Can you perform the same salah (prayer) twice if you make an error?

Can you perform the same salah (prayer) twice if you make an error? In a Nutshell Yes you can perform the same salah (prayer) twice if you make an error. If an error occurs in salah, the prayer remains valid but can be repeated without issue before the next prayer's time ends. Scholars differed on repeating intentionally - some allowed it, others deemed repeating correct salah problematic. But all agree unintentional errors when distracted do not invalidate salah, and repeating remains better if doubting validity. Introduction Even if a Muslim takes utmost care performing salah, mistakes occasionally occur amidst distraction or simply forgetting components. Questions arise whether the same salah becomes invalid and requires repetition if errors are made, or if one even may intentionally repeat a valid prayer already completed. In early Islam, debates arose around exact rulings on errors in salah, including unintended additions, omissions, or repeating prayers correctly finished. Scholars analysed Prophetic guidance on requisite pillars and voluntary components to determine minimum validity standards. These became codified in manuals of Islamic jurisprudence. This covers the initial outline per your instructions. Please let me know which sections you would like me to draft next for the article. I'm also happy to discuss tweaking the outline further. Evidence for performing the same salah (prayer) twice for error The main evidentiary bases involve hadiths of the Prophet (pbuh) specifically dealing with mistakes and repetitions in salah: Several narrations address what invalidates or does not invalidate prayer when mistakes occur: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "When any one of you stands to pray, he is conversing with his Lord, so let him pay attention to how he speaks to Him." (al-Muwatta) This shows the care taken, but other hadiths permit unintentional errors: The Prophet (pbuh) said, "If one of you has doubts during his prayer and does not know how many times he has prayed, whether three or four, he should remove his doubt and build (his prayer) on what he is certain of. Then he should perform two prostrations before giving salutations." (Bukhari/Muslim) So uncertainty does not necessarily invalidate salah. As for repetition, some narrations Clearly allow it: "If one of you performs ablution well and offers his prayer, he will be forgiven his (lesser) sins." (Muslim) This encouragement indicates supererogatory repetition is permissible, if completed fully. Can salah be performed twice for error The hadiths indicate unintentional mistakes made while striving to attain khushu' (focus) do not invalidate salah, unless abandoning a fundamental pillar like bowing. Even added actions or words, if unmindfully done, get forgiven. As for repeating intentionally, early scholars differed: The Hanafis prohibited repeating a correct prayer unless before the next salah's time ends or if seriously doubting its validity. This prevents seeming to imply imperfection in Allah's accepted worship. The Shafi'is and Hanbalis allowed repeating any salah, even if originally done correctly, provided the previous one finished in full. They did not deem supererogatory repetition problematic. Yet all forbid repeating individual pillars like multiple bowings intending to increase rewards, as this risks innovation. Overall the logic considers human fallibility behind mistakes versus the perfection deserved by the Divine. Reasonable errors get pardoned, but purposeless innovation refused. Sincerity surpasses technical precision. misconceptionsMistaken assumptions about repeating prayers include: Small errors always invalidate salah - only abandoning core pillars does Intentionally repeating prayers properly done earns more rewards - scholars deemed this risky innovation Each repeated salah nullifies the previous one - all count as voluntary unless redone doubting validity The wisdom seeks balance in neither excess rigidity nor negligence. Conclusion While concentration in salah remains paramount, inevitable errors arising for those praying do not necessitate repetition or invalidate worship. Yet gently redong salah if doubts emerge or before the next prayer's time ends stays permissible and prudent. Opinions allowing even intentional repetition provide reassurance of Allah's boundless mercy behind obligations, though avoid appearing to "improve" on completed decrees.