What is the ruling if a person prays the 'Asr prayer and, in the second rak'ah, doubts whether he recited al-Fatihah in the first rak'ah, so he treats the second as the first and completes the prayer?
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The questioner : What is the ruling if a person prays the 'Asr prayer and, in the second rak'ah, doubts whether he recited al-Fatihah in the first rak'ah, so he treats the second as the first and completes the prayer, but he forgot to perform the prostration for forgetfulness?
The Shaykh : First: if the doubt is frequent for this worshipper, meaning he always doubts, then the doubt is disregarded; he discards it as if it never occurred to his mind.
As for if the doubt is infrequent and becomes a genuine doubt, then he treats the second rak'ah as a replacement for the first.
As for if it is merely a whim, meaning something that flashed through his mind and then disappeared, this is disregarded. Here there are three types that are disregarded:
First: frequent doubt is disregarded.
Second: a whim that is merely a thought passing through the heart but does not settle there is also disregarded.
Third: if the doubt occurs after the completion of the act of worship, meaning he doubts after saying the taslim whether he prayed three or four rak'ahs in a four-rak'ah prayer?
Then this doubt is disregarded and not attended to, unless he is certain of a deficiency. If he is certain, he acts according to what he is certain of.
As for what came in the woman's question that she forgot the prostration for forgetfulness, I say: that does not harm her, because the prostration for forgetfulness, especially if it is after the taslim as in this question, is obligatory for the prayer, not obligatory within it. Accordingly, we say that her prayer is valid.
However, a person should be present in heart when performing an act of worship so that he remembers any deficiency in it.
We ask Allah for success for everyone, and that He not distract our hearts from His remembrance. Indeed, He is capable of all things.
The Shaykh : First: if the doubt is frequent for this worshipper, meaning he always doubts, then the doubt is disregarded; he discards it as if it never occurred to his mind.
As for if the doubt is infrequent and becomes a genuine doubt, then he treats the second rak'ah as a replacement for the first.
As for if it is merely a whim, meaning something that flashed through his mind and then disappeared, this is disregarded. Here there are three types that are disregarded:
First: frequent doubt is disregarded.
Second: a whim that is merely a thought passing through the heart but does not settle there is also disregarded.
Third: if the doubt occurs after the completion of the act of worship, meaning he doubts after saying the taslim whether he prayed three or four rak'ahs in a four-rak'ah prayer?
Then this doubt is disregarded and not attended to, unless he is certain of a deficiency. If he is certain, he acts according to what he is certain of.
As for what came in the woman's question that she forgot the prostration for forgetfulness, I say: that does not harm her, because the prostration for forgetfulness, especially if it is after the taslim as in this question, is obligatory for the prayer, not obligatory within it. Accordingly, we say that her prayer is valid.
However, a person should be present in heart when performing an act of worship so that he remembers any deficiency in it.
We ask Allah for success for everyone, and that He not distract our hearts from His remembrance. Indeed, He is capable of all things.