A man prayed and was very distracted in his prayer, and he did not achieve any khushu' at all, then he wanted to repeat the prayer?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you, a man prayed.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The questioner : And he was very distracted in his prayer, meaning he did not achieve khushu', meaning he prayed a prayer without khushu'...
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : Meaning he prayed without khushu'.
The Shaykh : Very well.
The questioner : And he wanted to repeat it a second time to improve it?
The Shaykh : Yes, and by Allah, I sometimes issue a ruling that he should repeat it, and sometimes I issue a ruling that he should not repeat it. And this is closer to my view, because I fear that if I order him to repeat it, waswas (whispers of doubt) will enter his heart, so that every time he prays he says, "I did not have khushu'," then he prays the second time and does not have khushu', and so the time passes by while he is praying. So I see that he should not repeat it. Even regarding the recitation of al-Fatihah, some scholars said that if a person recites al-Fatihah and his heart is not present, then his heart becomes present, he should repeat it. And I do not see this, because it opens the door to waswas. And who can guarantee that if he repeats it, he will not be afflicted with waswas? Who can guarantee this? Yes... And what do you say, O...
The student: ...
The Shaykh : And what is said about the matter, if Allah wills, is that it will end now. The reading, if Allah wills, will be from the book: "Al-Mishkat". Al-Mishkat is a good, detailed, and organized book, which is read to the general public, in the 'Asr (afternoon) time. We will explain it, if Allah wills.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The questioner : And he was very distracted in his prayer, meaning he did not achieve khushu', meaning he prayed a prayer without khushu'...
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : Meaning he prayed without khushu'.
The Shaykh : Very well.
The questioner : And he wanted to repeat it a second time to improve it?
The Shaykh : Yes, and by Allah, I sometimes issue a ruling that he should repeat it, and sometimes I issue a ruling that he should not repeat it. And this is closer to my view, because I fear that if I order him to repeat it, waswas (whispers of doubt) will enter his heart, so that every time he prays he says, "I did not have khushu'," then he prays the second time and does not have khushu', and so the time passes by while he is praying. So I see that he should not repeat it. Even regarding the recitation of al-Fatihah, some scholars said that if a person recites al-Fatihah and his heart is not present, then his heart becomes present, he should repeat it. And I do not see this, because it opens the door to waswas. And who can guarantee that if he repeats it, he will not be afflicted with waswas? Who can guarantee this? Yes... And what do you say, O...
The student: ...
The Shaykh : And what is said about the matter, if Allah wills, is that it will end now. The reading, if Allah wills, will be from the book: "Al-Mishkat". Al-Mishkat is a good, detailed, and organized book, which is read to the general public, in the 'Asr (afternoon) time. We will explain it, if Allah wills.