1201. If a person doubts concerning the number of rak‘ah he has offered in a recommended prayer, and if the possibility with the higher number of rak‘ah invalidates the prayer, he should assume he has performed the lesser number of rak‘ah. For example, if during the nÁfilah of fajr, a person doubts whether he has performed two rak‘ah or three, he should assume he has performed two rak‘ah. However, if the possibility with the higher number does not invalidate the prayer, such as a doubt between one and two rak‘ah, his prayer will be valid, regardless of the option he adopts
1202. The omission of a nÁfilah prayer’s pillars invalidates it. However, there is no harm in increasing its pillars. Therefore, if a person forgets a component of the nÁfilah, and recollects while engaged in the subsequent pillar, he should perform the forgotten component, and repeat the pillar he was engaged in. For example, if a person recollects while engaged in rukÙ that he forgot to recite sÙrat al-FÁtiÎah, he should recite sÙrat al-FÁtiÎah and then repeat the rukÙ.
1203. If a doubt arises concerning one of the components of a nÁfilah prayer, be it a pillar or not, he should perform it so long its place has not passed. However, if its place has passed, the doubt should be dismissed.
1204. If during a two rak‘ah nÁfilah, a person speculates that he has performed three rak‘ah or more, his prayer will be valid. If he speculates that he has performed two rak‘ah or less, he should act according to his speculation. For example, if he speculates that he has offered one rak‘ah, he should offer one more rak‘ah.
1205. If during a nÁfilah prayer, a person performs an act which would obligate him to perform a sajdah al-sahw in an obligatory prayer, or if he forgets one sujÙd, or the tashahhud, and recollects after the salÁm of the prayer, neither sajdah al-sahw, nor the qaÃÁ become obligatory on him.
1206. If a person doubts whether he has offered a recommended prayer or not, he should assume he has not offered it if it is a prayer that is not time-specific, such as the prayer of JÁ‘far al-ÓayyÁr (Peace be upon him). He should similarly assume he has not offered it if it is a prayer that is time-specific, such as the daily nÁfilah, if his doubt arises within the specified time. However, if his doubt arises after the specified time has elapsed, he should dismiss his doubt.
