Is the Thought of the Prophet ﷺ During Prayer a Cause of Excellence?

Question

When the most sacred thought of the Beloved of Both Worlds ﷺ comes to mind during prayer, does the excellence of the prayer increase thereby, or does a deficiency arise?

Answer

There is a command to perform the prayer with understanding, and a prayer performed with understanding is far superior to a prayer performed without understanding. When the blessed name occurs in the prayer — such as “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” (مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللهِ) and the like — then, in order to understand the meaning, the thought [of him] will come as well.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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