The ruling on the prayer of one who doubts about the opening takbir and the recitation of al-Fatihah

Q: My problem is that when I enter the mosque, face the qiblah, and say the opening takbir, I then doubt: did I say the opening takbir? So I say it a second time. After that, I recite al-Fatihah, but I become distracted and return to reciting it again, especially when I am with the imam. Is my prayer valid in this state? What should I do to avoid this distraction? Please advise us, may Allah reward you.

A: Your prayer is valid in the state you described, but you should be cautious of waswas (whispers of doubt). Do this by turning to Allah and being mindful of His greatness when you enter the prayer, and by focusing your heart on that, along with seeking refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan. By doing so, the waswas will be removed, if Allah wills, and you will subdue Shaytan and please your Lord, Glorified and Exalted is He.