What do you do when you are praying (say Asr prayer) and you think you only prayed 3 instead of 4 rikahs?

Answer 1

Asalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu

If you are unsure of how many rakat you have performed due to 'was-was' (shaytanic whispers) and mind-wandering then it is best to perform SUJOOD AL-SAHW (Prostration of forgetfulness)

REASONS FOR DOING THE PROSTRATION OF FORGETFULNESS

By the mercy of Allah to His slaves, as one of the beauties of this perfect religion, Allah has prescribed that His slaves may make up for shortcomings and mistakes that they make in their worship and cannot avoid completely, by performing supererogatory (naafil) acts of worship, praying for forgiveness and so on.

One of the things that Allah has prescribed for His slaves to make up for shortcomings that may occur in their prayer is the prostration of forgetfulness, but it is only prescribed to make up for certain things; it does not make up for everything nor is it prescribed for everything.

Shaykh Ibn `Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about the reasons for doing the prostration of forgetfulness, and he replied as follows:

The prostration of forgetfulness in prayer is generally prescribed for three reasons:

1- Doing something extra

2- Omitting something

3- Being uncertain

Doing something extra: for example, doing an extra bow (rukoo'), prostration (sujood), standing or sitting.

Omitting something: such as omitting an essential part of the prayer, or omitting one of the obligatory parts of the prayer.

Being uncertain: such as when a person is not sure how many rak'ahs he has prayed, whether it was three or four, for example.

In the case of doing something extra, if a person adds something to his prayer – bowing, prostrating, standing or sitting – deliberately, then his prayer becomes invalid, because when he added it, that means that he did not do the prayer in the manner ordained by Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever does an action that is not part of this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), will have it rejected." Narrated by Muslim, 1718.

But if he did that extra thing by mistake, then his prayer is not invalidated, but he should do the prostration of forgetfulness after saying the salaam. The evidence for that is the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said the salaam after two rak'ahs in one of the two afternoon prayers, either Zuhr or `Asr, and they told him about that, he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did the rest of the prayer, then he said the salaam, then he prostrated twice (the prostration of forgetfulness) after saying the salaam. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 482; Muslim, 573.

And Ibn Mas'ood (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) led them in praying Zuhr and he prayed five rak'ahs. When he had finished it was said to him: "Has something been added to the prayer?"

He said: "Why are you asking that?"

They said: "You prayed five (rak'ahs)."

So he turned towards the qiblah and prostrated twice. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4040; Muslim, 572.

In the case of omitting something, if a person omits one of the essential parts of the prayer, one of the following two scenarios must apply:

Either he remembers it before he reaches the same point in the following rak'ah, so he has to go back and do that essential part of the prayer and whatever came after it,

Or he does not remember it until he reaches the same point in the following rak'ah, in which case the following rak'ah takes the place of the one in which he omitted that essential part, and he should make up the invalid rak'ah.

In either of these two cases, he should do the prostration of forgetfulness after saying the salaam.

For example: a man stood up after doing the first prostration of the first rak'ah and did not sit or do the second prostration. When he started to recite Qur'an he remembers that he had not done the second prostration or sat between the two prostrations. In that case he should go back and sit as between the two prostrations, then prostrate, then stand up and do whatever is left of his prayer, and do the prostration of forgetfulness after saying the salaam.

An example of one who did not remember until after he reached the same point in the following rak'ah is a man who stood up following the first prostration in the first rak'ah and did not do the second prostration or sit between the two prostrations, but he did not remember that until he sat between the two prostrations in the second rak'ah. In this case he should make the second rak'ah the first rak'ah, and add another rak'ah to his prayer, then say the salaam then do the prostration of forgetfulness.

Omitting an obligatory part of the prayer – such as if he omits an obligatory part and moves on to the next part of the prayer. For example, he forgets to say Subhaan Rabbiy al-A'la (Glory be to my Lord Most High) and he does not remember until he has got up from prostrating. In this case he has omitted an obligatory part of the prayer by mistake, so he should carry on with his prayer then do the prostration of forgetfulness before saying the salaam, because when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) omitted the first tashahhud he carried on with his prayer and did not go back and repeat anything, then he did the prostration of forgetfulness before saying the salaam.

In the case of being uncertain, such as if a person is not sure if he has done something extra or omitted something, e.g., he is not sure whether he has prayed three rak'ahs or four, one of the following two scenarios must apply:

Either he thinks that one or the other is more likely to be case, whether it is doing more or omitting something, in which case he should proceed on the basis of what he thinks is more likely to be the case, complete his prayer accordingly, then do the prostration of forgetfulness after saying the salaam;

Or neither appears more likely to be the case, so he should proceed on the basis of what is certain, namely the lesser amount, and complete his prayer accordingly, then do the prostration of forgetfulness before saying the salaam.

For example: a man prays Zuhr then he is not sure whether he is praying the third or fourth rak'ah, but he thinks it more likely that it is the third. So he should pray another rak'ah, then say the salaam, then do the prostration of forgetfulness.

An example of when neither seems to him more likely to be the case is when a man is praying Zuhr and is not sure whether he is in the third rak'ah or the fourth, and neither seems to him more likely to be the case. In that case he should proceed on the basis of what is certain, which is the lesser amount. So he should regard it as the third rak'ah, then do another rak'ah and do the prostration of forgetfulness before saying the salaam. Thus it becomes clear that this should be done before the salaam if you have omitted one of the obligatory parts of the prayer or if you are not sure how many rak'ahs you have done, and neither of the two choices seems more likely to be the case. And it should be done after the salaam if you have added something extra to the prayer or you are not certain but one of the two choices seems more likely to be the case.

See Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh, 14/14-16

And Allaah is the Source of strength.


WHAT SHOULD BE SAID IN THE TWO PROSTRATIONS OF FORGETFULNESS AND IN BETWEEN THEM?


There is no specific dhikr to be said in the two prostrations of forgetfulness as far as we know. Based on this, they come under the same ruling as prostration in prayer, and the same should be said as in the prostration in prayer, such as "Subhaan Rabbiy al-a'la (Glory be to my Lord Most High) and du'aa', because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The closest a person can be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so say a great deal of du'aa' (at that time)." Narrated by Muslim, 482.
The same should be said between the two prostrations as is said between the two prostrations in prayer, namely "Rabbiy ighfir li (Lord forgive me).

Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo' (4/72):

The prostration of forgetfulness is two prostrations, sitting in between them. It is Sunnah to sit muftarishan (with the left foot lying along the ground and sitting on it) in between them, and to sit mutawarrikan (with the left upper thigh on the ground and both feet protruding from one (i.e., the right) side) after them until one says the salaam. The way in which the prostrations are done and the dhikr to be said in them is the same as in the prayer. And Allah knows best. End quote.

It says in al-Sharh al-Kabeer (4/96):

He should say in the prostration of forgetfulness the same as he says in the prostration of prayer, by analogy with it. End quote.

It says in Asna al-Mataalib (1/195):

The prostration of forgetfulness is two prostrations… the way in which they are done is the same as in prayer. He should sit muftarishan between them, and recite the same dhikr as in the prostration during the prayer. End quote.

It says in Mughni al-Muhtaaj (1/439):

The way in which it is done is the same as in prayer, both obligatory and naafil prayers, such as putting the forehead on the ground and being at ease (in the posture)… and he should say the same dhikr as in the prostration of prayer.

Al-Adhra'i said: And they did not say anything about the dhikr to be said in between them. It seems that it is the same as the dhikr between the two prostrations of the prayer. End quote.

It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah (6/443):

When doing the prostration of forgetfulness and prostrations required when reading Qur'aan, he should say the same as he says when prostrating during the prayer: "Subhaan Rabbiy al-a'la (Glory be to my Lord Most High)". What is required is to say it once, but the least level of perfection is to say it three times. It is mustahabb to say du'aa' whilst prostrating, saying whatever du'aa's prescribed in sharee'ah one can. End quote.

Some of the scholars stated that it is mustahabb to say in these prostrations: "Subhaana man laa yanaamu wa la yas-hu (Glory be to the One Who does not sleep or forget)."

Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said in al-Talkhees (2/12): I could not find any basis for this." End quote.

SHOULD A WORSHIPPER DO SUJOOD AL-AHW (Prostration of Forgetfulness) IN NAFILA PRAYER?


It is prescribed to do sujood al-sahw in naafil prayers just as it is prescribed to do it in the obligatory prayers when there is a reason for doing it.
This is the view of the majority of scholars ancient and modern, because of the general meaning of the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): "If any one of you forgets [something in the prayer], let him do two prostrations." Narrated by Muslim, 402

Also, correcting the prayer and annoying the Shaytaan are things which may be needed in the naafil prayers just as in the obligatory prayers.

Some scholars – including Ibn Sireen, Qutaadah, `Ata' and a number of the companions of al-Shaafa'i were of the view that there is no sujood al-sahw in voluntary (naafil) prayers. But the correct view is that of the majority.

Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his Saheeh: "Bab al-Sahw fi'l-fard wa'l-tatawwu' (Chapter on forgetfulness in obligatory and voluntary (prayers)). Ibn `Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) did two prostrations after Witr, and al-Haafiz said in al-Fath, commenting on the report of Ibn `Abbaas: this was narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah with a saheeh isnaad.

The point of quoting what Ibn `Abbaas did is that Witr is not obligatory, but Ibn `Abbaas did sujood al-sahw in it, which indicates that sujood al-sahw should be done in both obligatory and naafil prayers.

Shaykh Ibn `Uthaymeen said: Sujood al-sahw is two sajdahs (prostrations), and should be done in both obligatory and naafil prayers if there is a reason for doing it.

Majmoo' Fataawa Ibn `Uthaymeen, 14/68

See Kitaab Sujood al-Sahw fi Daw' al-Kitaab wa'l-Sunnah al-Muttaharah by Shaykh `Abd-Allaah al-Tayyaar.

Answer 2

Like they said if you have not said the tisleem yet then you do another ruka', but if you have finished your prayer and you have doubts then you may pray the prayer again or not, its up to you because God forgives, every one does mistakes =)

Answer 3

after u finish the prayer and before saying Assalamu alikom wa rahmut allah do 1 more sajdah then tasleem

its called sajdat sahw

Answer 4

I pray to The ONE TRUE GOD so all I have to do is think my prayers and HE hears instantly! THE GOD does not like rituals, and all theman made things in most religions....Just keep saying TAKFIR, and the mulla will love you as your moon god does.

Answer 5

If you didn't end the salaat, you stand and complete the one skipped, then do sajdat sahw.
If you already terminated then you can re perform the salaat, thus the first one will become a surplus(Nafl).

Answer 6

First of all try not to make the devil give you any whispers trying to make you confused and even if he does whisper try and ignore it.

When I am in doubt I make salam and start again. It only takes a couple of minutes.

Answer 7

as said before and as far as i know u dont repeat the salat u just do an extra sajda before tasleem called sajdet el sahw and remember: allah '3afoor ra7eem :)

Answer 8

redo it