Does a Lack of Focus Invalidate My Prayers?
Question: Is it permissible to re-pray the Sunrise Prayer because you felt as if it is not good enough (attention wise)? Also if I were to pray my Duha, and then think of my Sunrise Prayer after, is it permissible to pray it still?
Answer:
Assalamu alaykum,
Thank you for your question. I commend you for striving to focus on your prayer and for wanting to give your prayer the best that you can give.
Do Not Make Up Obligatory Prayers
Despite your good intention, I would dissuade you from making up your prayers due to lack of focus because it is an easy door for the Shaytan to use to give you waswasa (baseless misgivings), to paralyze you out of fear, and to eventually make you lose hope and despair.
Focus Before You Start
Rather, try this tip that my teacher told me. Before you say your opening Takbeer, take one moment, a couple of seconds, to completely draw your full attention to Allah and on performing this prayer for Him, with submission and gratitude. Then start praying. Your goal should be to have at least one moment of attentiveness to Allah in your prayer, and it will grow from there, by His grace. It is better to pray all of your sunnahs, instead of making up your obligatory prayer.
Also, try this excellent advice:
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/answers/general-counsel/hypocrite-focus-prayer/
Making Up the Fajr Prayer
It is fine to make up your fajr prayer if you have missed it, at any time, even if you have already prayed the Duha prayer, although it is better to make up the Fajr Prayer as soon as you have missed it.
May Allah give you the best in this world and the next and make us of those who establish the prayer and our progeny as well.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.
