If one doubts in his prayer and does not know whether he prayed four or three, what should he do? Is it permissible for him to repeat the prayer?
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The questioner : If one doubts in his prayer and does not know whether he prayed four or three, what should he do? Is it permissible for him to repeat the prayer? We ask for your guidance, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : If a person doubts in his prayer and does not know whether he prayed three or four, it is not permissible for him to exit his prayer due to this doubt if it is an obligatory prayer, because cutting off an obligatory prayer is not permissible. He must do what the Sunnah prescribes. The Sunnah states that if a person doubts in his prayer and does not know whether he prayed three or four, he is in one of two situations:
The first is that he doubts equally, meaning that neither three nor four is more likely in his mind. In this case, he builds upon the lesser number, so he assumes it was three, performs the fourth rak'ah, and prostrates for forgetfulness before the taslim.
The second situation is that he doubts with one side being more likely than the other, meaning he doubts whether he prayed three or four, but it is more likely in his mind that he prayed four. In this case, he builds upon the four, performs the taslim, and prostrates for forgetfulness after the taslim. This is how the Sunnah distinguishes between the two situations of doubt.
The command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to build upon what one is certain of in the first situation and to seek the truth in the second indicates that one does not exit the prayer due to this doubt. If it is an obligatory prayer, exiting it is forbidden because cutting off an obligatory prayer is prohibited.
If it is a voluntary prayer, he does not exit it because of this doubt, but he does what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded. If he wishes to cut it off, there is no harm in cutting off a voluntary prayer, except that the scholars said it is disliked to cut off a voluntary prayer without a valid reason. This is if the voluntary prayer is not for Hajj or 'Umrah. If the voluntary prayer is for Hajj or 'Umrah, it is not permissible to cut it off except in the case of being trapped, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:196] This verse was revealed before Hajj became obligatory because it was revealed at al-Hudaybiyyah, and Hajj was only made obligatory in the ninth year.
In summary, the answer to the questioner's question is that if a person doubts in his prayer whether he prayed three or four, and one side is more likely in his mind, he should act upon the stronger position, whether it is the greater or the lesser number, perform the taslim, and prostrate twice for forgetfulness after the taslim.
If neither side is more likely in his mind, he builds upon the lesser number because he is certain of it, completes his prayer, and prostrates twice for forgetfulness before the taslim.
The questioner : Thank you to Allah for you, esteemed Shaykh, and may Allah magnify your reward for what you have presented to us and to our dear brothers the listeners. Our dear brothers the listeners, our guest in this blessed meeting was the esteemed Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, professor at the College of Sharia and Principles of Religion in al-Qassim, and preacher and imam of the Grand Mosque in Unayzah. May Allah reward him, and thank you for your good attention. We will meet again, if Allah wills, tomorrow, and we are with you in good health and well-being by the might and power of Allah. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The Shaykh : If a person doubts in his prayer and does not know whether he prayed three or four, it is not permissible for him to exit his prayer due to this doubt if it is an obligatory prayer, because cutting off an obligatory prayer is not permissible. He must do what the Sunnah prescribes. The Sunnah states that if a person doubts in his prayer and does not know whether he prayed three or four, he is in one of two situations:
The first is that he doubts equally, meaning that neither three nor four is more likely in his mind. In this case, he builds upon the lesser number, so he assumes it was three, performs the fourth rak'ah, and prostrates for forgetfulness before the taslim.
The second situation is that he doubts with one side being more likely than the other, meaning he doubts whether he prayed three or four, but it is more likely in his mind that he prayed four. In this case, he builds upon the four, performs the taslim, and prostrates for forgetfulness after the taslim. This is how the Sunnah distinguishes between the two situations of doubt.
The command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to build upon what one is certain of in the first situation and to seek the truth in the second indicates that one does not exit the prayer due to this doubt. If it is an obligatory prayer, exiting it is forbidden because cutting off an obligatory prayer is prohibited.
If it is a voluntary prayer, he does not exit it because of this doubt, but he does what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded. If he wishes to cut it off, there is no harm in cutting off a voluntary prayer, except that the scholars said it is disliked to cut off a voluntary prayer without a valid reason. This is if the voluntary prayer is not for Hajj or 'Umrah. If the voluntary prayer is for Hajj or 'Umrah, it is not permissible to cut it off except in the case of being trapped, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And complete the Hajj and 'umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals
وأتموا الحج والعمرة لله فإن أحصرتم فما استيسر من الهديIn summary, the answer to the questioner's question is that if a person doubts in his prayer whether he prayed three or four, and one side is more likely in his mind, he should act upon the stronger position, whether it is the greater or the lesser number, perform the taslim, and prostrate twice for forgetfulness after the taslim.
If neither side is more likely in his mind, he builds upon the lesser number because he is certain of it, completes his prayer, and prostrates twice for forgetfulness before the taslim.
The questioner : Thank you to Allah for you, esteemed Shaykh, and may Allah magnify your reward for what you have presented to us and to our dear brothers the listeners. Our dear brothers the listeners, our guest in this blessed meeting was the esteemed Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, professor at the College of Sharia and Principles of Religion in al-Qassim, and preacher and imam of the Grand Mosque in Unayzah. May Allah reward him, and thank you for your good attention. We will meet again, if Allah wills, tomorrow, and we are with you in good health and well-being by the might and power of Allah. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.