The ruling on one who doubts the number of rak'ahs during prayer
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Question:
This questioner says: When a person is praying and suddenly Satan whispers to him and he forgets how much he has prayed, perhaps adding an extra rak'ah, how should he act in this situation, O Shaykh?
Answer:
If Satan whispers to him and he forgets whether he prayed three or four, he should consider it three, then perform the fourth and complete it, and prostrate twice for forgetfulness before he says the taslim. And if he is in the second and doubts between the second and the third, he should consider it the second, meaning: he should build upon the lesser amount, because it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: It was narrated by Muslim in the Sahih from the hadith of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him).
The point is that he should build upon certainty. If he doubts, he should build upon the lesser amount, meaning: if he doubts whether he prayed three in the Zuhr, or the 'Asr, or the 'Isha, or four, he should consider it three. If he doubts whether he prayed two or three, he should consider it two, and so on. In the Maghrib, if he doubts whether it is two or three, he should consider it two. In the Fajr, if he doubts whether he prayed one or two, he should consider it one. Then he completes it, and then prostrates twice for forgetfulness before he says the taslim. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
This questioner says: When a person is praying and suddenly Satan whispers to him and he forgets how much he has prayed, perhaps adding an extra rak'ah, how should he act in this situation, O Shaykh?
Answer:
If Satan whispers to him and he forgets whether he prayed three or four, he should consider it three, then perform the fourth and complete it, and prostrate twice for forgetfulness before he says the taslim. And if he is in the second and doubts between the second and the third, he should consider it the second, meaning: he should build upon the lesser amount, because it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
If any one of you doubts in his prayer and does not know how much he has prayed, three or four, let him discard the doubt and build upon what he is certain of, then let him prostrate twice before he says the taslim. If he has prayed five, they have made his prayer even, and if he has prayed the full amount, they are a humiliation for Satan.
إذا شك أحدكم في صلاته فلم يدر كم صلى ثلاثًا أم أربعًا فليطرح الشك وليبن على ما استيقن ثم ليسجد سجدتين قبل أن يسلم، فإن كان صلى خمسًا شفعن له صلاته، وإن كان صلى تمامًا كانتا ترغيمًا للشيطانThe point is that he should build upon certainty. If he doubts, he should build upon the lesser amount, meaning: if he doubts whether he prayed three in the Zuhr, or the 'Asr, or the 'Isha, or four, he should consider it three. If he doubts whether he prayed two or three, he should consider it two, and so on. In the Maghrib, if he doubts whether it is two or three, he should consider it two. In the Fajr, if he doubts whether he prayed one or two, he should consider it one. Then he completes it, and then prostrates twice for forgetfulness before he says the taslim. 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.