Is one required to repeat the prayer if one doubted the number of rak'ahs and followed the Imam who added an extra rak'ah out of ignorance of the ruling, and what is the best course of action in such a situation?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The Imam was obliged to perform the prostration of forgetfulness ( al-sahw) due to forgetting the first , not to perform an extra rak'ah. The Imam's prayer is valid because he was unaware of the ruling. The prayer of the congregants behind him is also valid, whether they knew of the addition and thought it obligatory to follow, or they doubted it and based their action on the original principle.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/169707
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 169707
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy