SOLAATUL JAMAAAH AND PROPER CONCENTRATION IN OUR SOLAWAAT In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the Merciful One of the essential benefits of observing our solaat in congregation at the Masjid (for men) is that it paves way for appreciable level of concentration and focus. While praying alone, some people hardly spend up to 3 minutes before completing it as if there is something chasing them. But when you pray in a Masjid behind a qualified Imam who understands the obligation of observing the solaat properly and diligently, you would be compelled to exercise patience in your solaat. If the conditions for the appointment of Imams as contained in the sunnah of the Prophet, sollaLohu alaihi wasallam are critically followed; the conditions of our masaajid in this contemporary society would not be this bad. Before a person can be appointed an Imam; the shura must have watched his level of composure during solaat. He must be someone who memorize substantial parts of the Quran and can recite it fluently with tajweed and melodious voice. These and many other qualities and virtues make it easy for solaatul jamaah to achieve its aims and objectives in the lives of Muslims. There are many things that causes distractions in our solawaat and shaiton is always happy when we pre-occupy ourselves with them. The chief of them all is love of this world and its adornments. For instance; some people speed up their solaat, abandon the necessary adhkaar (not bidiah kinds of adhkaar oo) and rush out of the Masjid because of one political meeting or the other. Another problem in this regard is the case of football lovers. While some people fail to observe their solat at the right time just to meet the line up and listen to match previews, those who went to perform their solaat do not concentrate because their minds would be on the match. Most times, their minds is at the stadium not before Allah. And if the Masjid is nearby; once they shout GOAL, he would start thinking Who could have scored oo, could it be Man U or Arsenal? It is also wrong put on the TV or radio while praying. This is mostly common among our sisters and some men who pray at home. While some people would not even put off their TV when it is time for prayer just because of a movie they find so interesting, those who put off their TV to pray would not pray with the kind of concentration required in the Sunnah. Their target is just to rush the prayer and go back to their fun. The one that is likely to affect all of us without any exception is excessive thought about our problems and trials. It is hard to find anyone who is not affected by this. The degree of the thought we have about our problems may be different. Let us always try to minimize this kind of thought anytime we are approaching our solaat. Before all our prayers, let us put our problems behind us and concentrate our prayers. Let us have the sense that we are before Allah Who Alone can solve our problems and supplicate fervently during our sujuud posture. Allah says in the Suratul Muminuun: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُون ؛الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ Certainly, the believers have succeeded: they who are during their prayer humbly submissive [Q23:1-2] So, it must be noted that one of the essential characteristics of a believer is concentration and focus in solaat. Anyone who thinks too deep about the vain desires of this life during his or her solaat has not attained the level of a believer. We must avoid all kinds of distractions and focus our eyes on where we would place our fore-heads. I always wonder how someone who is praying could have seen people passing by if he had full concentrated on his solaat. Some people can tell you everything that occurred beside them while they were praying. This is because they dont concentrate. The ideal thing is that while we are praying; we should not look here and there. Our composure should be such that if a bird should appear on our head; it would feel secured and would not fly away out of fear. In another verse, Allah says; فَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُصَل المصلين ؛الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ Woe unto those who pray; [But] who are heedless of their prayer [Q107:4-5] It is also funny how some market women would be praying and at the same time calling or answering customers. You will see them clapping and making all kinds of funny gestures. All these shows the level of poor Islamic practices in our society. In Saudi Arabia and several other Muslim countries, their practice there is to close all shops when the adhaan is about to be made and no one dare open same until after the solaat. So, what stops us from practicing same here among ourselves? It is also good to dress properly while appearing before Allah. We all know how we dress to meet those we recognise to be dignitaries amongst us. Allah is the most Dignified. Some men can wear a single Jalabiya for 2 weeks and be using same to perform solaat. This is bad, please try and change. Nothing stops you from wearing nice cloth, cap and spraying some perfume. Comb your beards properly and chew your miswaak nicely. That is sunnah. It is not part of Sunnah to appear in dirty clothes. Some women pray with sleeveless shirts; mini skirts, mere head gear or scarf etc. There is an hadith of that says; there is no solaat for women except with khimaar. Khimaar is what covers all parts of a sisters body (from head to the feet) apart from her main clothe. No shape should be seen. It is well known that some sisters are still struggling to wear the khimaar. But it is vital for them to always have it for the purpose of their solaat. Brothers and sisters in Islam, after the twin testimonies (Laa ilaha illaLoh, Muhammad RosuuluLoh); there is nothing as vital as our solaat. So, let us stop joking with. Finally, it is important to condemn the indiscriminate manner by which people build Masaajid in their various compounds. This is mostly common in some GRAs and estates. The purpose of a Jamaah would be defeated if everyone prays in his own crib. All men should join their fellow Muslim brothers in the main masjid. This strengthens Islamic brotherhood and makes it difficult for the enemies to tamper with us. It is important to note that the practice of men praying at home is mostly common in Yorubaland. When you visit the Northern States; the place of masaajid in Islam can be better appreciated. All members of a given community, no matter how highly placed would come out to observe solaat with other Muslims in the area. It should also be noted that the concept of jumah masaajid has been bastardised too in our community. Likewise Eid praying grounds. People now build jumah masaajid just to gain monetary benefits or any other motives that are not justifiable. In my area alone; we now have almost five (5) Eid masaajid. Is that not ridiculous? If we continue like that; we may not be able to achieve our much desired unity. Meanwhile, the compound masaajid may be used as musollah (temporary place of worship for sisters to say their own solaat since the best of womens solaat is one performed indoors. This doesnt mean it is forbidden for our women to pray in the main masjid. But it is better for them to pray at home as prescribed in the Sunnah. However, if they must attend the main masjid for their solaat; they must dress properly according to the Sunnah and avoid the use of perfumes. May Allah count us among the khaashieen Subhanaka llaahumma wabihamdik ashhadu anllaailaha illaLoh astaghfiruka wa atuubu ilaik. Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy As-Sabt, 19th Dhul Qadah, 1435 AH (13th September, 2014 CE)
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 12:02:01 +0000
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