Question
When I intend to offer Salah (prayer), some kind of waswas (insinuating or distracting thoughts instigated by Satan) and suspicions preoccupy my mind that sometimes I no longer know what I have recited or the number of rak‘ahs (units of prayer) I offered. Please guide me. What should I do?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the
worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the most noble of prophets and
messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions.
This question touches upon one of
the most common and deeply challenging experiences faced by Muslims in their
prayer: the intrusion of waswas (whisperings and distracting thoughts) from
Satan, leading to confusion, doubt, and a loss of focus. This is not a new
phenomenon; it has afflicted believers since the earliest days of Islam, and
the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) provided clear guidance on how to
confront it. The fact that you are troubled by these thoughts is, in itself, a
sign of your sincere faith, for it is well known that Satan only whispers to
those who are striving to worship Allah sincerely. As some of the Salaf
(righteous predecessors) said, “Satan does not bother to whisper to a heart
that is already ruined and distant from Allah; he only whispers to those who
are striving to draw near to Him.”
Understanding Waswas: The
Weapon of Satan
Waswas is one of the primary
weapons of Shaytan (Satan) in his ongoing campaign to distance the children of
Adam from the worship of their Lord. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) informs us in
the Qur’an about the nature of this whispering:
الآيَةُ: ﴿مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ
* الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ﴾
Translation: “From the evil of
the retreating whisperer, who whispers into the hearts of mankind.” (Surat
An-Nas, 114:4-5)
The term “al-waswas al-khannas”
describes Satan as the one who whispers and then retreats when Allah is
remembered, only to return when the heart becomes heedless. This is precisely
what happens during prayer. When a servant stands before Allah, seeking to
devote his heart and mind to his Lord, Satan approaches with relentless
determination, seeking to rob him of the sweetness of worship and to deprive
him of the full reward of his prayer. He distracts the worshipper with thoughts
of worldly affairs, with doubts about the validity of actions, with confusion
about the number of rak‘ahs, and with anxieties that seem to arise from
nowhere.
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) described this phenomenon and provided the remedy. ‘Uthman ibn Abi
al-‘Aas (Radhiyallahu Anhu) came to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
and complained:
الْحَدِيثُ: «يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ
قَدْ حَالَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ صَلَاتِي وَقِرَاءَتِي يَلْبِسُهَا عَلَيَّ» فَقَالَ رَسُولُ
اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «ذَاكَ شَيْطَانٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ خَنْزَبٌ،
فَإِذَا أَحْسَسْتَهُ فَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنْهُ، وَاتْفِلْ عَلَى يَسَارِكَ ثَلَاثًا»
قَالَ: فَفَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ فَأَذْهَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَنِّي
Translation: “O Messenger of
Allah, Satan has come between me and my prayer and my recitation, confusing it
for me.” The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “That is a
devil called Khanzab. When you sense him, seek refuge with Allah from him and
spit dryly to your left three times.” He said: “I did that, and Allah removed
him from me.” (Sahih Muslim, 2203)
This hadith is foundational in
addressing waswas during prayer. It provides a practical, prophetic remedy that
every Muslim can employ. The instruction to “spit dryly” (nafth) means to expel
a small amount of air from the mouth, as if spitting, without actually ejecting
any saliva. This act, combined with seeking refuge in Allah, serves to repel
the whispering devil and restore focus.
The Prescribed Remedy:
Confronting Waswas in Prayer
Based on the guidance of the
Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and the teachings of the scholars, the
following steps are prescribed for one who experiences waswas during prayer:
1. Enter Prayer with Khushu‘
(Heartfelt Humility and Concentration)
The foundation of a sound prayer
is khushu‘—a state of heartfelt humility, attentiveness, and submissive focus
before Allah. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) describes the believers who are
successful as those who possess this quality:
الآيَةُ: ﴿قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ * الَّذِينَ
هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ﴾
Translation: “Successful indeed
are the believers. Those who offer their prayer with all solemnity and full
submissiveness.” (Surat Al-Mu’minun, 23:1-2)
Before beginning your prayer,
remind yourself of the magnitude of what you are about to do. You are standing
before Allah, the Lord of the heavens and the earth. You are in direct
communication with the One who created you, sustains you, and to whom you will
return. Reflect on the meaning of the words you are about to recite. Prepare
your heart as you would prepare to stand before a great king—with reverence,
humility, and full attention. When you enter the prayer with this mindset, you
close the door through which Satan often enters.
