[Q 521] Doubt About Missed Prayer

QUESTION:

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
What to do when one is not sure whether he has performed a certain prayer.

For example at the end of the day, a person forgot if he prayed zhur or not.

ANSWER:

If a person is in doubt whether he has performed a Fard (obligatory) prayer (for example, Zuhr), then if the time of that prayer is still remaining—meaning the doubt occurs within the prescribed time of that prayer—it is Wajib (necessary) for him to perform that prayer. This is because the cause of the prayer, namely the time, is still present, and until one is certain that the prayer has been performed, performing it remains obligatory.

If the time of the prayer has passed and only then he doubts whether he had performed the prayer or not, then it is not necessary to repeat the prayer. This is because there is merely doubt about not having prayed, not certainty, and due to mere doubt, repetition does not become obligatory.

Imam Badr al-Din al-‘Ayni رحمہ اللہ تعالی states:

شك في صلاته أنه ‌صلاها ‌أم ‌لا، فإن كان في الوقت يعيد، ولو شك خارج الوقت لا يعيدها
[Al-Binayah Sharh al-Hidayah, Volume 02, Page 634]

Imam Ibn Nujaym al-Misri رحمہ اللہ تعالی states:

“وإذا شك في صلاة أنه ‌صلاها ‌أم ‌لا فإن كان في الوقت أن يعيد لأن سبب الوجوب قائم وإنما لا يعمل هذا السبب بشرط الأداء قبله وفيه شك وإن خرج الوقت ثم شك فلا شيء عليه لأن سبب الوجوب قد فات وإنما يجب القضاء بشرط عدم الأداء قبله وفيه شك”
[Al-Bahr al-Ra’iq Sharh Kanz al-Daqa’iq, Volume 02, Page 87]

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Translated answer
Date: 30th December 2025