How To Focus On Salah?
3 mins read
Outline
In this guideline you will learn:
✅ How to focus on Salah
✅ What is Khusuk in Salah?
✅ Tips: How to focus on Salah
✅ Ahadith and Quranic verses about Khusuk
Introduction
Salah (Salat) refers to the Arabic word used to describe the ritual prayer, which is mandatory for Muslims to offer five times every day. Prayer is essential because it permits Muslims to connect with Allah, hear Allah, and follow the path of prophets.
How To Focus On Salah?
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said that not bowing and prostrating properly in prayer and praying without contentment is the worst form of theft.
Are you having problems concentrating during Salah? Many of us face the same issue during Salah - we get confused and cannot focus on our prayers. It is not only with you. Even the Sahabas experienced this challenge. Today we will discuss this topic in detail using the Qur'an and hadith. How to focus on Salah? Moreover, what are the Du'as that will help us focus on our prayers?
Once, a Sahabi (RA) came to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and complained that he got confused in his Salah. During prayer, he gets distracted and forgets what he is reading, how many Rakat he has prayed, and how many Rakat he has to pray. He told Prophet Muhammad (SAW), "Shaytaan attacks me in Salah."
The Prophet (PBUH) said “This is a Shaytaan called khinzab, if he comes again in Salah say “أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم” and spit over your left shoulder.” After practicing this for a while he was able to concentrate in Salah Alhamdulillah.
Shaytaan's first attempt is to keep the Muslims away from prayer, but when the man starts praying, he tries to deprive him of Khusuk.
What Is Khusuk In Salah?
In prayer, having thoughts or obsessions is common. Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that the first thing that will be raised in my Ummah is Khusuk or humility. Khusuk refers to the tenderness, humility, and submission of the heart. There are many hadith and Holy Qur'an verses that teaches us repeatedly that we should perform prayers with humility and contentment because the real prayer is that which is performed with humility and submission and contentment and peace. Here is an important Qur'an verse related to humility and submission:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُون
Successful indeed are the believers
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى صَلَاتِهِمْ خَـٰشِعُون
Those who humble themselves in prayer
(سورة المؤمنون، آية 1&2)
Reference (Al-Mu'minun, Ayat 1 & 2)
Tips: How To Focus On Salah
As mentioned, it is a common problem that arises during Salah that the concentration is lost. Our focus tends to be on unwanted elements rather than Almighty Allah. Here we are going to share some suggestions regarding an increasing concentration on Allah during Salah. The following suggestions may help you to improve your concentration during prayer with Allah alone.
1. Make Ablution and prepare yourself for prayer:
Concentrating during ablution will prepare you to focus on your prayers. Whenever you do Wudu’, say du'a to Allah asking all the sins you have committed be forgiven.
Hadith
Prophet Muhammad SAW Said:
When a Muslim or a believer washes his face in ablution, then every sin which he committed with his eyes will be washed away with the last drop of water. When he washes his hands, then every sin which he committed with his hands will be washed away with the last drop of water. And when he washes his feet, then every sin which he committed with his feet will be washed away with the last drop of water until he emerges purified from sin.
(Muslim)
2. Learn the meaning of prayer:
To focus on prayer, we need to be aware of our actions, words, recitations, supplications, and remembrances, while worshipping Allah, remember that I am looking at and talking to Him that will help you to focus on your prayers.
3. Remember death when offering prayer:
If someone remembers death during prayer and thinks that this is his last prayer, he will be able to pray with excellence and will be able to pray as if this might be his last. So, remember death during prayer.
Hadith
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) Said:
“Remember death when you offer Salah, for if a man remembers death when in Salah, he will strive to perform his Salah in an excellent manner.”
4. Remove unnecessary thoughts:
The place where you pray must be free of engravings, pictures, etc. Also, you should not be worried about school, work, unanswered texts, or unreturned phone calls before you raise your hand to begin praying. Make your mind clear of unnecessary thoughts and put your chores aside and focus on Allah.
Hadith
Here is hadith about how one can remove bad/ unnecessary thoughts during Salah: Sahih Muslim Hadith 5463 Narrated by Uthman ibn Abul'As Uthman came to Allah's Messenger (saws) and said:
“O Allah's Messenger, the Satan intervenes between me and my prayer, and my reciting of the Qur'an and he confounds me. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (saws) said: That is (the doing of the Satan) who is known as Khinzab, and when you perceive its effect, seek refuge with Allah from it, and spit three times to your left. I did that and Allah dispelled that from me.”
5. Offer your Salah as if it's your last:
Consider the prayer you are offering as if it is the last Salah you will ever have in your life. And it might be highly significant to be your last one as nobody is confirmed that he will live to offer another Salah.
Hadith
The Holy Prophet Muhammad SAW Said:
“When you stand for your prayer, pray as if you are saying farewell. Do not say anything for which you must apologise, and give up any desire to acquire what people have.”
(Sunan Ibn Mājah 4169)
6. Be aware that you're in front of Allah! Allah is the Lord of the Worlds:
Keep in mind that when you perform Salah, you directly communicate with Allah, the Lord of everything. Never neglect that Allah's kindness is more than his anger; the punishment He imposes is inexplicable. When you improperly perform Salah is just one of the reasons that Allah gets angry.
The motto of a believer is not only to be a worshipper but also to be humble in prayer because humility is the spirit of prayer. Without it, the concept of iqamah in Salah is not possible. And if there is no humility in the prayers, then the example will be as if one has eyes but no vision and ears but no hearing. Therefore, the essence of prayer is that humility prevails from beginning to the end, and the presence of the heart is maintained.
The primary goal of prayer is to keep the heart focused on Allah and keep the state of reverence and awe on oneself. Keep in mind that while praying, you worship Allah as if you are seeing Allah and talking to the Lord.
Allah Almighty has instructed in the Qur'an Al-Hakim
إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِيO
(سورة طه ، آية 14)
Verily, I am Allah: There is no god but I: So serve thou Me (only), and establish regular prayer for celebrating my praise.
(Surah Taha, Ayat 14)
Comments