Humility and concentration in prayer are crucial to the acceptance of our salaat
The tricks of Shaytan make this difficult. The following are some of the measures which if observed will, insha AIlah, help our concentration in salaat. Proper Ablution and Siwak: Make good your ablution and use chewing stick for the Rasul (PBUH) said:
"Purify your mouths for the Qur'aan. " (alBazzaar).
Wear good clothes:
"0 children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer" (Q7 al-A'raaf]:31).
Clean, pleasant smelling clothes are also more comfortable and relaxing, unlike clothes for sleeping or working in. We should also prepare ourselves by covering our 'awrah (nakedness) properly, purifying the spot where we are going to pray, getting ready early and waiting for the prayer, and making the rows straight and solid, without any gaps. Place the right hand on the left hand on the chest: The Prophet (PBUH), when he stood up to pray, used to place his right hand on his left hand (Muslim), and place them on his chest (Abu Dawud).
Look at the place of prostration: It was reported from 'Aa'ishah (RA) that "the Messenger of AIIaah (PBUH) used to pray with his head tilted forward and his gaze lowered, looking at the ground." (al-Haakim).
When a person sits for Tashahhud, he should look at the finger with which he is pointing as he is moving it. Move at a measured pace: The Prophet (PBUH) used to move at a measured pace during salaah, allowing every bone to return to its place. He said:
"None of you has prayed properly until he does this. " (Abu Dawood).
The one who does not move at a measured pace in his prayer cannot have khushoo' because haste is a barrier to khushoo' .
Remembering death whilst praying: The Prophet (PBUH) said:
"Remember death in your prayer, for the man who remembers death during his prayer is bound to pray properly, and pray the prayer of a man who does not think that he will pray any other prayer. "{as-Saheehah by al-Albaani).
Think about the aayaat being recited and interact with them: The Qur'aan was revealed to be pondered over. AIIaah says:
"(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].
You should also vary the surah and ayat recited in prayer.
Perform the sujood al-tilaawah when reciting an aayah where this is required: One of the etiquettes of reciting Ilur'aan is to perform sujood al-tilaawah (prostration for recitation) when one recites an aayah containing a "sajdah” (place where a prostration is required). This is very important because it increases khushoo', Allaah says:
"And they fall down on their faces weeping and it adds to their humility [khushoo']." [al-Israa' [11:109].
Seek refuge with Allah from the ShaYtaan: The Shaytan is our enemy, and he tries to destroy our good works all one way he does this is by whispering insinuating thoughts (waswaas) to the worshipper at prayer so as to take away his attention and confuse him in his prayer. Seek refuge against him and spit to the left side three times.
Ward off distractions & things that adversely affect khushoo': Remove anything that may distract attention. Anas (R.M said: Aa'ishah had a decorated, colourfull curtain which she used to cover the side of her house. The Prophet (PBUH) said to her:
"Take it away from me, because. its decorations keep distracting me when I pray. (Bukhari):
Also avoid praying in a garment that has decorations, writing, bright colours or pictures that will distract" the worshipper. 'Aa'ishah (R.A) said:
"The Prophet (PBUH) stood up to pray wearing a checkered shirtt, and he looked at the patterns in it.
When he had finished his prayer, he said:
"Take this shirt to Abu Jaham ibn Hudhayfah and bring me an anbajaani (a garment with no decorations or checks), because it distracted me when I was praying. " (Muslim).
Avoid praying in places where people pass through. Or where there is a lot of noise and where people are engaging in conversations. arguments etc. - Don't pray when food is ready: Rasulullah (PBUH) said:
"Do not pray when there is food prepared. "(Muslim).
Don't even rush over your meal just to catch salaat. The Rasul said:
"If dinner has been put out and the iqaamah has been given for prayer, eat dinner first and do not rush to finish it. " (Bukhaari).
Also avoid praying when you need to answer the call of no doubt one of the things that can prevent proper khushoo' is praying when one needs to go to the washroom. And also when you feel sleepy: the "Messenger of Allah.
(PBUH) said:
"If anyone of you feels sleepy when he is praying, he should sleep until he [is rested enough to] know what he is saying," (Bukhaari).
It is disliked to pray behind someone who is talking (or sleeping): The Prophet (PBUH) forbade this; he said:
"Do not pray behind one who is sleeping or one who is talking. (Abu Dawud).
One who is talking will distract the worshipper with his talk, and one who is sleeping may expose something that will distract the worshipper.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited