What should I do about my recurring forgetfulness in prayer and my inability to recall the number of Rak'ahs, despite performing the prostration of forgetfulness (sujud al-sahw)?
It is advisable to be cautious of obsessive thoughts () and to combat them, and to frequently seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. Doubt concerning the number of rak'ahs (units of prayer) or the pillars of prayer is not to be heeded if it occurs after the prayer has been completed. However, if it occurs during the prayer, one must perform what was doubted, and then prostrate for forgetfulness ( as-sahw), due to the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: "If one of you doubts in his prayer and does not know how many he has prayed—three or four—he should cast off the doubt and build upon what he is certain of, then he should prostrate twice before giving the salutation. If he has prayed five, they will intercede for his prayer, and if he has prayed the completion of four, they will be a humiliation for Satan."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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