Speaking about doubt during prayer.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : If someone were to say: I am afflicted with this, and doubt arises in me as to how many rak'ahs I prayed—three or four, two or three—what should I do? Should I build upon the lesser number, or the greater number, or what is most likely, or is certainty required? We understood the question.
Yes, what should one do?
We say: If you have a preponderance of probability, build upon that preponderance, based on the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 1212Sahih (Darussalam) And if you do not have a preponderance of probability, build upon certainty. What is certainty? The lesser or the greater? What is certainty? The lesser. For example, you doubt whether you prayed three or four, and you have no indication that it was four or three. What do you make it?
You make it three. You make it three because you are certain of the three, and the extra is doubtful. So the doubt is discarded and one builds upon certainty. When do you prostrate for forgetfulness? You prostrate for forgetfulness before the taslim. Please.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Tomorrow, which day?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : And today.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : And yesterday?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yesterday, Wednesday? Be sure.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Are you sure? Good.
What is the topic we are discussing now?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Or doubt in prayer?
Are we discussing the prostration for forgetfulness, or the doubt in prayer caused by the whispers of the self?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Doubt in prayer.
- Be careful a little -
Good, my brothers. You doubt whether you prayed three or four, and you have no indication. We said, what do we make it? Three. And we come with the prostration for forgetfulness before the taslim.
Another example: You doubt whether you prayed three or four, and it is more likely to you that it was three. How many do you make it? There is no god but Allah. It is more likely to you that it was three. How can it be four? It is more likely to you that it was three. What do you make it? You make it three, build upon it being three, and you add the fourth and prostrate for forgetfulness after the taslim.
- Pay attention, O student of knowledge -
So, the prostration for forgetfulness in the case of doubt is sometimes before the taslim and sometimes after the taslim. When is it before?
If there is doubt and no indication, one builds upon the lesser, which is certainty, and prostrates for forgetfulness before the taslim.
If there is an indication, one builds upon the stronger position, and the prostration is when? The prostration is after the taslim.
Did you understand? And unfortunately.
Yes, what should one do?
We say: If you have a preponderance of probability, build upon that preponderance, based on the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
If anyone of you is uncertain about his prayer, let him try to do what is correct
إذا شك أحدكم في الصلاة فليتحر الصواب ثم ليبن عليهYou make it three. You make it three because you are certain of the three, and the extra is doubtful. So the doubt is discarded and one builds upon certainty. When do you prostrate for forgetfulness? You prostrate for forgetfulness before the taslim. Please.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Tomorrow, which day?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : And today.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : And yesterday?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yesterday, Wednesday? Be sure.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Are you sure? Good.
What is the topic we are discussing now?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Or doubt in prayer?
Are we discussing the prostration for forgetfulness, or the doubt in prayer caused by the whispers of the self?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Doubt in prayer.
- Be careful a little -
Good, my brothers. You doubt whether you prayed three or four, and you have no indication. We said, what do we make it? Three. And we come with the prostration for forgetfulness before the taslim.
Another example: You doubt whether you prayed three or four, and it is more likely to you that it was three. How many do you make it? There is no god but Allah. It is more likely to you that it was three. How can it be four? It is more likely to you that it was three. What do you make it? You make it three, build upon it being three, and you add the fourth and prostrate for forgetfulness after the taslim.
- Pay attention, O student of knowledge -
So, the prostration for forgetfulness in the case of doubt is sometimes before the taslim and sometimes after the taslim. When is it before?
If there is doubt and no indication, one builds upon the lesser, which is certainty, and prostrates for forgetfulness before the taslim.
If there is an indication, one builds upon the stronger position, and the prostration is when? The prostration is after the taslim.
Did you understand? And unfortunately.