What is the advice for one who frequently forgets in prayer?
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Question:
I am a man who prays, but when I enter prayer, I am troubled by many intrusive thoughts, and I exit the prayer not knowing: are they four or three? How many did the imam pray? And what did he recite? So what is your advice to you, may Allah preserve you?
Answer:
This is from Shaytan. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [An-Nas:1-4]. This is the enemy of Allah. If he overwhelms you with intrusive thoughts, seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, even in prayer. Spit dryly to your left three times and say: "I seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan" three times.
A man complained to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, Shaytan has confused my prayer for me. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him:. The Companion did that, and Allah cured him from the evil of it.
So you seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, and do not obey Shaytan in repeating the ablution or repeating the prayer. No, do not obey him. But if you find something from him in the prayer while you are in the prayer, spit dryly to your left three times. Turn slightly to your left and spit three times, and say: "I seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan" three times, and it will go away, if Allah wills. Beware, and be present with your heart before Allah, and remember that you are in a great station, in a great act of worship, until Allah helps you with it. Your prayer is valid even if you concluded it while not knowing what the imam did. The prayer is valid, but it is deficient because of the intrusive thoughts.
I am a man who prays, but when I enter prayer, I am troubled by many intrusive thoughts, and I exit the prayer not knowing: are they four or three? How many did the imam pray? And what did he recite? So what is your advice to you, may Allah preserve you?
Answer:
This is from Shaytan. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said:
(1) Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, (2) The Sovereign of mankind. (3) The God of mankind, (4) From the evil of the retreating whisperer -
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ مَلِكِ النَّاسِ إِلَهِ النَّاسِ مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِA man complained to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah, Shaytan has confused my prayer for me. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him:
If you find that, spit dryly to your left three times, and say: I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan.
إذا وجدتَ ذلك فانفُث عن يسارك ثلاث مرات، وقل: أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيمSo you seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, and do not obey Shaytan in repeating the ablution or repeating the prayer. No, do not obey him. But if you find something from him in the prayer while you are in the prayer, spit dryly to your left three times. Turn slightly to your left and spit three times, and say: "I seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan" three times, and it will go away, if Allah wills. Beware, and be present with your heart before Allah, and remember that you are in a great station, in a great act of worship, until Allah helps you with it. Your prayer is valid even if you concluded it while not knowing what the imam did. The prayer is valid, but it is deficient because of the intrusive thoughts.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.