When One Thinks That His Prayer Is Not Accepted

Every Muslim should try his best to perform Prayers in the best way so as to ward off any Satanic whispers that his Prayer is not complete and hence not accepted. As long as one exerts his utmost effort in performing the Prayer in the best way, then it will be accepted, in sha’ Allah, although the acceptance or the non-acceptance of the Prayer is an unseen issue that can’t be envisaged.
Sheikh Muhammad Al-Mukhtar Al-Shinqiti, Director of the Islamic Center of South Plains, Lubbock, Texas, states the following: There is a difference between technicality and acceptance of the Prayer. If the Prayer is technically done in the correct way and order stipulated by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then the person does not have to repeat it, even if he believes he could have done it better.

The acceptance of the Prayer to Allah is an unseen matter and it cannot be envisaged. However, if there is a shortcoming in the salah that does not reach the level of invalidating it, then the nawafil and sunan (supererogatory Prayers) would make up for this shortage.