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DOUBTS THAT ARE VALID (ṢAḤĪḤ) →
← 5. Doubt of an imam and a follower in congregational prayers
6. Doubts in recommended prayers
Ruling 1179. If a person has a doubt about the number of rakʿahs he has performed in a recommended prayer, in the event that the greater of the two numbers he is doubtful about would invalidate the prayer, he must assume the lesser number is correct. For example, in the nāfilah of ṣubḥ, if one doubts whether he has performed two rakʿahs or three rakʿahs, he must assume he has performed two rakʿahs. However, if the greater of the two numbers would not invalidate the prayer – for example, he doubts whether he has performed two rakʿahs or one rakʿah – then his prayer is valid whichever side of the doubt he acts upon.
Ruling 1180. Not performing a rukn invalidates nāfilah prayers; however, performing an additional rukn does not invalidate them. Therefore, if one forgets one of the acts of nāfilah prayers and remembers it when he has started to perform the next rukn, he must perform the act and then perform the rukn again. For example, if while performing rukūʿ he remembers that he has not recited Sūrat al-Ḥamd, he must go back and recite Sūrat al-Ḥamd and then perform rukūʿ again.
Ruling 1181. If a person has a doubt about one of the acts of nāfilah prayers – irrespective of whether it is a rukn or not – then, in the event that its time of performance has not passed, he must perform it; and if its time of performance has passed, he must dismiss his doubt.
Ruling 1182. If in a two rakʿah recommended prayer one supposes that he has performed three rakʿahs or more, he must dismiss his doubt and his prayer is valid. However, if he supposes he has performed two rakʿahs or less, he must act according to that supposition based on obligatory precaution. For example, if he supposes that he has performed one rakʿah, he must as a precautionary measure perform another rakʿah.
Ruling 1183. If in a nāfilah prayer one does something that would make it obligatory for him to perform sajdatā al‑sahw were he to do that thing in an obligatory prayer, or if he forgets to perform one sajdah, then it is not necessary for him to perform sajdatā al‑sahw or to perform a qaḍāʾ sajdah after the prayer.
Ruling 1184. If a person doubts whether or not he has performed a recommended prayer, in the event that the prayer does not have a specific time for its performance, such as the Prayer of Jaʿfar al-Ṭayyār,[1] he must assume he has not performed it. The same applies if the recommended prayer does have a specific time for its performance, such as the daily nāfilah prayers, and before its time has expired one doubts whether or not he has performed it. However, if one doubts whether or not he has performed it after its time has expired, he must dismiss his doubt.
Ruling 1180. Not performing a rukn invalidates nāfilah prayers; however, performing an additional rukn does not invalidate them. Therefore, if one forgets one of the acts of nāfilah prayers and remembers it when he has started to perform the next rukn, he must perform the act and then perform the rukn again. For example, if while performing rukūʿ he remembers that he has not recited Sūrat al-Ḥamd, he must go back and recite Sūrat al-Ḥamd and then perform rukūʿ again.
Ruling 1181. If a person has a doubt about one of the acts of nāfilah prayers – irrespective of whether it is a rukn or not – then, in the event that its time of performance has not passed, he must perform it; and if its time of performance has passed, he must dismiss his doubt.
Ruling 1182. If in a two rakʿah recommended prayer one supposes that he has performed three rakʿahs or more, he must dismiss his doubt and his prayer is valid. However, if he supposes he has performed two rakʿahs or less, he must act according to that supposition based on obligatory precaution. For example, if he supposes that he has performed one rakʿah, he must as a precautionary measure perform another rakʿah.
Ruling 1183. If in a nāfilah prayer one does something that would make it obligatory for him to perform sajdatā al‑sahw were he to do that thing in an obligatory prayer, or if he forgets to perform one sajdah, then it is not necessary for him to perform sajdatā al‑sahw or to perform a qaḍāʾ sajdah after the prayer.
Ruling 1184. If a person doubts whether or not he has performed a recommended prayer, in the event that the prayer does not have a specific time for its performance, such as the Prayer of Jaʿfar al-Ṭayyār,[1] he must assume he has not performed it. The same applies if the recommended prayer does have a specific time for its performance, such as the daily nāfilah prayers, and before its time has expired one doubts whether or not he has performed it. However, if one doubts whether or not he has performed it after its time has expired, he must dismiss his doubt.
[1] The Prayer of Jaʿfar al-Ṭayyār is a four rakʿah recommended prayer taught by the Holy Prophet (Ṣ) to his cousin, Jaʿfar al-Ṭayyār. See, for example, Shaykh ʿAbbās al-Qummī’s Mafātīḥ al‑Jinān, in the section on the recommended acts for Friday.