Prayer: Doubts That Must Be Dismissed
Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Ayatullah Sistani
Ruling 1153
Doubts that must be dismissed are as follows:
1. A doubt about an act for which the time of performance has passed. For example, in rukūʿ, one doubts whether he recited Sūrat al-Ḥamd or not;
2. A doubt that arises after the salām of the prayer;
3. A doubt that arises after the time of prayers has expired;
4. A doubt of one who doubts excessively (kathīr al‑shakk);
5. A doubt held by an imam of congregational prayers about the number of rakʿahs performed when a follower is sure about it; and similarly, a doubt held by a follower when the imam is sure of the number of rakʿahs performed;
6. A doubt in recommended prayers and ṣalāt al‑iḥtiyāṭ.
These six types of doubt will now be dealt with in sequence.