A woman states that, for the past three years, she has been experiencing doubts during and after performing ablution, causing her to repeat her ablution several times. She has also been experiencing doubts after completing her prayer as to whether she omitted or added anything to it. She seeks to know the ruling of Islamic law concerning what she should do when faced with such doubts.

It is clear from the inquirer’s question that the doubts she experiences occur after she has completed her ablution and after she has finished her prayer. Accordingly, these doubts arise only after she has already been certain of her purification and of having completed her prayer. It is also clear from the question that she has become accustomed to these doubts. 

As the ruling regarding ablution in such a case is that it is valid and purifying, the inquirer should not pay attention to these doubts, based on the of the Islamic legal maxim: “Certainty is not dispelled by doubt.” The same applies to her doubts regarding prayer, provided they occur after she has finished her prayer. This ruling applies if the inquirer is certain that her ablution or payer have not been nullified by any of the causes of minor ritual impurity, she has not left out any of the integrals of prayer, or has done anything that invalidates it.

The inquirer is advised to perform ablution once and pray, without paying attention to these doubts, regardless of how much they affect her. She should not repeat either her ablution or prayer. By doing so, she will have fulfilled the duty required of her and will be absolved of any liability before Allah Almighty. This is because Islam is a religion of ease; whoever imposes excessive hardship upon himself in matter of religion will eventually be overcome by it. Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. There is no doubt that, if the inquirer follows this advice, she will overcome these doubts very soon.

And Allah Almighty knows best.