Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
Please answer in accordance with Hanafi fiqh. In salah, I began to have extreme waswasa that I was pronouncing the tashahhud incorrectly in the final part (wa rasuluhu).
I felt like I was prolonging it, so I kept repeating “wa rasuluhu” until I felt like I had it right. It took several attempts. Please advise whether I should repeat my asr prayer?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
Your pronunciation of the Tashahud in the manner you described does not invalidate your prayer.
What Types of Mistakes Invalidate the Prayer
The scholars have discussed this issue in great deal and have mentioned that any mistakes made in the pronunciation of the Arabic do not break the prayer unless the change of the meaning is drastic, such that the meaning is tantamount to disbelief. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
Others have mentioned that no mistakes invalidate the prayer because many people are unlearned and would often make pronunciation mistakes.
There is expansiveness in the matter and you should not pay any consideration to the waswasa.
How to Deal with Waswasa
For the one who is constantly in doubt abandoning caution is sometimes the best cure.
“As for the one who is often inflicted with waswasa, it is necessary for them to sever the cause of the waswasa and not to give it any consideration. This is because it is the doing of Shaytan and we have been commanded to oppose him.” [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
Knowledge
The long-term cure for these constant doubts is to seek a deeper understanding of Islamic Knowledge. With knowledge, Shaytan can not deceive you with his whispers and plots. I would advise that you find authentic scholars in your area and study with them a basic text in Islamic Jurisprudence.
Please note that SeekersGuidance has classes available in Islamic Jurisprudence and many other subjects.
The Islamic Studies Curriculum
May Allah ease you affair
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani