Number of Valid Doubts
Issue No. 1077 - As it was said earlier, having doubt in the number of rak‘ats in four rak‘ats prayers is valid in the following nine cases: First - If a person doubts after the second sajdah whether he has performed two or three rak‘ats, he should consider himself performed three rak‘ats [which means that after performing one more rak‘at the prayer would be completed] Thereupon, one should perform one rak‘at of Precautionary prayer in standing posture (as it will be explained later). If however, the doubt occurs, after the obligatory dhikr while he is in the second sajdah, he should, as an obligatory precaution, follow the same rule, and repeat the prayer as well (In all cases where the doubt occurs after the obligatory dhikr [1] of the second sajdah, one should in addition to the prescribed rule, repeat the prayer as an obligatory precaution).Second - If one doubts at any point during prayer, whether he has performed three rak‘ats or four, he should assume that he has offered four rak‘ats and finish his prayer. Thereafter he should offer one rak‘at Precautionary prayer standing or two rak‘ats in sitting posture.Third - If after the second sajdah, a person doubts whether he has performed two rak‘ats or four, he should assume that he has performed four rak‘ats, and finish his prayers. He should then offer two rak‘ats of precautionary prayer in a standing posture. Fourth - If after the second sajdah a person doubts, whether he has performed two, three, or four rak‘ats, he should consider that he has performed four rak‘ats, and complete the prayer. He should then offer two rak‘ats of precautionary prayer standing, then two rak‘ats in sitting posture.Fifth - If after the second sajdah a person doubts, whether he has performed four rak‘ats or five, he should assume that he has performed four rak‘ats and finish his prayer. Thereafter, he should perform sajdah al-sahw.Sixth - If a person doubts while standing, as to whether he has performed four rak‘ats or five, he should sit down so that his doubt changes to three rak‘ats and four. Then he should assume that, he has performed four rak‘ats and finish his prayer. Thereafter, he should offer one rak‘at of precautionary prayer standing or two rak‘ats in sitting posture.Seventh - If a person doubts while standing, as to whether he has performed three rak‘ats or five, he should sit down so that his doubt changes to two rak‘ats and four, then, he should assume that he has performed four rak‘ats and finish his prayer. Thereafter, he should offer two rak‘ats of precautionary prayer in standing posture and repeat the prayer, as an obligatory precaution. Eighth - If a person doubts while standing, as to whether he has performed three, four, or five rak‘ats, he should sit down so that his doubt changes to two, three and four rak‘ats, then, he should assume that he has performed four rak‘ats and complete his prayer. Thereafter, he should offer two rak‘ats of precautionary prayer in standing posture and then offer two rak‘ats in sitting posture, and he should, as an obligatory precaution, offer the prayer again. Ninth - If a person doubts while standing, as to whether he has performed five rak‘ats or six, he should sit down so that his doubt changes to four rak‘ats and five, then, he should assume that he has performed four rak‘ats and finish his prayer. Afterward he should perform sajdah al-sahw, and offer the prayer again, as an obligatory precaution.
