Q: I experience constant doubts in salaat and I am currently combatting this. At the moment, due to work, I have to pray my isha, asr and maghrib when I get home in the evening. When I finish my prayers I doubt whether I have prayed asr for example and that I have maybe accidentally skipped this. I have no recollection that gives me complete certainty that I have prayed it or that I haven’t prayed it. But it can be said that because I have gotten to the end of praying all three prayers, it is likely that I did not miss it and this is just doubt being planted in my head. As I suffer from constant doubts is it permissible to ignore the doubt and deem asr to have been prayed, even if in reality (but unknown to me) my doubt is correct and I did not pray Asr?
A: After Imaan, salaah is the most important pillar in Islam. The first thing which a person will be questioned about on the day of Qiyaamah will be in regard to his salaah. Grave warnings have been sounded in the Qur'aan Majeed and Mubaarak Ahaadith for the one who forgoes his salaah.
A believer should understand that he needs to be loyal to Allah Ta'ala at all times, as Allah Ta'ala is his greatest Benefactor. Allah Ta'ala is his Creator, Sustainer, and Nourisher and he owes Allah Ta'ala the greatest right. It does not behove a believer to disobey Allah Ta'ala through neglecting his salaah on account of one's profession or worldly occupation etc.
You should sincerely repent to Allah Ta'ala for missing your salaah and performing it as qadha later on and you should immediately commence performing each salaah on its prescribed time. If there is a musjid nearby, you should perform the salaah in the musjid with jamaat, and if there is no musjid, then you should perform the salaah in its prescribed time with another muslim making jamaat with him. Performing salaah with jamaat is compulsory upon males.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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