Are seeking forgiveness, glorifying God, making up missed prayers, and reciting supplications—when performed quickly and with a distracted mind for the purpose of completing a number—religiously acceptable, or must they be done slowly, with concentration, and with contemplation to be accepted?

The essence of the reward for seeking forgiveness (Istighfar) is attained by anyone who seeks forgiveness with their tongue, but its perfection depends on the presence of the heart. Seeking forgiveness with the tongue and the presence of the heart is better than seeking forgiveness with the tongue alone, and it is better than silence. Al-Ghazali said: "Seeking forgiveness with the tongue is also a good deed; for the movement of the tongue with it, even if done heedlessly, is better than the movement of the tongue at that moment with backbiting about a Muslim or engaging in idle talk. Indeed, it is better than remaining silent about it. Its virtue thus becomes apparent when compared to silence, but it is deficient when compared to the action of the heart." The questioner's eagerness to increase the number [of repetitions] has its reward, but the best is what is accompanied by the presence of the heart and concentration. Ibn al-Qayyim said: The best form of remembrance (dhikr) is that in which the heart and the tongue agree, followed by the remembrance of the heart alone, and then the remembrance of the tongue alone. The remembrance of the heart is better than the remembrance of the tongue alone because it yields knowledge, love, fear, and mindfulness, whereas the fruit of the remembrance of the tongue alone is weak.