Salat Rulings

On this page you will find various useful tools regarding Salat, and many common issues which people face. Please choose which option you’d like to view:

Doubts
This section covers doubts in the number of raka'at you've prayed, doubts in various actions of Salat, what you can use for Sajda, & what to do about najasat.
Remedies
This section covers Sajda-e Sahw & Salatu 'l-Ihtiyat which are used in the above doubtful situations
Condensed Salat Method
Condensed method of prayer, useful for covering qadha salat, or under time pressures.
Salat & Travel
This section covers praying qasr from the GTA, Qibla directions on your flight, Qibla from any global location, Qasr Salat information, and determining whether you need to fast during travel.

Various Types of Doubts in Salat

If you encounter doubts regarding which rakat you’re currently in, the following form will help you remedy the situation.

Click on the button which relates to the number of rakats you’re having a doubt about.

Salat is invalid

Action: Immediately stop the prayer and simply start again.

Salat is invalid

Action: Immediately stop the prayer and simply start again.

Salat is invalid

Action: Immediately stop the prayer and simply start again.

Count it as the 3rd Rakat.

Action: Perform 1 Rakat Salat Ihtiyat after the prayer

Salat is invalid

Action: Immediately stop the prayer and simply start again.

Count it as the 4th Rakat.

Action: Perform 2 Rakat Salat ihtiyat after the prayer.

Salat is invalid

Action: Immediately stop the prayer and simply start again.

Count it as the 4th Rakat.

Action: After the prayer, perform 2 Rakat Salat ihtiyat + 2 rakat while sitting

Count it as the 4th Rakat.

Action: After the prayer, perform 1 Rakat Salat ihtiyat OR 2 rakat while sitting

Sit down, and count it as the 4th Rakat.

Action: After the prayer, perform 2 rakat salat ihtiyat. 2 Sajda-e Sahw is also recommended.

Count it as the 4th Rakat.

Action: After the prayer, perform 2 Rakat Salat ihtiyat. 2 Sajda-e Sahw is also recommended.

Sit down, and count it as the 4th Rakat.

Action: After the prayer, perform 2 rakat salat ihtiyat + 2 rakat sitting. 2 Sajda-e Sahw is also recommended.

Count it as the 4th Rakat.

Action: After the prayer, perform 2 Rakat Salat ihtiyat + 2 rakat while sitting. 2 Sajda-e Sahw is also recommended.

Count it as the 4th Rakat.

Action: After the prayer, perform 1 Rakat Salat Ihtiyat OR 2 Rakat sitting. 2 Sajda-e Sahw is recommended.

Count it as the 4th Rakat.

Action: After the prayer, perform 2 Sajda-e Sahw

NOTE: In this situation, you cannot assume the higher number, so settle for 4th. You might have done one extra rakat, therefore you should do 2 sajda-e sahw

Sit down, and count it as the 4th Rakat.

Action: After the prayer, perform 2 Sajda-e Sahw

NOTE: In this situation, you cannot assume the higher numbers, so settle for 4th. You might have done one or two extra rakat, therefore you should do 2 sajda-e sahw

Count it as the 4th Rakat.

Action: After the prayer, perform 2 Sajda-e Sahw

NOTE: In this situation, you cannot assume the higher number, so settle for 4th. You might have done one or two extra rakat, therefore you should do 2 sajda-e sahw

If you encounter doubts during your salat regarding various actions or recitations, the following form will help you remedy the situation.

Note that the term ‘Munafiyat’ refers to any action which invalidates the prayer. (ie looking away from Qibla, talking, walking etc.)

Click on the button which relates to the issue you’re having.

Qara’at refers to the recitation of Surahs during Qiyam.

You know you forgot it:

Your prayer is invalid

You remembered before Ruku
Recite al-Fatiha and repeat the 2nd Sura
You remembered during Ruku
Continue the Salat & perform Sajda-e Sahw after Salat
You remembered after Ruku
Continue the Salat & perform Sajda-e Sahw after Salat

You have doubts:

Before Ruku
Perform the Qara’at
In Qunut or Ruku
Ignore the doubt and perform Sajda-e Sahw
After Salat
Ignore the doubt

During the 2nd Sura
Ignore the doubt
In the subsequent verse
Ignore the doubt

Note that Qunut is not a wajib act.

You forgot to perform Qunut but you:

Stand up and perform Qunut

Perform Qunut after Ruku

Perform Qaza after Salat in a sitting position

This is the one second moment of standing, after Qara’at/Qunut, before bending for Ruku

Your prayer is invalid

Remembered before 2nd Sajdah
Go back to Qiyam position, perform Ruku, then continue
Remembered in 2nd Sajdah
Your prayer is invalid

General ruling: Knowingly, or unknowingly, adding or forgetting any Ruku, invalidates the prayer. However, if you have:

Ignore the doubt and continue the prayer

Go back, perform Ruku, continue. Recommended to perform Sajda-e Sahw afterwards.

Your prayer is invalid

While going to Ruku, you accidentally go towards Sajda position:

Go back to Qiyam and then bend for Ruku

Stay in current state and complete the Ruku

Forgot 1 Sajdah within the:

You remembered:

Before next Ruku
Go back, perform Sajdah, and continue
Into next Ruku
Continue, perform qaza Sajdah, and perform Sajda-e Sahw

You remembered:

After Salam, before munafiyat
Go back, perform Sajdah, continue the prayer, and perform Sajda-e Sahw
After Salam, after munafiyat
Perform qaza Sajdah, and perform Sajda-e Sahw

Forgot 2 Sajdah within the:

You remembered:

Before next Ruku
Go back, perform Sajdah, and continue
Into next Ruku
Your prayer is invalid

You remembered:

After Salam, before munafiyat
Go back, perform Sajdah, continue the prayer, and perform Sajda-e Sahw
After Salam, after munafiyat
Your prayer is invalid

Forgot first Tashahhud. If you remembered:

Go back and perform tashahhud, then continue

Continue normally, perform Sajda-e Sahw afterwards, recommended to also perform qaza of Tashahhud

Forgot last Tashahhud. You remembered after salam and:

Go back and perform Tashahhud and Salam, followed by Sajda-e Sahw for the extra Salam

Perform Sajda-e Sahw afterwards

If you have any doubt whether Tashahhud was performed properly, at any moment – ignore it

Forgot Salam but remembered:

Perform Salam immediately

Your prayer is valid

If there is any doubt regarding Salam at any stage, simply ignore it

Note that if none of the permissible/discouraged items are available (including the last resort items listed in the disallowed section), use the sleeve of your clothing as a last resort.

Click the buttons to see some example items.

Preferable items are those from the earth, or something that grows from it but not used as food or clothing.

-Earth
-Plain paper
-Tissue (sourced from wood, not other materials)
-Natural straw mat
-Printed paper
-Tasbih beads (made from clay, not plastic)
-Walnut husk
-Date pits
-Maple leaf (not edible)
-Mango leaf
-Tea leaf

Note that the discouraged items are considered permissible but not preferable according to Ayatullah Sistani. The common opinion of other various mujtahideen is to disallow these items entirely.

-Turquoise (considered a precious stone)
-Aqiq (considered a precious stone)
-Marble (considered a precious stone)
-Granite (considered a precious stone)
-Brick
-Earthware
-Cement
-Terrazzo

-Fingernail
-Hand
-Asphalt (If there are no permissible or discouraged items available, this would be the ideal alternative, as a last resort)
-Tar (If there are no permissible or discouraged items available, this would be the ideal alternative, as a last resort)
-Silk paper (comes from silk, and is also used as an item of clothing)
-Gold/Silver coin and other metals (found in earth, but not considered to grow from it)
-Glass (created from sand, however underwent drastic transformation)
-Plastic (doesn’t grow from the earth)
-Water lilies (doesn’t grow from the earth)
-Pan leaf (edible item)
-Cotton (used as an item of clothing)
-Lettuce (edible item)
-Coal

How to deal with discovered najasat on the body or clothing. Depending on when the najasat was discovered, click the appropriate button.

