What is the ruling for one who doubts the number of circuits?
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Question : The second question is what? He says in his second question: If one doubts the number of circuits, how should he act?
Answer : If one doubts the number of circuits, and this is after he has left the place and finished, then this doubt is not considered and he should not pay attention to it, unless he is certain of a deficiency. In that case, he returns and completes it if he remembers it soon. Likewise, if a person is one who doubts frequently, to the extent that he does not perform a worship without doubting it, then he should not pay attention to this doubt.
As for if his doubt is not habitual and he is not one who doubts frequently, and he doubts during the tawaf whether he performed three circuits or four, we tell him: Build upon what is most likely in your opinion. If it is most likely in your opinion that it was three, then it is three, so perform four. If it is most likely in your opinion that it was four, then it is four, so perform three. If neither is most likely in your opinion, then build upon certainty, and certainty is the lesser number. So if you doubt whether it is three or four, make it three if you have no preference. This is the ruling on doubt. So doubt has five categories. The first category is that it occurs after completing the worship and leaving its place, in the issue of tawaf and sa'y. This is not paid attention to and has no effect, unless you are certain of a deficiency.
The second is that there is a preference, so the stronger position is taken. If it is the lesser number, it is the lesser; if it is the greater number, it is the greater, and he builds upon it. These are two categories. The fourth is that he hesitates without a preference, so he builds upon the lesser number because it is the certain one.
The fifth is that it is from a person who doubts frequently, so he hardly performs a worship without doubting it. This is not paid attention to, because this is from the category of waswas (whispers of Satan) and has no consideration. Yes. May Allah bless you.
Answer : If one doubts the number of circuits, and this is after he has left the place and finished, then this doubt is not considered and he should not pay attention to it, unless he is certain of a deficiency. In that case, he returns and completes it if he remembers it soon. Likewise, if a person is one who doubts frequently, to the extent that he does not perform a worship without doubting it, then he should not pay attention to this doubt.
As for if his doubt is not habitual and he is not one who doubts frequently, and he doubts during the tawaf whether he performed three circuits or four, we tell him: Build upon what is most likely in your opinion. If it is most likely in your opinion that it was three, then it is three, so perform four. If it is most likely in your opinion that it was four, then it is four, so perform three. If neither is most likely in your opinion, then build upon certainty, and certainty is the lesser number. So if you doubt whether it is three or four, make it three if you have no preference. This is the ruling on doubt. So doubt has five categories. The first category is that it occurs after completing the worship and leaving its place, in the issue of tawaf and sa'y. This is not paid attention to and has no effect, unless you are certain of a deficiency.
The second is that there is a preference, so the stronger position is taken. If it is the lesser number, it is the lesser; if it is the greater number, it is the greater, and he builds upon it. These are two categories. The fourth is that he hesitates without a preference, so he builds upon the lesser number because it is the certain one.
The fifth is that it is from a person who doubts frequently, so he hardly performs a worship without doubting it. This is not paid attention to, because this is from the category of waswas (whispers of Satan) and has no consideration. Yes. May Allah bless you.
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 2672- من شك في عدد الاشواط ماذا عليه/سؤال على الهاتف 📞 /ابن عثيمين — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.