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Imagine
the inconvenience one would have to undergo in arranging to meet the
country’s president? Imagine the numerous phone calls to parliament
and the influence of the rich and ‘powerful’ people that would be
required just to arrange a simple meeting with him? And
finally, when the scheduled time does arrive after hours of
anticipation, how alert and ecstatic wouldn’t one be? Yet, the
‘prominent’ man, hard-pressed for time, would give one an inattentive
hearing and will be eager to conclude the meeting. How disappointing?
Now
compare all this effort with just a ‘simple’ wudu, donning of
clean respectable clothing, and there you are, in the Majesty’s court.
With no hassle and no appointment, you have the distinguished
opportunity of conversing with your Beloved Creator, The King
of Kings with His full attention focused on you. Yet
ironically, this time round, we are the ones ‘too busy’ in our
thoughts to dedicate a few attentive moments to our Allah!
Allah
Ta’ala states that an intoxicated person should not perform
salāh until he is aware of what he says, that is, until he is sober.
However, while commenting on this verse and the deplorable state of
our salāh, Imām Ghazali
رحمه الله
mentions, “There are many who despite not being intoxicated are
yet ‘unaware’ of what they utter in their salāh (due to being
inattentive).”1 Moulānā Dhul Fiqār
دامت بركاتهم
has also very aptly compared our salāh to a passenger aboard an
aeroplane. The passenger is asleep and therefore totally oblivious of
his surroundings. It is only when the aircraft prepares for landing
and the wheels forcefully strike the runway, does he awaken and
realise what is happening around him. He states that, so too is the
pitiable state of our salāh. That is, during our salāh, we are so
unmindful of Allah
Y;
it is as though we also ‘fly’ in our own world of thoughts (touring
countless destinations with neither a visa nor a passport at hand!).
It is only when the imām makes the salām, do we ‘awaken’ from our
‘slumber’ only to realise that the salāh has terminated!
These
comments really serve as a perfect reflection of our daily salāh. So
in truth, isn’t it time for us to improve on the ‘outdated version’
of salāh which we have been performing ever since!
In the
Quran, Allah
Y
constantly reminds us of the need to improve our salāh by saying,
“Establish your salāh (i.e. perfect it)”. The Úlamā have defined a
perfect and attentive salāh to mean that when one stands before Allah
Y,
being
conscious of his Divine presence, (a) one should be motionless i.e.
avoiding all unnecessary movement, while (b) divorcing oneself from
worldly thoughts - worldly thoughts should not be voluntarily
imported to the mind. Yes, if they arise naturally, one should just
ignore them and continue with the salāh. Disregarding this vital
ingredient of concentration has led to our salāh becoming
somewhat ‘bland, boring and mechanical’. What did I just recite? Which
rakat am I in? Do I have to stand up now, or sit for tashahud? are
questions which haunt one in nearly every salāh. Remember that salāh
is in reality a great gift from Allah
Y
which keeps us connected to Him despite our numerous involvements.
However, as long as we don’t make an effort to improve our
concentration, salāh will continue to be regarded as a burden. For,
Allah
Y
states, “(Salāh) is difficult and burdensome except for those who are
mindful.”2
The
ahādīth also explicitly state that concentration in salāh is the
factor which determines the amount of reward one receives for the
salāh. Nabi
sallallahu alayhi wasallam
has mentioned, “Whoever makes a thorough wudu and then performs
an attentive salāh, while being mindful and conscious of what he says,
will complete his salāh with all his (minor) sins erased like the day
his mother gave birth to him.”3 A similar narration has it
as, “Jannah becomes wājib (guaranteed) for this person.”4
Note again that, these benefits depend on the level of one’s
concentration in the salāh. So why deprive ourselves when a little
effort will make for a better, as well as a more enjoyable, salāh!
The ‘Secret Ingredients’ to a Better Salāh
ADVANCE PREPARATION –Try
and complete all needs and duties before the approach of salāh, or at
least leave them in such a condition that would not distract the mind
during the salāh. It is sinful to perform salāh in an uneasy
distracted state of mind when one is able to avoid it. A distracted
mind also refers to performing salāh when in need of relieving oneself
or of even passing ‘wind’ (i.e. flatulence). In fact, if such an acute
need does occur during the salāh, the salāh should be terminated and
only resumed once at ease (irrespective of whether, by doing so, the
salāh with congregation is missed or not).5
A meticulous
WUDU –
Perform a thorough wudu maintaining the fard, sunnah and
mustahab aspects. Utilise a moderate amount of water and desist
from all worldly talk. Involvement in such talk ruins the
spirituality of the wudu totally. Remember! The key to salāh
is wudu. So, a better wudu will surely lead to a better salāh.
SWITCH
THE MIND OFF –The
stepping stone to an attentive salāh is to ensure one commences it
with a tranquil and relaxed mind. To achieve this, try and be seated
in the Musjid (or the place of salāh) before time and recite a little
amount of zikr. Just as how the blades of the fan continue to rotate
well after the switch is turned off, so too is the effect of all
activities on one’s mind. Coming early for salāh will also secure the
good fortune of performing the salāh with the first takbīr (takbīr ūlā)
which is extremely meritorious.
