I prayed the midday prayer, and when I reached the fourth unit, I doubted whether it was the fourth or the third, so I stood up and prayed the fourth, and when I bowed in the fourth
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The questioner : I prayed the midday prayer, and when I reached the fourth unit, I doubted whether it was the fourth or the third, so I stood up and prayed the fourth, and when I bowed in the fourth, it became certain to me that it was the fifth, and I completed my prayer. Is my prayer invalid or valid? May Allah reward you both.
The Shaykh : Your prayer is valid because you did not do this except out of ignorance. You added the fifth unit first while forgetting, thinking it was the fourth, and then you completed it while ignorant. The obligation in this case is that if a person doubts the number of units, then builds on the lesser number, and then when he stands up it becomes clear that this is an extra unit, he must sit down immediately, then recite the final tashahhud, then say the taslim, then prostrate twice for forgetfulness. This is the obligation.
But we see that this man is ignorant in the end of his matter and heedless in the beginning of his matter, so there is nothing on him.
The Shaykh : Your prayer is valid because you did not do this except out of ignorance. You added the fifth unit first while forgetting, thinking it was the fourth, and then you completed it while ignorant. The obligation in this case is that if a person doubts the number of units, then builds on the lesser number, and then when he stands up it becomes clear that this is an extra unit, he must sit down immediately, then recite the final tashahhud, then say the taslim, then prostrate twice for forgetfulness. This is the obligation.
But we see that this man is ignorant in the end of his matter and heedless in the beginning of his matter, so there is nothing on him.