If one doubts in prayer, with a mention of the states of doubt
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The Shaykh : Fourth: A man doubts, and his doubt is frequent, as to how much he has prayed in the Zuhr prayer: three or four? Because he does not know now whether he is in the third or the fourth, and this is frequent, or is it little? It is frequent; he does not know whether he is in the third or the fourth? We tell him: Build upon what is more probable in your view. Build upon what is more probable, whether it is three or four, then complete it for him and prostrate two prostrations after the salam. I hope you pay attention here, because doubt has two states. I say: A man doubts in the Zuhr prayer whether he is in the third or the fourth; what do we tell him? Build upon what is more probable in your view. First, before we say "build upon certainty," build upon what is more probable. He said: It is more probable to me that this is the fourth. We tell him: It is the fourth; complete it, say the salam, and prostrate for forgetfulness after the salam. Do you understand now? Good. He said: It is more probable to me that this is the third. We say: Make it the third, add the fourth, say the salam, and prostrate for forgetfulness after the salam. The evidence for this is the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding one who doubts in his prayer whether he prayed three or four: . He seeks the truth; the one who seeks is the one for whom it is more probable, the stronger one . We know this, or not? Good.
Fourth, I say fourth, or is it fifth?
Fifth: A man doubts while praying Zuhr whether this is the third or the fourth. We asked him: Is anything more probable in your view? He said: No, nothing is more probable to me; it is all equal to me, whether it is the third or the fourth. We say: Make it the third, meaning build upon certainty, and certainty is the lesser. So if he doubts between the third and the fourth, we say: Make it the third, add the fourth, and prostrate two prostrations before you say the salam. Look, glory to Allah, doubt differs. The doubt that involves probability requires the prostration for forgetfulness, and the one that does not involve probability is before the salam. The doubt that involves probability builds upon what? The stronger position. The one that does not involve probability builds upon the lesser, which is certainty; it builds upon certainty, which is the lesser. Is that clear, everyone? Good.
Let him seek the truth and then build upon it
فليتحر الصواب ثم ليبن عليهLet him seek the truth and then build upon it, and then prostrate two prostrations after he says the salam
فليتحر الصواب ثم ليبن عليه ثم ليسجد سجدتين بعد أن يسلمFourth, I say fourth, or is it fifth?
Fifth: A man doubts while praying Zuhr whether this is the third or the fourth. We asked him: Is anything more probable in your view? He said: No, nothing is more probable to me; it is all equal to me, whether it is the third or the fourth. We say: Make it the third, meaning build upon certainty, and certainty is the lesser. So if he doubts between the third and the fourth, we say: Make it the third, add the fourth, and prostrate two prostrations before you say the salam. Look, glory to Allah, doubt differs. The doubt that involves probability requires the prostration for forgetfulness, and the one that does not involve probability is before the salam. The doubt that involves probability builds upon what? The stronger position. The one that does not involve probability builds upon the lesser, which is certainty; it builds upon certainty, which is the lesser. Is that clear, everyone? Good.