Doubts which are valid

1208. There are nine situations in which a person can have doubts about the number of Rak’ats in the Namaz consisting of four Rak’ats. In those situations, one should pause to think, and if he arrives at any decision or probability, he should act accordingly. If doubt persists, he should follow these rules:

1. After finishing the obligatory Zikr of the second Sajdah, if a person doubts whether he has

Doubt of Imam and Ma’mum

1201. If an Imam who is leading a congregational prayer, doubts about the number of Rak’ats, like, if he doubts whether he has performed three or four Rak’ats, he will follow the indication given by the follower who is certain about the numbers. If he indicates that it is the fourth, Imam will accept it and complete the prayers, and it is not necessary to offer Namaz – e – Ihtiyat. Similarly, if the Imam is sure about the number of Rak’ats, and the follower has a doubt, he should ignore his doubt.

Doubt in Mustahab prayers

1202. If a person doubts about the number of Rak’ats in a Mustahab prayer and if the higher side makes the prayers void, he should decide on the lesser side of the doubt. For example, if he doubts whether he has performed 2 Rak’ats or 3 in Nafilah of Fajr prayers, he should decide that he has performed 2 Rak’ats. But if the higher side does not invalidate the prayers, like, if he doubts whether he has performed 2 Rak’ats or 1, he is free to decide either way, and his prayers will be valid.

Kathir Al–Shak – One who doubts too much

1193. Kathir Al – Shak is a person who generally doubts quite often. Most likely there is a possibility that a person who cannot offer three prayers without having a doubt can be called Kathir Al – Shak, and he should ignore their doubts.

Doubt after the time of Namaz has passed

1189. If a person doubts, after the time for prayers has already passed, as to whether he has offered the prayers or not, or if he suspects that he may not have offered it, it is not necessary for him to offer that prayers. If, however, he doubts before the expiry of the time for that prayers, as to whether or not he has offered it, he should offer it, even if he has a feeling that he might have done so.

Doubt after the Salam

1188. If a person becomes doubtful after the Salam of prayers, as to whether or not he has offered the prayers correctly, like, if he doubts whether or not he has performed the Ruku’, or doubts in a 4 Rak’at prayers as to whether he has performed 4 or 5 Rak’ats, he should ignore his doubt. But if both sides of the doubt lead to invalidity of the prayers like, if he doubts in 4 Rak’at prayers whether he has performed 3 or 5 Rak’ats, his prayers would be void.

Doubts about an act whose time of performance has passed

1177. If a person doubts while offering prayers as to whether or not he has performed a particular obligatory act, like, if he doubts whether or not he has recited Surah Al – Hamd, and if he has not engaged himself in the next act (like reading the next Surah), he should perform the act about which he doubted, and if he has engaged himself in the next act, then he should ignore the doubt.

Doubts which may be ignored

1176. The following doubts should be ignored:

Doubt about an act whose time of performance has already passed, like, during Ruku’ a person doubts as to whether he did or did not recite Surah Al – Hamd.
Doubt occurring after the Salam of prayers.
Doubt after the time of prayers has already passed.
Doubt of a person, who doubts too much.
Doubt by the Imam (one who leads the congregation prayers) and Ma’mum (follower), which will be elaborated later.

Doubts which make prayers void

1174. The following doubts make prayers void:

1. Doubts about the number of Rak’ats occurring in obligatory prayers which consist of 2 Rak’ats, like, Fajr prayers, or prayers offered by a traveler. However, doubt about number of Rak’ats in Mustahab prayers or Namaz of Ihteyat does not make the prayers void.
2. Doubts about the number of Rak’ats occurring in prayers consisting of 3 Rak’ats (like, Maghrib prayers).