CLEAR
THE AREA –
Perform the salāh away from any distractions such as the radio,
nasheeds which are playing, discussions of people, noise etc., as
these naturally distract and divert the mind during the salāh. If
possible, try to perform salāh on a plain printed musalla instead of a
heavily designed one. Otherwise, one would be concentrating on the
designs and counting of the domes and minarats instead of counting the
number of rakats.
TIPS –
Some Úlama have recommended a simple though effective technique to
achieve concentration. In every posture of salāh, one should meditate
on only three things. These are: (1) My Allah is watching me, (2) My
Allah is listening to me, and (3) My Allah is aware of me. With this
frame of mind, one should recite the various tasbīhāt, qirat etc. of
the salāh. Those who are well versed in Arabic should ponder over the
meanings of the verses while others should try to learn the meanings
of a few sūrahs, especially Sūrah Fātihah, since it is recited most
often. Many of us have our set sūrahs for a 2, 3 and 4 rakat salāh.
Hence, on completion of Sūrah Fātihah, before even thinking and
realising what sūrah to choose and recite, we are already half way
through these sūrahs. In this case, we should recite other sūrahs such
as Sūrah Yasin, Tabarak etc. Pronouncing the letters loud enough as to
hear it yourself (but not loud enough as to disturb others) is also
extremely useful in focusing one’s attention in the salāh. We should
also try to perfect the outer postures of salāh including the focusing
of one’s gaze in each posture. If greater concentration is achieved by
closing the eyes during the salāh, then in this case only, one
may close the eyes.6 However, the ideal would be to achieve
this concentration by keeping them open as was the Sunnah (practice)
of our Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam.
THE
YAWNS... –
More often than not, yawning is the result of one being absent-minded
during the salāh. Nonetheless, if it does occur, one should first try
to suppress it (by closing the mouth). If one is unable to do so, then
the right hand should be used to cover the mouth, if one is in the
standing position. Otherwise the left hand should be used if in any
other posture of the salāh.
NOTE:
It is makrūh to use the hand to cover the mouth when yawning during
salāh if one is able to suppress it by doing so with the mouth only.7
Sounds such as ‘Ha...’ etc. should not be uttered while yawning as
this has been prohibited in the Ahadith.8
fiddlING
–
The most obvious and apparent sign of an inattentive mind is that of
fiddling and fidgeting. Saeed Ibn Musayyib
رحمه الله,
a great Tābi’ī, once saw a man who was fidgeting with his beard during
the salāh and commented, “If this man was attentive, his body would
have (also) being motionless.”9 If the mind is alert and
attentive, subsequently, the physical body also becomes composed and
tranquil. Let us avoid all unnecessary movement during the salāh.
SHORT
AND SWEET –
Initially, concentration should be developed by performing shorter
(not quick and hasty) salāhs while trying to focus in each posture.
Once the desired concentration is achieved, one may then perform
lengthier rakats of salāh. This was the practice of many of our pious
elders.
A
GROSS MISUNDERSTANDING –
A common understanding of an attentive salāh is that, one should be
totally absorbed and oblivious of one’s surroundings during the salāh.
This is incorrect. Experiencing such a condition is simply a gift from
Allah
Y
and is in no way a requirement of salāh. In fact, at times this may
even be a subtle scheme from Shaytan to sway us away from mustering up
courage and attempting to perform a perfect salāh. Since, one would
think that such a salāh is out of my reach and impossible for me to
perform, so I’ll just carry on with my old inattentive one.
Nevertheless, an attentive salāh simply means that one should be
aware and realise what one is doing during the course of the
salāh. For example, one should be conscious of the fact that
now I am reciting Sūrah Fatiha, or now I am going into ruku, sajda
etc. this much is sufficient when initially correcting our salāh.
If
after carefully practicing on these points, one still does not achieve
the desired concentration, one should not be disillusioned. Remember
that concentration comes through practice while salāh has to be
performed in all circumstances, with or without concentration. Shaytan
will find this to be an ideal opportunity to sway us away from salāh
with thoughts such as, ‘what good is your salāh if your mind is
wandering all over the place?’ The Úlama state that our effort is to ‘try’
to concentrate in the event of not having achieved concentration.
Allah
Y
wants to see our sincere attempt in developing that better salāh.
If one entertains stray thoughts during the salāh, repent sincerely
and make a resolute intention of improving the salāh. In addition to
this brief compilation, the following books should also be consulted:
1)
IS YOUR SALAH CORRECT
–
by
Moulana Fadlur Rahman Azmi
دامت
بركاتهم
2)
And especially, the transcribed bayans of Moulana Abdul Hamid
Ishaq
دامت بركاتهم
entitled,
ANWAARUS SALAH
(also available on audio).
[References:
(1) Ihyā v.1 p.200 (2) Surah 2, verse 80 (3) Mustadrak Hākim #3508 (4)
Sahih Muslim #552 (5), (6) & (7) Raddul Muhtār v.1 p.641 (8) Sahih
Bukhari #3289, Sunan Abi Dawud #5028 (9) Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah #
6854]
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