SAEDNEWS: Sometimes, a person may experience uncertainty about the number of rak‘ahs, prostrations, or other aspects of prayer. By reading this article, you can learn how to deal with these doubts and understand the appropriate way to overcome them.
According to Saednews, Many people may experience doubt, uncertainty, or intrusive thoughts while performing prayer. According to the following traditional narrations, certain supplications may be recited to help overcome these concerns.
Hariz relates from Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him):
“I asked the son of the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): ‘Sometimes I experience troubling thoughts and doubts in my heart. At times I even interrupt my prayers, and sometimes my recitation becomes confused.’”
The Imam replied:
“Why do you not hold fast to the supplication of Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him)?”
I asked:
“O son of the Messenger of God, teach it to me.”
The Imam said that whenever such a feeling arises, place your hand over your heart and say:
Bismillahi wa billah. Allahumma mananta 'alayya bil-iman, wa awda'tani al-Qur'an, wa razaqtani siyama shahri Ramadan. Famnun 'alayya bir-rahmati war-ridwan, war-ra'fati wal-ghufran, wa tamam ma awlaytani minan-ni'ami wal-ihsan. Ya Hannan, ya Mannan, ya Da'im, ya Rahman. Subhanaka wa laysa li ahadun siwak. Subhanaka a'udhu bika ba'da hadhihil-karamati minal-hawan, wa as'aluka an tujliya 'an qalbi al-ahzan.
Meaning:
“In the name of God and by God. O God, You have bestowed faith upon me, entrusted me with the Qur'an, and granted me the opportunity to fast during the month of Ramadan. So bestow upon me Your mercy, pleasure, compassion, forgiveness, and the completion of all the blessings and kindness You have granted me. O Most Compassionate, O Bestower, O Everlasting, O Most Merciful. Glory be to You; I have no one besides You. Glory be to You. After these acts of grace, I seek refuge in You from humiliation, and I ask You to remove sorrow from my heart.”
It is traditionally stated that, by God's permission, the person will find relief. Afterwards, send blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 95, p. 137.
Another traditional text recommends writing Surah An-Nas on a vessel on the fourteenth day of the lunar month, washing the writing into the water, drinking the water, and performing ablution with it. The text states that the person will be protected from intrusive thoughts.
Source: Hashiyeh Majma' al-Da'awat, p. 39.
For a person who frequently experiences forgetfulness or distraction during prayer, a traditional instruction recommends placing the index finger of the right hand on the left thigh before beginning the prayer and saying:
Bismillahi wa billah. Tawakkaltu 'alallah, wa a'udhu billahis-sami'il-'alim minash-shaytanir-rajim.
Meaning:
“In the name of God and by God. I place my trust in God, and I seek refuge in God, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from the accursed Satan.”
Source: Kulliyat Majma' al-Da'awat, p. 236.
