What is the ruling on the prayers of one whose whispers and doubts about the number of rak’ahs have become numerous, such that he does not remember the number of days or prayers in which he was confused, and he does not strive to ascertain that, and with every doubt he does what is easier, such as considering the rak’ahs to be two in a two-rak’ah prayer or four in a four-rak’ah prayer without prostrating for forgetfulness?

The Maliki jurists defined overwhelming doubt (shakk al-mustankah) as doubt that occurs at least once a day. If doubt reaches this level with a person, then he should base his action on the greater number (of units, rak'at), because he is considered to be suffering from obsessive whispers (waswasah). If it does not reach this level with him, then he should base his action on the lesser number, because this is the original principle for one who doubts in his prayer. He must ascertain whether he is among those suffering from waswasah who should base their action on the greater number, or among ordinary individuals who should base their action on the lesser number. If he doubts, the original presumption is the absence of illness and waswasah, and he should act upon this presumption until he attains certainty or a strong probability to the contrary.