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Did You Miss Your Appointment Today?
If your best friend calls and asks to meet you in half an hour, you will hurry to meet your friend, even if you had been in the middle of something important. If you get the chance to make some money or meet an important person or go to some great place, you will organize yourself for days beforehand so that you dont miss your chance.
The same applies for anything in life that we consider important or we really want. I think we all agree that if we really want something badly enough, we will find a way to do it or get it. It is amazing what kind of ideas people can come up with when they really want something and it is amazing how long people can persevere when they think they are getting something they want.
So where is all this leading to? Well, we should think about what is really important in life and we should be sure that we are striving and sacrificing for things that are going to be of benefit to us. A student can drive himself or herself to study all night for weeks on end because he or she wants to pass an exam, but when it comes to getting up for Fajr Prayer, that same person will choose to sleep instead, perhaps arguing that they need the extra rest and will catch the Prayer up later. So does that mean that studying is more important than Prayer? And can you really catch up on a Prayer?
It is time to get priorities right. I think we all agree that we want everything in our lives to be blessed. If the things in our lives are not blessed, then it is like a person who eats and eats but is never satisfied, simply because the food is not blessed. Similarly, a person might study and study, missing Fajr Prayer, and then go into the exam and forget everything! Why? Because his or her effort was not blessed. In the same way, a person might befriend someone who is not really a good person, hoping to be popular or gain something in worldly terms, but they soon find out that this person causes no end of trouble. Again, this is because the whole thing was not blessed. So we agree that we want our lives to be blessed; we do not want to waste our time and effort on something that will ultimately fail or lead to our ruin.
Now, do you honestly think that your life will be blessed if you miss Fajr Prayer? I spoke to many young people and asked them how they felt when they prayed Fajr Prayer on time and how they felt if they missed it. The response was unanimous. When these people prayed Fajr Prayer, they felt light and calm, they did not feel prone to become angry, and they generally felt more stable. Likewise, when they neglected Fajr Prayer, they felt heavy, moody, unsatisfied, grumpy, and generally unblessed. For sure, a grumpy, moody person will not have such a great day and people will respond like he or she responds to them.
For one reason or another, a young person may not be in the habit of praying Fajr Prayer on time. Whatever that reason is, there is no time like the present to turn that habit around. Remember that for every step you take toward Allah, He promises to come many steps towards you. So make that first step by making up your mind that you will get up for Fajr Prayer every morning.
It is summer now and you do not have the hectic timetable of the school year. You most probably have a lot of free time, so here is your golden opportunity. Try for just one month to get up for Fajr Prayer. You could mark your calendar and give yourself a tick for every morning you get up. Ask Allah to help you get up and think about the reasons that might prevent you from getting up. Here are some possible reasons for people failing to offer Fajr Prayer on time:
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Not realizing how important Fajr Prayer is
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Not yet developed a sound consciousness of Allah, so unaware of the significance of the next life
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Carried away with worldly pursuits
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Lazy
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Sleeps too late and so cannot get up
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There is no one in his house to urge him or her to get up
Do you get up for Fajr Prayer? Sometimes, usually, always, or never? Do any of the above reasons fit you and your situation? Can you think of anything else that stops people from performing Fajr Prayer on time?
(Click to Round table discussion and have your say!)
Like we said before, if you really set your heart on something you can do it. The same applies to prayer. Our everyday life and our religious duties are not separate; they are intertwined like a beautiful spider's web that is delicate but actually very strong. When we talk about prayer, we are talking about our relationship with Allah. If only we could realize that He is the only One who can help us when we are in need; He is the only One who can open the way for something that seems closed. He is ever ready to help us; all we have to do is call on Him and try to say and do the things He lovesthings that are good for us anyway.
You can think of your life like the spider's web. You are weaving the design of your life and prayer is the beautification of that design and its strength and direction.
If you maintain your Prayer and fasting and other duties, you will find that your everyday life will have more beauty and blessings and you will find that you will be able to face the challenges of life head-on because you and your life are blessed. An old lady I met one time told me something precious: I asked her how she got the stamina to get up and be so active, even though she was old. She told me that it was simple, when she wanted to do something, her heart got there first, so it was easy for the rest of her to follow.
So do not forget your appointment early tomorrow morning. You must stand before the Lord of the Worlds. Do not miss out on this chance! Let your heart get there first and then the rest of you will follow. | | | |
Mending the Rift: Guidelines to help you observe Fajr Prayer
{And then there followed after them (the prophets) an evil generation who delayed the prayer and followed their lusts. Soon will they face destruction, except he who repents, affirms his faith and does deeds of righteousness}
[Soorah Maryam: 59-60]
Introduction
Sufficient it is for me to praise Allah and supplicate Him for peace on those servants of His whom he has chosen.
