Ever Forgotten What Raka’ah You Were On? What Do You Do?

[Fatima]

You’re deep in salah, focused (or so you thought)… then suddenly—wait… was that the second raka’ah or third?

It’s one of those moments that happens more often than we’d like to admit. You try to retrace your steps mid-prayer: Did I already sit for Tashahhud? Did I recite Surah after Fatiha once or twice? And by the time you figure it out… you're not even sure if you're standing or supposed to be in sujood!

Some people go with the safe option—default to the lower number and add a sujood as-sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) at the end. Others trust their gut and hope they didn’t just turn a four raka’ah salah into a freestyle session.

I’ve even seen uncles quietly count on their fingers, and one brother whispered the number to himself right before sujood!

It’s a humbling reminder that even in worship, our minds can wander—but Allah is Most Merciful and understands our forgetfulness.