Forgetting Which Prayer One is In

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Forgetting Which Prayer One is In

Question
Salam Imam, what should one do if he forgets what he is praying? In a regrettable lapse of focus, I forgot if I was praying the last rakaat of Isha or the first rakaat of witr. Jazakallahu khairan.

Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.

1) The Principle of Certainty and Doubt

The usul principle states:

اليقين لا يزول بالشك
Certainty is not removed by doubt.

This means you return to what you are sure of, and ignore what you are unsure of.

2) Application to the Case

  • If you are unsure whether you are in the last rakaat of Isha or the first of Witr, you must return to what is certain.
  • The certain prayer is Isha, because Witr does not begin until Isha is completed.
  • Therefore, you treat it as if you are in Isha, complete Isha, and then pray Witr afterward.

3) General Guidance on Such Lapses

  • If one forgets within a prayer whether he is in the third or fourth rakaat, he takes what is certain (the lower number), then completes the prayer and performs sujood al-sahw (prostration of forgetfulness).
  • In this specific case, because the doubt is between two different prayers, not rakaat within the same prayer, the ruling is simpler: return to certainty, which is that you are still in Isha.

Final Ruling

If one forgets whether he is in the last rakaat of Isha or the first rakaat of Witr, he must assume he is in Isha, complete it, and then pray Witr afterward. Certainty is given precedence over doubt, and the principle al-yaqin la yazul bil-shakk applies.

And Allah knows best.