If a person has a doubt during prayer about whether they have performed a rukn (pillar) or not, and they keep thinking for the duration of performing one rukn, i.e., the time it takes to say 'Subhan Allah' three times, engaging neither in recitation (Qira'at) nor in remembrance and glorification (Dhikr and Tasbeeh), then in this case, Sajdah Sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) becomes obligatory upon them. And if they continued praying while thinking, then Sajdah Sahw will not be obligatory. (Book: Aham Masail / Pg: 72)
The General and the Shepherd
It was the year 1917, in the mountains of Iraq, when the British General Stanley Maude encountered a shepherd. The General turned towards the shepherd and told his translator, "Tell him that the General will give him one pound, and in return, he must slaughter his dog." A dog is very important to a shepherd; it herds his sheep, brings back the stray flock, and protects them from the attacks of predators. However, the value of a pound was worth more than half the flock. Thinking this, a greedy smile spread across the shepherd's face. He caught the dog and slaughtered it at the General's feet. The General said to the shepherd, "If you skin it as well, I am ready to give you another pound." The shepherd happily skinned the dog too. The General said, "I am ready to give yet another pound if you cut it into pieces." The shepherd immediately accepted this offer as well. The General gave the shepherd three pounds and began to walk away. The General had only walked a few steps forward when he heard the shepherd's voice from behind. He was following him and saying, "General, if I eat the dog's meat, will you give me another pound?" The General shook his head in refusal and said, "I only wanted to see your psychology and worth. For just three pounds, you slaughtered your protector and friend, skinned it, chopped it into pieces, and for a fourth pound, you are even ready to eat it. And this is exactly what I need here." Then the General addressed his companions and said, "These are the thoughts and mindsets of the people of this nation, so you do not need to be afraid of them." Today, the same is the condition of Muslim countries and societies. For their own minor interests and needs, they trade away their most valuable and important things. And this is the weapon that every colonialist, every occupier, and every cunning enemy has been using against us; through this, they have ruled and through this, they have plundered countries. Today, how many such 'shepherds' are there among us in our countries who are not only ready to eat dog meat but are eating the flesh of their fellow countrymen and selling their homeland for a few pennies. Derived from Dr. Ali al-Wardi's Arabic book "Lamahat Ijtima'iyyah min Tarikh al-Iraq" (Social Glimpses of the History of Iraq).
