If one is always in doubt as to which Rakaat of Salaah they are in, what do they do?

 

Nasihah (Advice): Performing Wudhu properly

 

Sayyiduna Uthmaan Radhiyallahu Anhu reported that he heard Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam saying: “When the time for a prescribed Salaah has entered and a Muslim performs Wudhu and its acts of bowing and prostration properly, the Salaah will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he does not commit major sins, and this applies for ever.” (Sahih Muslim)

______________________________

 

Question and Answer:

 

  1. If one is always in doubt and does not know which Rakaat of Salaah they are in, what do they do?

 

(Question published as received)

 

  1. If one experiences doubts during Salaah regularly regarding the number of Rakaats of Salaah performed, then one must apply their honest discretion and act on it accordingly.

 

For example, if after applying one’s discretion as to whether they are in the 1st or 2nd Rakaat of Salaah and one is more inclined to be in the 2nd Rakaat of Salaah, then one must take it as they are in the 2nd Rakaat of Salaah and complete the Salaah as normal.

 

However, if one has no inclination as to whether they are in the 1st or 2nd Rakaat of Salaah, then one must follow the lesser of the two Rakaats of Salaah and take it as they are in the 1st Rakaat of Salaah.

 

In this case, one must sit for Tashahhud after performing every Rakaat of Salaah and perform Sajdah Sahw at the end before completing the Salaah. (Maraaqil Falaah 1/183)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

(The answer hereby given is specifically based on the question asked and should be read together with the question asked. Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh unless otherwise stated.) 

 

Fatwa Department
Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) 

Council of Muslim Theologians
223 Alpine Road, Overport

Durban, South Africa
Tel : +27 (0) 31 2077099

Email: fatwa@jamiat.org.za
Fax : +27(0) 31 2074163
Website : www.jamiat.org.za

 

 

 

 

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