What does one do if he doubts the number of prostrations?
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Question:
If a person is praying and, during the prostration, he forgets how many prostrations he has performed—whether two or one—and then he performs another prostration, which might be the third, is his prayer invalid? Or was it obligatory for him not to perform that prostration and instead suffice with the prostration for forgetfulness at the end of the prayer? What is your ruling on this? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
It is obligatory for one who doubts whether he prostrated once or twice to perform the second prostration so that he acts upon certainty, even if it turns out to be the third. However, this is what is obligatory for him if he doubts. Then, before he says the closing salam, he prostrates twice for forgetfulness. He combines these two actions: he performs the prostration in which he doubted until he is certain that he has prostrated twice, and then, before he says the salam, he prostrates twice for forgetfulness, as it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:.
The point is that the believer is commanded to seek the lesser number, which is certainty, so that he completes his prayer. For example, if he is praying a four-rak'ah prayer and doubts whether he has prayed two or three, he considers it two, which is the lesser number, and then he performs the third and fourth. If he is praying Maghrib and doubts whether he has prayed two or three, he considers it two and performs the third. Likewise, if he is praying Fajr and doubts whether he has prayed two or one, he performs the second. And so on for Jumu'ah. Then, after he completes the prayer based on certainty, he prostrates twice for forgetfulness before he says the salam to rectify his prayer. This is what is prescribed in prayer, and the same applies to prostration. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
If a person is praying and, during the prostration, he forgets how many prostrations he has performed—whether two or one—and then he performs another prostration, which might be the third, is his prayer invalid? Or was it obligatory for him not to perform that prostration and instead suffice with the prostration for forgetfulness at the end of the prayer? What is your ruling on this? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
It is obligatory for one who doubts whether he prostrated once or twice to perform the second prostration so that he acts upon certainty, even if it turns out to be the third. However, this is what is obligatory for him if he doubts. Then, before he says the closing salam, he prostrates twice for forgetfulness. He combines these two actions: he performs the prostration in which he doubted until he is certain that he has prostrated twice, and then, before he says the salam, he prostrates twice for forgetfulness, as it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
If any one of you doubts in his prayer, let him seek the truth. If he doubts in his prayer and does not know whether he prayed three or four, let him build upon the lesser number—let him seek the lesser number—then let him prostrate twice.
إذا شك أحدكم في صلاته فليتحر الصواب، إذا شك في صلاته فلم يدر صلى ثلاثًا أم أربعًا، فليبن على الأقل -فليتحر الأقل- ثم ليسجد سجدتينThe point is that the believer is commanded to seek the lesser number, which is certainty, so that he completes his prayer. For example, if he is praying a four-rak'ah prayer and doubts whether he has prayed two or three, he considers it two, which is the lesser number, and then he performs the third and fourth. If he is praying Maghrib and doubts whether he has prayed two or three, he considers it two and performs the third. Likewise, if he is praying Fajr and doubts whether he has prayed two or one, he performs the second. And so on for Jumu'ah. Then, after he completes the prayer based on certainty, he prostrates twice for forgetfulness before he says the salam to rectify his prayer. This is what is prescribed in prayer, and the same applies to prostration. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.