If a person doubts that he recited al-Fatihah without contemplation, what should he do? Should he repeat it?
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The questioner : O Shaykh! Your EminenceThe Shaykh : Satan frequently presents distractions to a person during his prayer, including during the recitation of al-Fatihah and the tashahhud. If the one praying becomes certain that he recited al-Fatihah without contemplation, meaning he did not pay attention until he reached the end of al-Fatihah, for example in the phrase [Al-Fatihah 1:7], or at the end of the tashahhud, and he realizes that he recited al-Fatihah without contemplation, should he repeat al-Fatihah or not?
The Shaykh : He does not repeat it. If a person is distracted from his prayer by whispers and intrusive thoughts, he does not repeat what he missed. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that Satan comes to a person during his prayer and says, “Remember this, remember that,” until the person prays without knowing what he prayed.
If we said that he should repeat it, Satan would gain control over him regarding the repetition, and then we would say, “Repeat it a second, third, and fourth time.” However, a person should try as much as he can to be present in heart during his prayer, because presence of heart in prayer is the essence of the prayer. One who prays while his heart is not present is merely a moving machine.
not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
غير المغضوب عليهم ولا الضالينThe Shaykh : He does not repeat it. If a person is distracted from his prayer by whispers and intrusive thoughts, he does not repeat what he missed. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that Satan comes to a person during his prayer and says, “Remember this, remember that,” until the person prays without knowing what he prayed.
If we said that he should repeat it, Satan would gain control over him regarding the repetition, and then we would say, “Repeat it a second, third, and fourth time.” However, a person should try as much as he can to be present in heart during his prayer, because presence of heart in prayer is the essence of the prayer. One who prays while his heart is not present is merely a moving machine.