Concentration during prayer is a critical element of davening. Praying without concentration is like a body without a soul. The following are some halachot regarding kavanah during davening:
- One may not daven in a place that disturbs their concentration or at a time that disturbs their concentration.
- If one is not in a calm state of mind, they are halachically required to wait before davening until they compose themselves.
- One should not daven as if, G-d forbid, it is a burden; it’s important not to daven as if wanting to get it over with it as soon as possible.
It’s a halachic requirement to be mindful of the fact that one is standing in front of the King, as a servant in front of their master. There are those who say if one did not have this in mind—not only while reciting the first blessing of the amida (the shmoneh esrei), but during its entirety—it’s me’akev (gets in the way of) davening, and it’s considered as if they had not davened at all.
One must daven derech tachanunim (in a manner of supplication) throughout the entire time that they are davening. If one isn’t deliberately being mitchanen (supplicating), it’s not considered davening.
Nevertheless, in practice, the halachah is that if one did not have proper kavanah, they do not repeat the davening
Rav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, member of the Badatz of Crown Heights. 1 Minute Halacha 401, reprinted from crownheightsconnect.com
