Repeating the prayer for one who did not comprehend anything of it due to waswas (whispers)
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The questioner:
If a person prays behind an imam and does not comprehend any of the dhikr or the recitation, is it prescribed for him to repeat the prayer?
The Shaykh:
It appears that he should listen to what Allah has prescribed, and that is sufficient; he does not need to repeat it. He should listen to what Allah has prescribed regarding prostration and the prostration for forgetfulness in their proper places, and praise be to Allah. Be careful of yourself in the future so that you stay away from waswas (whispers), because those who suffer from waswas (whispers) today are pitiable and in great danger. If it were said to them that repeating is prescribed, they would repeat every prayer. They are pitiable. Yes, but they must strive against their souls until they are free from waswas (whispers), and they should do what Allah has prescribed, such as the prostration for forgetfulness, and build upon certainty over the predominant suspicion, until they are free from these waswas (whispers). If something becomes predominant in his suspicion, he should build upon that predominant suspicion to make it easier for him. He builds upon his predominant suspicion, and then the Shaytan’s arrangement ends.
The questioner:
The presenter. May Allah guide you. If someone seeks guidance in this matter, is it said to him?
The Shaykh:
It is obligatory for him not to seek out doubts, and to address matters in the manner of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so that he does not open the door to the Shaytan for himself.
The questioner:
The questioner. May Allah reward you for your work. Is it said to him that he should perform more voluntary prayers to complete what was lacking in his prayer?
The Shaykh:
Voluntary prayers are prescribed for everyone, and especially for one who has a deficiency, all the more so. Yes. Our position is that if one leaves an obligatory act or does what is forbidden out of desire, he must make it up. And the prostration for forgetfulness is obligatory in the case of doubt. Yes. It suffices before the taslim and after the taslim in all cases. It is only a matter of preference before and after; there is a preference for before and a preference for after. Yes.
If a person prays behind an imam and does not comprehend any of the dhikr or the recitation, is it prescribed for him to repeat the prayer?
The Shaykh:
It appears that he should listen to what Allah has prescribed, and that is sufficient; he does not need to repeat it. He should listen to what Allah has prescribed regarding prostration and the prostration for forgetfulness in their proper places, and praise be to Allah. Be careful of yourself in the future so that you stay away from waswas (whispers), because those who suffer from waswas (whispers) today are pitiable and in great danger. If it were said to them that repeating is prescribed, they would repeat every prayer. They are pitiable. Yes, but they must strive against their souls until they are free from waswas (whispers), and they should do what Allah has prescribed, such as the prostration for forgetfulness, and build upon certainty over the predominant suspicion, until they are free from these waswas (whispers). If something becomes predominant in his suspicion, he should build upon that predominant suspicion to make it easier for him. He builds upon his predominant suspicion, and then the Shaytan’s arrangement ends.
The questioner:
The presenter. May Allah guide you. If someone seeks guidance in this matter, is it said to him?
The Shaykh:
It is obligatory for him not to seek out doubts, and to address matters in the manner of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so that he does not open the door to the Shaytan for himself.
The questioner:
The questioner. May Allah reward you for your work. Is it said to him that he should perform more voluntary prayers to complete what was lacking in his prayer?
The Shaykh:
Voluntary prayers are prescribed for everyone, and especially for one who has a deficiency, all the more so. Yes. Our position is that if one leaves an obligatory act or does what is forbidden out of desire, he must make it up. And the prostration for forgetfulness is obligatory in the case of doubt. Yes. It suffices before the taslim and after the taslim in all cases. It is only a matter of preference before and after; there is a preference for before and a preference for after. Yes.
Source
التعليق على بعض أحاديث موطأ مالك، من أول باب: النَّظَرِ فِي الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى مَا يَشْغَلُكَ عَنْهَا، إلى باب: مَا جَاءَ فِي صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ — islamhouse.com (5:49)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.