To proceed: I have read this letter entitled "Mending the Rift" and found it to be valuable in the choice of its subject matter. Thanks to Allah, the author succeeded in realising the growing tendency of people to miss the Dawn Prayer in congregation in the mosque. He noticed with dismay that mosques are getting virtually empty of people at that time, except for a few elderly people and some adults who, with Allah's assistance, found their way back into the mosque. Indeed, even a sizeable majority of these elderly people have stopped coming to the mosque to uphold this prayer in congregation and have grown lazy about the other prayers as well.
Our Prophet (sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam) is our exemplar who provided the best example in spending long hours of the night in prayer and waking in time for Fajr Prayer. This record was authentically known of him both in his teachings and his living example as he did not like sleeping before Ishaa [night] Prayer and discouraged his followers from useless talk after it. In this he was followed by his companions and all the muslims up to a time not very far from our own days. They knew the reasons which cause laziness and lessen motivation to observe prayers in time (be such prayers Fard [obligatory] or Nafla [optional]) and warned people against them so much that some of them are reported to have said: "If you are unable to pray at night, then that is a clear sign that your sins have shackled you and deprived you of good deeds". Al-Hasan al-Basri
was once asked: "Why is it that we cannot uphold prayers at night?" He answered: "You are shackled in your own sins".
Motivation is presently lacking among muslims. Otherwise they would not have given in to sleep even if they had to stay awake in the first part of the night. When one of them is required by his work arrangements or for his own worldly benefit to wake early at dawn, he would no doubt take the necessary precaution not to miss his appointment. He will forsake his peace of mind and have a restless sleep just for fear he might be punished or have his salary reduced. When it comes to prayer, they have no excuse especially when in our modern times Allah has provided us with alarm clocks which would be set at any time we wish. The problem therefore, is one of laziness. Such people do not know what they are missing. The Prophet (sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam) said with respect to those who do not observe Ishaa and Fajr prayers: "Had one of them known that
he would find a wholesome meal or two good targets, he would have come for Ishaa prayer."
All in all, for him who sincerely wants to purify his soul from the attributes of the hypocrites, let him steer clear of laziness, be active, put into practice the action inspiring instructions laid out in our religion, accustom himself to take the initiative and realise what he and everybody in his position are missing in terms of the health of the body and great reward from Allah. Only then will his performance improve, Allah willing, and he will make up for what he has missed and follow the lead of the best of generations.
Allah, the Most High and Exalted, is the Provider of success and assistance. Peace and Blessings be upon Prophet Muhammed, his household and followers.
Signed,
Abdullah Ibn Abdur-Rahmaan al-Jibreen.
The Text
Most surely all praise belongs to Allah, we praise Him and we seek His Aid and Forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allaah from the evils of our souls and from the evils of our actions. Whomsoever Allaah guides there is none to misguides and whomsever He misguides their is none to guide. I send prayers and blessing upon our leader Muhammed with the best of prayers and the most complete submission.
To proceed:
One of the ill-seeming phenomena and most serious precedents boding impending danger and punishment, giving reason to fear and calling for most urgent consideration on our part requiring immediate investigation into its causes and treatment of its symptoms is the fact that a growing number of observers of prayer deliberately shun Fajr prayer in congregation and only perform it at times other than its lawful time.
It may be the case that this is due to their wasting away long hours at night engaged in idle and leisure pursuits. Our ancestors not very long ago used to make a point of going to bed early, to lock their doors after Ishaa prayer and to make their dinner light so as to be able to wake up for Fajr prayer in an energetic state. That is why they led a happy, peaceful and healthy life experiencing the real taste of life.
The advent of modern civilisation spoiled both our religious observances and our worldly arrangements. As a result, we have fallen into laziness and inertia; our bodies grew fat and flabby; we move about less frequently whilst showing a greater readiness to sleep and a marked inability to perform the most trivial of manual actions.
The present paper attempts therefore to suggest ways which may be of help in inducing us to wake up for Fajr Prayer; for instance:
ONE: To make sure to go to bed early as the Prophet (sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam)used to discourage sleep before performing Ishaa prayer and especially engaging in conversation after it. Certain cases were excepted, some of which are enumerated by Imam Nawawi in his explanation of Muslim's account. Nawawi, may Allaah have mercy upon him says:
The reason why converation after it is discouraged is the fear lest it leads to staying awake for long , which might induce drowsiness and difficulty with observing night prayers or Subh [dawn] prayer in their permitted, preferred or best times. The topics covered by this restriction are all fulfilling no good useful purpose. However, as to useful verbal activities, such as the pursuit of knowledge, listening to the wise tales of righteous people, talking to one's guest or bride, or members of one's family for the sake of company, interacting with travellers with a view to protect themselves and their goods, embarking on talks designed to conciliate between people or intercede before them in a good cause or to enjoin good and forbid evil and admonish people by pointing to a beneficial course of action to follow etc... there are no such restrictions.