2. Seek Refuge with Allah at the
Start of Prayer
At the beginning of each prayer,
before reciting Al-Fatihah, the Muslim is instructed to say:
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
“I seek
refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan.”
This is a command from Allah
Himself in the Qur’an:
الآيَةُ: ﴿فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَعِذْ
بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ﴾
Translation: “So when you recite
the Qur’an, seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan.” (Surat An-Nahl,
16:98)
Though this verse specifically
mentions recitation of the Qur’an, the scholars have unanimously agreed that it
applies to prayer as well, since prayer contains recitation. By actively
seeking Allah’s protection at the outset, you are erecting a barrier against
Satan’s interference.
3. When Waswas Occurs During
Prayer, Use the Prophetic Remedy
If, despite your preparation,
Satan begins to whisper and distract you during the prayer, follow the
instruction given to ‘Uthman ibn Abi al-‘Aas (Radhiyallahu Anhu). The Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) commanded:
• Seek refuge
with Allah from Satan silently in your heart or quietly with your tongue.
• Spit dryly
to your left side three times—a light expulsion of air from the mouth without
any saliva, done discreetly so as not to disturb those around you.
This remedy has been prescribed
specifically for this affliction, and it is effective by the will of Allah.
‘Uthman (Radhiyallahu Anhu) testified that after following this instruction,
Allah removed the whispering from him. The scholars have noted that this should
be done even during the prayer, as it is an action permitted for the purpose of
repelling Satan and does not invalidate the prayer.
4. Do Not Engage with or Respond
to the Whispers
One of the most important
principles in dealing with waswas is to ignore it completely. Do not engage
with the thoughts, do not try to “answer” them, and do not allow them to cause
you to repeat actions unnecessarily. The scholars have taught that waswas is
like a predator: if it senses that you are afraid and that you will respond to
it, it will persist; but if you turn away from it and disregard it, it will
retreat.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin
(Rahimahullah) said: “The treatment for waswas is to ignore it completely and
to occupy oneself with the act of worship. When a person pays attention to
waswas and begins to think about it, it grows and becomes stronger. But when he
ignores it and does not give it any importance, it disappears.”
Dealing with Doubts About
Recitation and the Number of Rak‘ahs
A particularly distressing form
of waswas is when it causes doubt about what one has recited or how many
rak‘ahs have been performed. This can lead to obsessive repetition, prolonged
prayer, and a loss of the very peace that prayer is meant to bring. The Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) provided clear and merciful guidance for such
situations.
The Principle: Act Upon
Certainty, Ignore Doubt
The fundamental principle in
Islamic jurisprudence regarding acts of worship is that certainty is not
overruled by doubt. If you are certain that you have performed a certain number
of rak‘ahs, and then a doubt arises, you disregard the doubt and act upon what
you are certain of. If you are uncertain, you base your action on the lesser
number that you are sure of, and then complete your prayer accordingly.
Abu Sa‘id Al-Khudri (Radhiyallahu
Anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:
الْحَدِيثُ: «إِذَا شَكَّ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِ،
فَلَمْ يَدْرِ كَمْ صَلَّى ثَلَاثًا أَمْ أَرْبَعًا، فَلْيَطْرَحِ الشَّكَّ وَلْيَبْنِ
عَلَى مَا اسْتَيْقَنَ، ثُمَّ يَسْجُدُ سَجْدَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ، فَإِنْ
كَانَ صَلَّى خَمْسًا شَفَعْنَ لَهُ صَلَاتَهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَ صَلَّى تَمَامًا كَانَتَا
تَرْغِيمًا لِلشَّيْطَانِ»
Translation: “If any of you
doubts during his prayer and does not know whether he has prayed three or four
(rak‘ahs), let him cast aside his doubt and build upon what he is certain of.
Then let him perform two prostrations before offering the taslim (salutation of
peace). If he has prayed five (rak‘ahs), these two prostrations will make his
prayer even-numbered, and if he has prayed the complete four, they will be a
cause of chagrin to Satan.” (Sahih Muslim, 571)
This hadith provides a complete
methodology for dealing with doubt in prayer:
• Identify
the point of certainty: If you are uncertain whether you prayed three or four
rak‘ahs, you know for certain that you have prayed at least three. Therefore,
you treat the third rak‘ah as your last and proceed to add the fourth.
• Complete
your prayer based on that certainty: After completing what you are certain of,
you add the additional rak‘ahs needed to complete the prayer to its full
number, based on your predominant assumption.
• Perform
Sujud as-Sahw (prostrations of forgetfulness): After completing the prayer, you
perform two prostrations before concluding with the taslim. These prostrations
compensate for any deficiency or excess and also serve to humiliate Satan, who
seeks to cause confusion.
Sujud as-Sahw: The Prostrations
of Forgetfulness
Sujud as-Sahw is a merciful
provision from Allah that allows the worshipper to correct errors or omissions
in prayer without having to repeat the entire prayer. It is performed as two
prostrations either before or after the taslim, depending on the nature of the
error.
For doubts regarding the number
of rak‘ahs, the scholars have derived from the hadith of Abu Sa‘id that the two
prostrations are to be performed before the taslim. This is the practice that
most closely follows the prophetic instruction.
The procedure is as follows:
1. When you have completed the
prayer based on the number of rak‘ahs you are certain of, and after you have
recited the tashahhud and the salawat upon the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam), you say the takbir (“Allahu Akbar”) and perform two prostrations as
you would in the regular prayer.
2. In these prostrations, you may
recite the same supplications you would in regular sujud, such as “Subhana
Rabbiyal A‘la” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High).
3. After the second prostration,
you say the takbir and sit again, recite the tashahhud once more if you wish
(though some scholars hold it is not required), and then conclude with the
taslim.
By performing these prostrations,
you have completed your prayer in a manner that follows the Sunnah and that
brings peace to your heart, knowing that you have fulfilled your obligation.
A Final Principle: Do Not
Succumb to Obsessive Behavior
One of the greatest dangers of
waswas is that it can lead to waswasah (obsessive-compulsive behavior) in
matters of worship. Some people, in their earnest desire to perform the prayer
perfectly, fall into the trap of repeating actions over and over, performing
prayer multiple times due to doubts, or spending excessive time trying to
“perfect” their concentration. This is precisely what Satan desires—to make
worship burdensome and to rob the believer of the joy and tranquility that
should accompany it.
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) warned against this type of behavior. It is reported that he said:
الْحَدِيثُ: «إِنَّ هَذَا الدِّينَ يُسْرٌ،
وَلَنْ يُشَادَّ الدِّينَ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا غَلَبَهُ»
Translation: “Indeed, this
religion is ease, and no one will make the religion overly difficult except
that it will overcome him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 39)
Therefore, if doubts come to you
repeatedly, do not give in to the urge to repeat your prayer or to repeat
actions within the prayer. Apply the prophetic remedy—seek refuge, spit dryly
to your left, and then proceed with your prayer based on what you are certain
of. Perform Sujud as-Sahw if needed, and then conclude. Trust that Allah, in
His mercy, accepts your effort and does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.
Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) says:
الآيَةُ: ﴿لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا
وُسْعَهَا﴾
Translation: “Allah does not
burden a soul beyond its capacity.” (Surat Al-Baqarah, 2:286)
Conclusion
Dealing with waswas in prayer is
a struggle that many believers face, and it is a struggle that brings immense
reward when met with patience and adherence to the Sunnah. The remedies are
clear and have been provided by the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
himself:
• Enter
prayer with khushu‘, mindful that you stand before your Lord.
• Seek refuge
with Allah at the beginning of prayer.
• When
whispers come, seek refuge again and spit dryly to your left three times.
• Ignore
doubts and act upon certainty; if uncertain about the number of rak‘ahs, base
your prayer on the lesser number you are sure of.
• Perform
Sujud as-Sahw before the taslim to complete your prayer in the manner
prescribed.
Remember that these whispers are
not a reflection of weak faith but rather a test from Allah to strengthen your
resolve and increase your reward. Every time you repel a whisper and return
your focus to your Lord, you have achieved a victory over Satan and drawn
closer to Allah.
We ask Allah to grant us khushu‘
in our prayers, to protect us from the whispers of Satan, and to accept our
worship as an offering of sincerity and devotion.
Wallahu A’alam (Allah knows best).
 While Offering Salah){kind=link}
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