Hadith 1381

Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say, "Whoever prays a prayer and is in doubt about whether he has shortened it, let him pray until he is certain of the excess." [Narrated by Ahmad] In another narration by Tirmidhi, Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say, "If one of you is in doubt during his prayer and does not know whether he has prayed one or two rak'ahs, let him assume it is one. If he does not know whether he has prayed two or three rak'ahs, let him assume it is two. If he does not know whether he has prayed three or four rak'ahs, let him assume it is three, and then perform two prostrations of forgetfulness." Tirmidhi said: This is a Hasan Sahih Hadith. The conclusion is that three narrations have been established in this Chapter on "If one of you is in doubt during his prayer, let him start over," or something similar. "Whoever is in doubt about his prayer, let him strive to determine the correct number." This hadith, which instructs building upon what is certain. Our Imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him) reconciled these narrations by interpreting the first as referring to the first occurrence of doubt, the second as referring to cases where one can determine the correct number, and the third as referring to cases where one cannot determine the correct number. This is the perfection of comprehensiveness upon which the school of Imam Abu Hanifah is based, as mentioned in Sharh al-Munyah.