Darul Uloom Trinidad & Tobago

Question:

Asalam aliakum,

I have a major problem when praying Salaat, most times I cannot remember if I had done Sajdah once or twice. I normally repeat my Salaat and get it fairly correct by around the third try, this is only for fard. I normally just try my best in my Sunnah but I don’t repeat it. However, I recently heard that it is Wajib to even repeat a nafl Salaat once Takbeer has been said. I don’t know what should be done, also its not worldly matters that distract me, Shaitaan comes and whispers to me evil about my beliefs and while correcting my thoughts I normally loss track of where I am at in my Salaat. I have made a vow not to repeat my Salaat unless I am sure I had screwed up but it makes me feel as though I am not a Muslim and following my desires when I don’t repeat my Salaat because I know my only purpose in this life is to serve Allah.

Answer:

Wa Alaikum as Salaam,

If you know with certainty that you have done something to invalidate your Salaah, then you need to repeat it. This is the same law for the Sunnah and Nafl Salaah. If you are doubtful regarding an act, thinking that you did not do it in Salaah, then do that act again in your Salaah (even if it means another Sajdah or Ruku), and at the end of your Salaah, make the two Sajdah of forgetfulness.

Try your best to ignore the promptings of Shaitaan and concentrate on your Salaah.

And Allah knows best,
Mufti Waseem Khan

5/11/2012