated by Anas bin Malik. Furthermore, we are also encouraged to increase our zikr if we often forget things. The reason is, forgetfulness is the attribute of humans. Lastly, let us all increase our zikr and praise and salutations to the Prophet PBUH, for surely there are many benefits for it since it is encouraged in the Quran and the hadith of the prophet PBUH. May Allah SWT bless us with beneficial knowledge and strength to practise what we have learnt and spreading it to others. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.