Doubts in the number of rakaats in salaah

Q: If one prayed Maghrib and though it was the second unit so he stood up from Tashahhud and then he had a doubt and thought actually he has already prayed three and this is a fourth but he went with the first thought and completed that unit even though the thought that this was a fourth unit was strong and he did Sajdah Sahw, would it be Wajib to repeat the prayer?

A: If the dominant thought in his mind was that he stood up for the third rakaat, and hence he took it to be the third rakaat, then he will not need to make sajdah sahw at the end of the salaah and his salaah will be valid.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)