What one should keep in mind during prayer

Question

(1) If during prayer a thought comes about something — for example, about a town, a shop or a house — and it settles right there, while the person keeps on praying and does not forget anything [of the prayer's actions], will the prayer be valid or not? (2) A person is praying in a corner, but a sermon and admonition is also taking place, and he is listening to it as well while performing the prayer. Does this not cause some defect in the prayer? (3)

Answer

(1, 2) If he performs the fard and wajib elements correctly, the obligatory prayer (farida) will be discharged. However, the prayer will become a means of attaining the pleasure of Allah Most High and a means of protection from sins only when the heart, too, is present before Allah and filled with His majesty.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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