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:
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:
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
-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 chart below as an aid to maximize your time by completing only the Wajib portions of your prayer. 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.
Click on the chart for a larger image.
Click on the chart for a larger image.
Click on the chart for a larger image.
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