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Fatwa CenterDoubting making mistake in Faatihah in prayer
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. I asked a question regarding making mistakes in Surah Al-Faatihah during the prayer, and this is the answer that I received:
"With regard to your second question, note that Allaah is Most Merciful and Most Kind to His slaves and that He does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. It is the duty of every Muslim to fear Allaah as much as he can, as Allaah says (what means): {So fear Allaah as much as you are able.} [Quran 64:16] Based on that, if what you are experiencing is nothing but Waswaas (obsessive whisperings), then you should not take it into consideration; rather, you should avoid it and neglect it. Hence, if you recite Al-Faatihah, then you should read the letter or the word or the verse once only, no matter how much the devil whispers to you that your prayer is not complete or that your recitation is not correct. Besides, you are not obliged to prostrate for forgetfulness; rather, your prayer is valid and you are not required to do anything."
So does this mean that even If I make a mistake, I should recite the verse only once because I feel that the only way to cure this with the help of Allaah (The Most-High) is to not repeat it. So even if I make a mistake, can I just continue because I really feel that this is going to be the ultimate cause for me leaving the prayers, which I do not want. Please give me advice on whether I am actually allowed to continue even when I am sure that I made a mistake. The reason why I keep repeating is because I can recite it properly but most times, the first time I recite that specific verse, I make a mistake and then keep repeating it till I correct it regardless of whether that be on the second attempt, the tenth attempt, or even more. I ask Allaah to ease all our problems and hardships for all of us. Ameen.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Your feeling that you made a mistake is nothing but pure Waswaas (obsessive whispering), so you should ignore it and not pay any attention to it, no matter how long the devil whispers to you that you made a mistake in your prayer and recitation. There is no other cure for this except by following the above advice.
Moreover, the view of the majority of the scholars is that reciting Al-Faatihah is not obligatory on the person being led in prayer, neither in silent prayers (Thuhr and ‘Asr), nor in prayers that are recited aloud (Fajr, Maghrib and ‘Ishaa). Therefore, if you act according to this view in order to repel the Waswaas and relieve yourself from hardship, then there is no harm on you in doing so, Allah willing.
Allah knows best.
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