GO BACK AND PRAY, FOR YOU HAVE NOT PRAYED! Part II How to Concentrate in Salah Al Qaasim ibn Muhammad - Rahimahu Allah - said, “I went out one day, and whenever I would go out I would always pass by Aisha - Radi Allahu Anha - and give her my Salam. That day I went out and when I found Aisha she was praying Salat al-Duha, reciting over and over the verse of Allah [Saying: ‘Aforetime we were afraid with our families (from the Punishment of Allah). But Allah was gracious on us and saved us from the torment of the Fire.”] – At Toor 52/26-27 She was crying and invoking Allah - Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala - and repeating the verse. I stood there waiting until I got tired, she remained as I found her. When I saw this I said to myself, ‘let me go to the market, do what I have to do and come back.’ So, after I had finished what I needed to do at the market, I returned to Aisha - Radi Allahu Anha. She was as I left her, repeating the verse, invoking Allah, and crying. How do we concentrate in Salah? From the Sunnah, the Prophet – Sal Allahu Alayhi wa sallam – taught the following: 1. Come early for Salah and prepare yourself to concentrate. Repeat the Adhan to yourself with the Mu’adhdhin, and - after the adhan - say the prescribed supplication. Between the Adhan and Iqamah make dua’. Do Wudu properly, cleanse your mouth, and wear your finest clothes. 2. Aim to get the entire reward of your Salah. Abu Bakr ibn ‘Iyaash said, “I saw Habeeb ibn Thabit in Sujood. If you saw him you would think he was dead (by how long he held his Sujood).” 3. Contemplate the aayaat and adhkaar being recited during the prayer. Think about the meanings of the verses that you are reciting. Isn’t is disheartening that someone may perform Salah for decades, day after day, and he/she still does not know what they are saying? The Qur’aan was revealed to be pondered over! Allaah revealed: “(This is) a Book (the Qur’aan) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember.” [Saad 38:29]. 4. Pray in congregation. Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala commands [And perform Salah, give Zakah, and bow with those that bow.] 2/43 5. Never miss your Nafl Salah, especially those that the Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - used to pray constantly, especially Witr and the sunnah of Fajr 6. Do not speed up your Salah. Take your time and do not allow your Salah to become the most invaluable action of your day. Ibn Wahb said, “I saw Ath-Thowree at the Ka’bah. After Maghrib, he got up to pray and then prostrated. He did not come out of that prostration until the Adhan for Isha’ was given.” 7. Know that Allaah responds to your prayer The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah, the Blessed and Exalted has said: ‘I have divided the prayer between Myself and My slave, into two halves, and My slave shall have what he has asked for.” When the slave says ‘Praise be to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds,’ Allaah says, ‘My slave has praised Me.’ When the slave says, ‘The Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy,’ Allaah says, ‘My slave has extolled me.’ When the slave says, ‘Master of the Day of Judgement,’ Allaah says, ‘My slave has glorified me.’ When the slave says, ‘It is You alone we worship and it is You alone we ask for help,’ Allaah says, ‘This is between Me and My slave, and My slave shall have what he asked for.’ When the slave says, ‘Guide us to the Straight Path, the path of those whom You have favoured, not the path of those who receive Your anger, nor of those who go astray,’ Allaah says, ‘All these are for My slave, and My slave shall have what he asked for.’” (Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab al-Salaah, Baab wujoob qiraa’at al-Faatihah fi kulli rak’ah). [Words in italics are the translation of the meaning of Soorat al-Faatihah – Translator]. 8. Pray with a barrier (sutrah) in front of you and pray close to it Another thing that will help one to have khushoo’ is paying attention to the matter of having a sutrah and praying close to it, because this will restrict your field of vision, protect you from the Shaytaan and keep people from passing in front of you, which causes a distraction and reduces the reward of the prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When any one of you prays, let him pray facing a sutrah, and let him get close to it.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, no. 695, 1/446; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 651). 9. Seeking Refuge in Allah from the Shaytaan. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught us the following methods of combatting the whispers of Shaytaan. Abu’l-‘Aas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that he said, “O Messenger of Allaah, the Shaytaan interrupts me when I pray, and I get confused in my recitation.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “That is a shaytaan whose name is Khanzab. If you sense his presence, seek refuge with Allaah from him, and spit [dry spitting] towards your left three times.” [Abu’l-‘Aas] said: “I did that and Allaah took him away from me.” (Reported by Muslim, no. 2203) 10. Pray as if you were told that after Salah you would be going back to Allah. Abu Bakr Al-Muzanee said, “If you want your Salah to benefit you, then say, ‘I shall die after this Salah!’”
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 09:46:06 +0000
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