I have read in some legal books that if the prayer is established and the worshiper doubts the number of its rak'ahs, it is invalid, and in some books it is said that if the worshiper doubts, he prostrates two rak'ahs after the end of the prayer.
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The questioner : I have read in some legal books that if the prayer is established and the worshiper doubts the number of its rak'ahs, it is invalid, and in some books it is said that if the worshiper doubts, he prostrates two rak'ahs after the end of the prayer. What is the correct ruling in this matter? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : The correct answer in this matter is that the prayer is not invalidated, because this doubt often befalls a person without his choice. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified the ruling for one who doubts in his prayer, and doubt is of two types. The first type is when a person doubts the number of rak'ahs while one of the two possibilities is more likely in his mind. In this case, or in this type, the person builds his prayer on what is more likely in his mind, completes the prayer based on that, says the closing salam, and then prostrates for forgetfulness after the salam. As for the second type, it is when a person doubts the number of rak'ahs and neither possibility is more likely in his mind. In this case, or in this type, he builds his prayer on the lesser number, because that is what is certain, and the extra is doubtful. He completes the prayer based on the lesser number and prostrates for forgetfulness with two prostrations before the salam, and his prayer is not invalidated by this.
This is the ruling for doubt regarding the number of rak'ahs. Likewise, if he doubts whether he prostrated the second prostration or not, or whether he bowed or not: if he has a preference for one of the two possibilities, he acts on the stronger position, completes his prayer based on that, and prostrates for forgetfulness after the salam. If he does not have a preference for either possibility, he acts on the safer course, which is that he did not perform that bowing or that prostration in which he is in doubt. So he performs it and what follows it, completes his prayer based on that, and prostrates for forgetfulness before the salam. However, if he reaches the place of the pillar in which he is in doubt about having left it, the second rak'ah takes the place of the rak'ah from which he left that pillar.
The questioner : Thank you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah magnify your reward.
The Shaykh : The correct answer in this matter is that the prayer is not invalidated, because this doubt often befalls a person without his choice. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified the ruling for one who doubts in his prayer, and doubt is of two types. The first type is when a person doubts the number of rak'ahs while one of the two possibilities is more likely in his mind. In this case, or in this type, the person builds his prayer on what is more likely in his mind, completes the prayer based on that, says the closing salam, and then prostrates for forgetfulness after the salam. As for the second type, it is when a person doubts the number of rak'ahs and neither possibility is more likely in his mind. In this case, or in this type, he builds his prayer on the lesser number, because that is what is certain, and the extra is doubtful. He completes the prayer based on the lesser number and prostrates for forgetfulness with two prostrations before the salam, and his prayer is not invalidated by this.
This is the ruling for doubt regarding the number of rak'ahs. Likewise, if he doubts whether he prostrated the second prostration or not, or whether he bowed or not: if he has a preference for one of the two possibilities, he acts on the stronger position, completes his prayer based on that, and prostrates for forgetfulness after the salam. If he does not have a preference for either possibility, he acts on the safer course, which is that he did not perform that bowing or that prostration in which he is in doubt. So he performs it and what follows it, completes his prayer based on that, and prostrates for forgetfulness before the salam. However, if he reaches the place of the pillar in which he is in doubt about having left it, the second rak'ah takes the place of the rak'ah from which he left that pillar.
The questioner : Thank you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah magnify your reward.