TWO: To be assiduous in observing the Aadaab [good manners prescribed in Islam] as to what to do before sleep such as making Du'aa [supplication], bringing one's palms together, very mildly spitting into them and reciting the last three soorah's of the Qur'aan into them and them wiping them over one's face, head and body, being physically and religiously pure and performing a two rakah voluntary prayer after wudhoo [ablution]. A muslim has to ask his wife, parents, relatives or neighbours to help waking him up. Once waken up, he should not linger lazily for long in bed, lest he acquires the vices of the hypocrites who come to prayer showing ample signs of laziness and lack of enthusiasm.
THREE: To fill one's heart with faith and good deeds. Once faith is alive in the heart, it induces the person to do good deeds and strive unremittingly hard. Faith is like a tree which only yields good fruit when irrigated from the streamlets of good deeds, thus bringing about an improvement both in personal conduct and at the interactional level with society at large. The lack of such streamlets or water supplies proportionately causes faith to wither and wilt. The heart is highly sensitive to external hardening stimuli, such as excess food or drink or aberrations in watching or listening (letting your eyes and ears loose to what is unlawful for them). You should therefore protect your heart from such external allurements.
FOUR: To keep away from Ma'aasi [acts of disobedience to Allah] by protecting the eyes, the tongue, the hearing and all the senses from indulging in the perception of objects that Allah has made unlawful for us. As an alternative, one should concern himself with matters pertaining to the worship of Allaah, such as devoting one's sight to the reading of Allaah's Book, meditating over the creatures that Allaah has created in this universe, reading books of knowledge etc. One member of the rightly guided early generations was asked about the reason why people found it difficult to uphold voluntary prayers at night. He answered: "Your sins have shackled you". No doubt sins can be a major cause for a persons inability to enjoy the blessings of piety. As Imaam Ibn ul-Qayyim said, sins are wounds and some wounds can be fatal.
FIVE: To bear in mind the great reward for attending Fajr prayer in congregation on time, and the strong rebuke for him to fails to observe it and to satisfy its conditions. Uthmaan ibn 'Affaan related:
I heard Allah's Messenger (sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam) say: "He who prays Ishaa in Jamaa'ah [congregation] is as if he has prayed for half the night . As to him who (also) prays Fajr in congregation, it is as if he has prayed all night." [narrated by Maalik and the wording is that of Muslim who also reported it]
Similarly, Bukhaaaree and Muslim and An-Nasaaee related on the authority of Ibn Mas'ud (radiallaahu-anhu) that he said:
The case of a man who slept all the night up to sunrise (without waking up for Fajr) was related to the Prophet (sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam) whereupon he said: "That was a man in whose ear Shaytaan has urinated", or he said "in both his ears".
The urinating is literally true, as Imaam Qurtubi says, since Shaytaan urinates and has sexual intercourse and procreates in a manner that Allah alone knows (1). To ascertain for yourself the truth of this assertion, look at the faces of those who come to deal in their daily business without having prayed Fajr in congregation at due time; look at their faces at working hours. You will surely ask Allaah for refuge from a lot as miserable as theirs. But, after all what do you expect from a person in whose heart Shaytaan has urinated!!!
SIX: To realise the bad effects resulting from one's failure to pray Fajr, such as the melancholic and depressive state of mind and the loss of many religious and worldly benefits, and the good effects resulting from managing to perform it. In this respect the Prophet (sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam) said:
"Shaytaan ties three knots on the crown of any one of you in your sleep. He says upon each knot that he ties: "You have a long night before you, therefore sleep". But if you wake up and mention Allah, Most Exalted in remembrance one knot will be untied. If you then make ablution another knot will be undone. If you then proceed to pray the last knot will be disentangled. Thus, you will feel in the morning energetic and in good spirits. Otherwise you will feel in a despicable state, lazy". [narrated by Maalik, Bukhaaree, Muslim and Abu Dawood]
The time following Fajr prayer is full of goodness and blessings. At-Tirmidhee narrated upon the authority of Al Ghamdi that the Prophet (sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam) said: "O Allah bless my Ummah in its early rising!" and whenever he dispatched an expedition or army he sent them early at the beginning of the day. Sakhr was a merchant who always sent his merchandise early in morning thus, becoming wealthy (3). That is why we find the craftsmen and traders are particular about making good use of this time. Those who sleep up to the late morning have denied themselves the blessings of this early hour.
There are many benefits to the health derived from waking up for Fajr prayer. For instance, the highest proportion of ozone gas (O3) in the atmosphere is registered at dawn. It then gradually fades away until comlplete disappearance by sunrise. This gas has a very beneficial effect on the nervous system as it vivifies the brain and energises the muscles such that when a person inhales the beautiful breeze of the dawn, known as the SABAA wind, he will experience a pleasure that is unparalleled at any other time of the day or night (4).
SEVEN: To lose no time to categorically clear yourself from the stigma of hypocrisy. Because of the difficulty of waking for this time, praying Fajr in congregation provides evidence that a person has firm faith and is free from hypocrisy. That is why in a hadeeth narrated by Bukhaaree and Muslim, the Prophet (sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam) said:
"Indeed, the most difficult of prayers to bear, for the hypocrites, are Ishaa [night] and Fajr prayers. If only they knew what they are missing , they would sooner come, even if crawling on their knees".
The most worthy companion, Abdullaah and Ibn Mas'ood (radiallaahu-anhu) asserts "The only one indeed who misses them [i.e. Ishaa and Fajr prayers] is a confirmed hypocrite" (5). Ibn Umar (radiallaahu-anhu) said "When we find a man missing from the Ishaa and Fajr prayers we nurture suspicions about him" (6).
If you want a criterion for evaluating a person's degree of faith and truthfulness monitor his observance of Fajr prayer. If he passes the test, that should be taken as a sign indicating the strength of his Eeman [belief, faith]. Let us then testify to his truthfulness since he managed to achieve the greatest victory over himself and to be superior to the pleasure of sleeping in bed. If he fails the test, this is an index to his weakness in faith, a hardness in his heart, an indulgence in self-gratification and a defeat against his own whims.
How is it then that he who indulges in sleep and misses prayer should conceivably feel comfortable while people are delighting in the mosques in the company of the Qur'aan, listening raptuously to Allaah's message, and basking happily in His gardens. He who prefers the pleasures of the bed to the pleasure of the communion with Allaah is the real loser.
These are a few suggestions to help you wake up for Fajr prayer. May Allah make them useful. Glory be to Allah, Most Exalted over any false attributions and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of all Beings.
Written by an anonymous student of Islamic knowlege with an introduction by Sheik Abdullah Ibn Jibreen
References
1. Fath-ul-Baari 3/28
2. Al-Waabil us-Sayyib no.53
3. Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhee
4. "With Medicine in the Noble Qur'aan" p.108 by Abdul-Hameed Dayyaab
5. Reported by Muslim, Aboo Daawood, Ibn Maajah and Nasaa'ee
6. Saheeh at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb no.169
University of Essex November 1994
by Muhammad Alshareef
During the night, Abu Lulu Al Majoosi hid in the shadows in preparation for the Fajr Salah where he would execute his satanic mission: to Murder the Ameer of the Believers: Umar ibn Al-Khattab - Radi Allahu Anhu. Umar would lead the Fajr with a long surah, giving time for the community to join the congregation. As he led that Salah, Abu Lulu advanced from a dim pillar, a poisoned dagger hidden in his sleeve. He jumped in front of Umar Radi Allahu Anhu and tore open his stomach with the dagger. Abu Lulu then attempted an escape through the congregation, slashing left and right, murdering in his path many others. One Companion threw a cloth over and realizing that he was caught Abu Lulu killed himself. Umar completed the Fajr Salah and passed away later in his bed Radi Allahu Anhu.
The importance of the prayer in Islam cannot be understated. It is the first pillar of Islam that the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned after mentioning the testimony of faith, by which one becomes a Muslim. It was made obligatory upon all the prophets and for all peoples. Allah declared its obligatory status under majestic circumstances. For example, when Allah spoke directly to Moses, He said,
"And I have chosen you, so listen to that which is inspired to you. Verily, I am Allah! There is none worthy of worship but I, so worship Me and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance." [Taha 13-14]
Similarly, the prayers were made obligatory upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during his ascension to heaven. Furthermore, when Allah praises the believers, such as in the beginning of surah al-Muminoon, one of the first descriptions He states is their adherence to the prayers. [Successful are the believers, those that offer their Salah with all earnestness and full obedience] - Al Muminoon 23/1-2
The importance of prayer is demonstrated in many of the Prophets statements. For example, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
"The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad." [Recorded by al-Tabarani. According to al-Albani, it is sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami, vol.1, p. 503.
In reality, when the prayer is performed properly with true remembrance of Allah and turning to Him for forgiveness it will have a lasting effect on the person. After he finishes the prayer, his heart will be filled with the remembrance of Allah. He will be fearful as well as hopeful of Allah. After that experience, he will not want to move from that lofty position to one wherein he disobeys Allah. Allah mentioned this aspect of the prayer,
"Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds" (al-Ankaboot 45).
However amongst our community of Musalleen (those who perform Salah) we find some hazy actions that need to be brought back into focus.
· Some do not concentrate on what they are saying.
· Some speed when they pray
· Some wander with their gaze during Salah,
· The number of rakaaat performed is constantly forgotten.
· For some, the Dunya hugs their hearts during Salah and clouds their minds.
· Sometimes, before the Imam says Allahu Akbar, some in the congregation are already in the next prostration.
Compare this to those that came before us: People used to think that ar-Rabee' bin Khaitham, due to his constant lowering of his gaze and keeping his head low (in Salah), was blind. He used to live behind the house of Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood for twenty years and when his servant girl used to see him she would say: Your blind friend is coming, and Abdullaah used to laugh at her speech.
In Bukhari and Muslim, from Abu Hurayrah - Radi Allahu Anhu, a man entered the Masjid and the Messenger of Allah - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - was sitting. The man prayed (2 raka) and then came to the Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - and said salam. The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - replied the salam and then said, Go back and pray for you have not prayed. So the man went back, prayed (2 raka) like he did the first time and then came back and repeated the salam. The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - replied the salam and then said, Go back and pray for you have not prayed. So the man went back, prayed (2 raka) like he did the first time and then came back and repeated the salam. The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - replied the salam and then said, Go back and pray for you have not prayed. He said it three
times until on the third time the man said, By He who sent you with the truth O Messenger of Allah, I do not know any better than this. Teach me. The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - then said, If you stand up for Salah say Allahu Akbar. Then read what comes easy for you from the Quran. Then bow until you are comfortable in your ruku. Then stand up until you are standing up straight. Then prostrate until you are comfortable in your Sujood. Then sit until you are comfortable in your Juloos. Then prostrate until you are comfortable in your Sujood. And do this in your entire Salah.
Lets go back and do our Salah again. This is our topic for today.
· Why do we come to the Masjid, why do we perform Salah? We do it in application of the command of our Creater Subhaanahu wa Taaala. Why should we then lose the blessing and reward because of a wandering heart and an itchy hand? Concentration is the soul of our Salah. Concentration is the fruit of our Eeman. Yet regardless of this understanding, people still leave their Salah and only a small protion of it is written for them because of their imperfection of it.
The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - said, Verily, a man will leave from (his Salah) and only a tenth of his Salah is written for him, a ninth, an eighth, a seventh, a sixth, a fifth, a forth, a third, half. Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi.
Uthman ibn Abi Dahshah said, I have never prayed a Salah that I have not asked Allah Subhaanahu wa Taaala to forgive for my shortcomings in that Salah.
· Someone who short changes his Salah is a thief. The Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - said, The evilest thief is he who steals from his Salah. They asked, O Messenger of Allah, how does he steal from his Salah? He - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - said, He does not perfect its ruku and Sujood. authentic
· Because of the speed some apply to their Salah, it is as if they are pecking up and down like a bird. Narrated Ahmad, Abu Dawood and others, the Prophet - Sal Allaahu alayhi wa Sallam - forbade that someone should peck (in Salah) like a crow
Umar - Radi Allahu Anhu - once stood on the pulpit and addressed the community with a loud powerful voice, A man may grow old in Islam and never have completed to Allah a single Salah! They said, How is this? He said, He does not perfect his concentration, nor his humbleness, nor his focus on Allah - Azza wa Jall.
Once, Maroof Al-Karkhee Rahimahu AllahimahUllah stood amongst some of his students and one said to the other, Please lead the Isha Salah. The first student accepted but said, I shall lead the Isha Salah on condition that you lead the Fajr Salah and not me. Maroof Al-Karkhe was shocked at what he said and commented, By Allah, if you think that youll be alive at Fajr then by Allah you have not yet perfected your Salah.
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 Taaala - 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 Muadhdhin, 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. Isnt is disheartening that someone may perform Salah for decades, day after day, and he/she still does not know what they are saying?
The Quraan was revealed to be pondered over! Allaah revealed: (This is) a Book (the Quraan) 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 Taaala 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 Kabah. 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 qiraaat al-Faatihah fi kulli rakah). [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.
Abul-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. [Abul-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! | | |
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