If the time remaining for Salat is:

Purify and perform the Salat

If you can get rid of the najasat
Do so and perform the prayer
If you cannot get rid of the najasat
Continue the prayer and it will be valid

If you believe it occured after starting salat, and it is:

Do so and continue the prayer

Sufficient time
Purify and restart the prayer
Not sufficient time
Continue the prayer as normal

If you discovered najasat on your body or clothes, and did not have a prior doubt, or did have a doubt but checked and found nothing, then your prayer is valid

If you discover najasat, and you had a previous doubt and did not check, then the prayer must be redone

If you knew of najasat but forgot and prayed with it:

The prayer must be repeated, whether it is remembered during or after salat or the salat time.

Refer to the ‘Before Salat’ tab in this case.

Remedies for Doubts in Salat

Below are two items which are used when there are doubts or mistakes made in Salat.

Sajda-e Sahw (the ‘sajdah for missing something’)

It consists of two sajdahs with the appropriate niyyat.
The forehead should be on the turbah.
Tashahhud & salam is wajib afterwards.

Its better to say takbir and also say the zikr:

بسم الله و بالله، السلام عليك، أيها النبي و رحمة الله و بركاته

Its better to place other masajid on the ground, observe taharat, qiblah & dress.

Talking in salãt by mistake.
Doing salãm in the wrong place.
Missing the tashahhud.
When there are various types of doubts regarding the number of rakat in your prayers. Refer to the form on this page for situations where it may apply.

Missing one sajdah.
Standing in place of sitting.
Sitting in place of standing.
Any addition/deletion that didn’t make the salãt batil.

Salatu ‘l-Ihtiyat (prayer done on a precautionary basis)

It has to be done immediately after the actual salãt before doing any of the munfiyãt (actions which make the prayer batil) of salãt. If any munfiyãt takes place, then salãtu ’l-ihtiyãt cannot be a remedy any more; rather the actual salãt has to be repeated.

There is no adhan or iqamah, nor any surah (other than al-Fatiha), nor qunut.
Surah al-Fatiha has to be done silently, even its basmalah.
Depending on the situation, salãtu ’l-ihtiyãt could be 1 rak‘at or 2 rak‘at, done in standing position, or while seated.

When there are various types of doubts in your prayers. Refer to the form on this page for situations where it may apply.

Condensed Salat Method

If you are fulfilling Qadha Salat, or are pressed for time, use the charts provided as an aid to maximize your time by completing only the Wajib portions of your prayer. Click the various Rakat tabs to view the corresponding chart. Note that this is not to be done on a regular basis, as the full method is highly recommended, and is considered to be the typical length/list for Salat.

Click on the chart for a larger image.
Remember, for zikr x 1, if only saying “Subhanallah”, saying it three times counts as a single zikr.

Click on the chart for a larger image.
Remember, for zikr x 1, if only saying “Subhanallah”, saying it three times counts as a single zikr.

Click on the chart for a larger image.
Remember, for zikr x 1, if only saying “Subhanallah”, saying it three times counts as a single zikr.

Click on the chart for a larger image.
Remember, for zikr x 1, if only saying “Subhanallah”, saying it three times counts as a single zikr.

Wajibat of Salat

Teach Your Child How to Pray with Maulana Rizvi

Play the below audio clips of Zuhr & Asr Salat, with your child following along. All recitations are done aloud for better understanding.

Iqama, Niyyat, & Zuhr Prayer

Iqama, Niyyat, & Asr Prayer

Salat & Travel

Click here to visit al-m.ca/travel for rulings and information related to:

Praying Qasr while travelling from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
An interactive map that helps determine whether you’re travelling outside of city boundaries, determining whether you need to fast or pray qasr.
Fasting During Travel?
An easy to use form which will determine whether you need to fast on your trip, within two clicks.
Qibla Direction on a Plane
Easy to use website which will determine your prayer direction on your particular flight.
Qibla Direction from Anywhere in the World
Easy to use website which will determine your prayer direction from any location, including your current one.
Qasr Salat Information and Doubts
How & when to pray qasr, and what to do when you have doubts