The ruling on adding to or subtracting from the prayer out of ignorance
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Question:
He says: Does an error in some of the pillars of the prayer, committed out of ignorance, invalidate it? Some people pray a number of rak'ahs intending to bow and prostrate until they are convinced in their minds that they have completed the prayer, without understanding that the Zuhr prayer is four rak'ahs, and that 'Asr and 'Isha' are likewise. They may continue four rak'ahs with only one tashahhud. This still exists in some rural areas today. What is your opinion?
Answer:
If he left the first tashahhud out of ignorance, or added a fifth rak'ah thinking it was permissible, or did so out of forgetfulness, his prayer is valid, but if he was forgetful, he must perform the prostration for forgetfulness.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good. Since you mentioned that this is found in some rural areas, the Shaykh must have a comment on this, right?
The Shaykh : I am not aware of this, and I doubt that it exists. I doubt that people do not know that Zuhr is four rak'ahs and 'Asr is four rak'ahs, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia! This is not... And if it is found, then his prayer is valid, because he left the first tashahhud, for example, out of ignorance, or added a rak'ah out of ignorance, so his prayer is valid. But he must learn, and he must know. If you, the questioner, know this, then you must guide him and teach him if he does not know, and you must not remain silent.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good. Do you advise him to specify the areas precisely so that someone can be sent to guide them?
The Shaykh : Yes, we advise the questioner, if he knows this, to write to us, or to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, so that they can be informed of this place where this ignorance exists. This is part of cooperating in righteousness and piety. He should write to us, or to Dr. Abdullah al-Turki, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, so that they can send some preachers to them. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
He says: Does an error in some of the pillars of the prayer, committed out of ignorance, invalidate it? Some people pray a number of rak'ahs intending to bow and prostrate until they are convinced in their minds that they have completed the prayer, without understanding that the Zuhr prayer is four rak'ahs, and that 'Asr and 'Isha' are likewise. They may continue four rak'ahs with only one tashahhud. This still exists in some rural areas today. What is your opinion?
Answer:
If he left the first tashahhud out of ignorance, or added a fifth rak'ah thinking it was permissible, or did so out of forgetfulness, his prayer is valid, but if he was forgetful, he must perform the prostration for forgetfulness.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good. Since you mentioned that this is found in some rural areas, the Shaykh must have a comment on this, right?
The Shaykh : I am not aware of this, and I doubt that it exists. I doubt that people do not know that Zuhr is four rak'ahs and 'Asr is four rak'ahs, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia! This is not... And if it is found, then his prayer is valid, because he left the first tashahhud, for example, out of ignorance, or added a rak'ah out of ignorance, so his prayer is valid. But he must learn, and he must know. If you, the questioner, know this, then you must guide him and teach him if he does not know, and you must not remain silent.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good. Do you advise him to specify the areas precisely so that someone can be sent to guide them?
The Shaykh : Yes, we advise the questioner, if he knows this, to write to us, or to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, so that they can be informed of this place where this ignorance exists. This is part of cooperating in righteousness and piety. He should write to us, or to Dr. Abdullah al-Turki, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, so that they can send some preachers to them. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.