A person is experiencing excessive doubt regarding the correctness of their recitation or the number of prostrations, but they do not doubt much about the number of units of prayer. In one of the prayers, they doubted the number of units. Should they follow the ruling for someone who has excessive doubt or act based on their doubt? Additionally, if they were unaware that paying attention to doubt invalidates the prayer and they were focusing on their doubt, does that invalidate their prayer?
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1 Answer
Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.
Ayatollah Khamenei (may God protect him):
If someone has excessive doubt in a specific matter or prayer, the ruling for excessive doubt applies only to that specific case. If they doubt something else, they should act based on their doubt. For example, if a person who has excessive doubt is unsure whether they have bowed or not, they should assume they have bowed. If they doubt whether they performed the second unit or not, they should assume they did. It is not permissible for someone with excessive doubt to pay attention to their doubt; if they deliberately act based on their doubt, their prayer is invalid. However, if the doubt arises from forgetfulness and the doubtful matter is a pillar of the prayer, the prayer is invalid; otherwise, it is not.
Source: Fiqh al-Wali: Rulings on Excessive Doubt + Answers to Inquiries, Doubts in Prayer, S520 + Simplified Jurisprudential Rulings, Invalidations of Prayer, p. 131.
Ayatollah Sistani (may God protect him):
- If excessive doubt is specific to a certain matter, the individual must act according to the duties of someone who doubts in other matters, just like other accountable individuals. For instance, if their excessive doubt is specifically about the units of prayer, they should not pay attention to their doubt in that regard. If they doubt whether they performed the bowing or prostration or anything else that they do not frequently doubt, they must perform it if the doubt arises before entering into another action. However, if the excessive doubt is established in a specific action like bowing and then they doubt another action like prostration, they should not pay attention to that doubt either.
- It is not permissible for someone with excessive doubt to pay attention to their doubt. If they doubt whether they have bowed or not, they should not bow; otherwise, their prayer will be invalid, according to precaution. However, in the case of doubt regarding recitation or remembrance, if they pay attention to their doubt and perform the doubtful action with the intention of drawing closer to God, it does not harm the validity of their prayer.
As for performing an action out of forgetfulness, if it is a pillar like bowing, their prayer is invalid according to precaution; otherwise, it is not.
Source: Minhaj al-Salihin, Vol. 1, Excessive Doubt, M 850 + 854 + Errors in Prayer, M 837.
May you be successful in all good.