If the one who prays doubts the number of rak'ahs, what should he do, and does he repeat the prayer or not?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Sometimes a person is troubled by doubt in his prayer when he is praying, thinking that he may have prayed two rak'ahs or more. What is obligatory for him to do? Does he repeat his prayer or continue it?
The Shaykh : Doubt regarding the number of rak'ahs is not free from two cases. The first case is when the doubt is one of complete hesitation, where neither side is more probable in his view. In this case, he builds upon the lesser number, because that is what he is certain of, and what is added to it is doubtful, and the original state is its non-existence. So he builds upon the lesser number, completes the prayer based on it, and prostrates twice before the taslim.
An example of this is if he doubts whether he prayed three or four, and neither four nor three is more probable in his view. He considers it three, performs one rak'ah, and prostrates for forgetfulness before the taslim. Likewise, if he doubts whether he prayed two or three, and nothing is more probable in his view, he considers it two, completes the prayer based on it, and prostrates for forgetfulness before the taslim. This is how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded.
As for when one side is more probable in his view, he builds upon what is more probable, whether it is the lesser number or the excess. Then he completes the prayer based on it, performs the taslim, and prostrates twice after the taslim.
An example is if he doubts whether his prayer was three or four, and four is more probable in his view. He considers this rak'ah in which the doubt occurred to be the fourth, because that is what is predominant in his opinion. He completes the prayer based on it, performs the taslim, then prostrates twice for forgetfulness and performs the taslim.
And if he doubts whether he prayed three or four, but three is more probable in his view, he builds upon it being three, performs a fourth rak'ah, performs the taslim, prostrates for forgetfulness, and performs the taslim. This is what is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him).
Thus, it becomes clear that doubt has two cases. The first case is when nothing is more probable in his view, so he builds upon certainty, which is the lesser number, completes the prayer based on it, and prostrates before the taslim. The second case is when there is a probability in his view, either for the excess or the reduction. In this case, he builds upon what is more probable in his view, performs the taslim, then prostrates twice for forgetfulness and performs the taslim. This is how the Sunnah distinguishes between them. So a person should be attentive to this issue because it is important and frequently occurs. As for his prayer, it is not invalid; rather, his prayer is valid, and it is not obligatory for him to repeat it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Doubt regarding the number of rak'ahs is not free from two cases. The first case is when the doubt is one of complete hesitation, where neither side is more probable in his view. In this case, he builds upon the lesser number, because that is what he is certain of, and what is added to it is doubtful, and the original state is its non-existence. So he builds upon the lesser number, completes the prayer based on it, and prostrates twice before the taslim.
An example of this is if he doubts whether he prayed three or four, and neither four nor three is more probable in his view. He considers it three, performs one rak'ah, and prostrates for forgetfulness before the taslim. Likewise, if he doubts whether he prayed two or three, and nothing is more probable in his view, he considers it two, completes the prayer based on it, and prostrates for forgetfulness before the taslim. This is how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded.
As for when one side is more probable in his view, he builds upon what is more probable, whether it is the lesser number or the excess. Then he completes the prayer based on it, performs the taslim, and prostrates twice after the taslim.
An example is if he doubts whether his prayer was three or four, and four is more probable in his view. He considers this rak'ah in which the doubt occurred to be the fourth, because that is what is predominant in his opinion. He completes the prayer based on it, performs the taslim, then prostrates twice for forgetfulness and performs the taslim.
And if he doubts whether he prayed three or four, but three is more probable in his view, he builds upon it being three, performs a fourth rak'ah, performs the taslim, prostrates for forgetfulness, and performs the taslim. This is what is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him).
Thus, it becomes clear that doubt has two cases. The first case is when nothing is more probable in his view, so he builds upon certainty, which is the lesser number, completes the prayer based on it, and prostrates before the taslim. The second case is when there is a probability in his view, either for the excess or the reduction. In this case, he builds upon what is more probable in his view, performs the taslim, then prostrates twice for forgetfulness and performs the taslim. This is how the Sunnah distinguishes between them. So a person should be attentive to this issue because it is important and frequently occurs. As for his prayer, it is not invalid; rather, his prayer is valid, and it is not obligatory for him to repeat it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.