General Guidance on Acts of Worship (Ibadaat)

Verily the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have twice that reward. (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih al-Muslim)

Prayer (salah) in Islam has a psychical value, involving perfect concentration. It is the intense realization of God and oblivion to all that is not God. Sometimes we start following some Islamic teachings so strictly and extremely that it becomes a burden for us, and the very source of spiritual health starts becoming a problem for us. We can only succeed against our enemy if we know its tricks. A very old trick of Satan is to put us into doubts regarding our Salah and Wudhu. This is something that even the Sahaba faced.

The main question that arises is how to be certain whether it’s a waswasah or not. As an example, say you have a feeling during salah that you have broken your wudhu. The way out is simple: if you can’t swear by Allah that you have broken your wudhu, then you are in doubt. And this doubt is in itself confirms that path you should take i.e. don’t follow the doubt, and maintain belief that your wudhu is valid. So , you can use this as a litmus test, if you can swear by Allah over something, you are sure; if you cannot , you are in doubt and when you are in doubt you should assume the best i.e. wudhu is still valid, prayer is still valid etc.

Narrated Abu Huraira رضى الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists…” (Sahih Bukhari)