What is the ruling on one who is distracted in prayer and suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) which causes him to forget the number of rak'ahs or prostrations? Is he obligated to build upon the minimum when in doubt? And when does doubt become an obsession? Is it recommended to repeat the prayer when obsession is frequent? And is there a contradiction between building upon the minimum in doubt and the fatwa "she is only required to fast one day" regarding missed fasts?
(obsessive whispering/thoughts) is one of the most dangerous ailments that can corrupt one's worldly life and the Hereafter. Therefore, the person afflicted by waswas must turn away from these whispers and not pay any attention to them. If they doubt having performed an action (such as prostrating, reciting, or engaging in remembrance), they should consider that they have performed it and turn away from the doubt. They should not base their actions on the lesser possibility. It is not recommended to repeat a prayer due to waswas. As for someone who doubts having fasted for one or two days, they are only required to fast for one day, because the default is that their obligation is clear.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 130493
- 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