Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
What if I lead a prayer and having started, I realise that perhaps my intention may have been deficient e.g. I was ultimately just saying esha’ verbally (softly) and it wasn’t really in the heart as much as I might be comfortable about it do I have to restart the prayer?
Walaikum assalam,
No, you don’t have to re-start.
The default assumption about all human acts is that they are valid, sound, and proper. This assumption is deemed our operating certainty about all matters, and certainty is not lifted by mere doubts. Rather, certainty is only lifted by certainty. [Kasani, Bada’i`, 1.73]
As such, once you have started an action, the operating certainty is that your action is valid and sound. This should not be left until you are truly certain otherwise. [Khadimi/Barkawi, al-Bariqa fi Sharh al-Tariqa]
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani
faraz@sunnipath.com
hanafi@sunnipath.com
Imam Abu Hanifa (Allah have mercy on him) said, “Fiqh is to know one’s self: what is for it and against it.”