Ruling on Mistakenly Standing for a Third Rak‘ah in the Night Prayer
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
Question
A person is performing the night prayer (nafl or qiyām al-layl), which is known to be prayed in sets of two rak‘ahs. If someone mistakenly stands for a third rak‘ah, what should be done?
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d:
- If a person, while performing the night prayer, mistakenly stands for a third rak‘ah:
◈ As soon as he remembers, he should immediately return and sit down.
◈ If he does not return and intentionally completes the third rak‘ah, his prayer becomes invalid. - Imām Aḥmad رحمه الله clearly stated:
Whoever stands for a third rak‘ah in the night prayer is like one who stands for a third rak‘ah in Fajr — if he does not return, the prayer is invalid.
Exception — Witr Prayer
- Witr prayer is an exception in this matter.
- In Witr, adding a third rak‘ah is permissible.
- If someone begins Witr intending to pray two rak‘ahs, give salām, and then pray one rak‘ah separately — but mistakenly stands for the third rak‘ah without giving salām — then:
◈ He should complete the third rak‘ah, because in Witr it is permissible to join the third rak‘ah with the first two.
هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
