How to Attain Concentration in Salah
A common complaint of many who seek reformation is their lack of concentration in Salah and finding themselves wanting in the spirit of Salah. They write or ask for some prescription to bring in that spirit and that love of Allah Ta’ala through Salah. The following guidelines will, insha Allah, assist in improving the quality of one’s Salah: Men should try and reach the Musjid before the Azan so that they may read the Sunnah Salah with etiquette and ease – and this should take them about 5 minutes. In the remaining few minutes before the Fardh, make Istighfar, Taubah, Zikrullah, or think of the Aakhirah (the Hereafter), accountability and presentation of one’s deeds in the Court of Allah Ta’ala. Reflect on one’s life: What if my death has to come now? Try and cut off from the business and worldly activities as much as possible through this little meditation and Zikr. Now comes the Fardh Salah: insha Allah, by this time, much of one’s heart will be in that Salah. Insha Allah, with a little effort and perseverance, there will be full attention and concentration. Ladies should try and read Salah in its early time, thus giving themselves the opportunity to prepare Salah without any haste. They, too, should make a little zikr before commencing with Salah to get into the right frame of mind. Moreover, if we prioritise fulfilling the Rights of Allah Ta’ala, He will assist us in fulfilling our tasks. He will grant Barakah in time to complete our undertakings, insha Allah. Condition the mind, address yourself – I am standing before the King of Kings. SubhanAllah. I have been chosen, from millions, to converse with ‘Rabbul ‘Aalamin’, and I am being afforded the greatest honour and privilege (above millions of others) to make sujud to Allah Ta’ala… to be nearest to Allah Ta’ala. [ …If we could truly fathom the greatness of the gift, this ultimate honour, this good fortune – we would never want to leave the position of sujood.] And whilst reading the Qur’an Sharif in Salah (and even outside Salah), then think: This is the Kalam (speech) of my Allah – of my Beloved. By contemplating the meaning of the verses that you are reading, think: I am listening to the speech of Allah Ta’ala. And since you are reading His Speech, He is also listening to you. Therefore learn the meaning of the Surahs we usually recite in Salah. It will not take long to do so if a little is learnt every day. And think: In this Salah, Tilawah, Zikr, or Hamd – I have the special attention of Allah Ta’ala. I have exclusive attention because this is my ‘Mi’raj’; this is my conversation and communication with the Master of the Worlds. What a compounded bounty – SubhanAllah! So many gifts in the gift packaged as Salah. How can any sane-thinking Muslim ever refuse such a gift? In contemplating this, we will experience the beauty and sweetness and pleasure of Salah. We will understand the Hadith in which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) says that the coolness of his eyes is in Salah. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the reality. Listen to the Majlis Programme “Guaranteed Success” – (27/03/2006), which is an elaboration of the above prescription
Business and Salah
Business and Salah by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh) Once, a person asked me: “I am in my business from the morning; and from the business, I proceed to the Masjid for Zuhr, Asr, and Maghrib. I join the Salah with “Allahu Akbar”, but then it seems as if the whole business comes into that Salah. How do I get concentration?” I replied: “You came out of business and went directly into Salah. At least your complaint is about your business consuming your thoughts while in Salah. Others complain of their Salah being contaminated with television, pornography, sport, video games, etc. They also hear the Azaan, enter into Salah, but their complaint is that the images of filthy women come before them in their Sajdas (Na ‘uzu Billah).” People have written to me at a loss because their minds are picturing Haraam in that Sajda —that Sajda where they are supposed to be closest to Allah Ta’ala.” I explained: “Allah Ta’ala’s Ihsan (favour) is always all-embracing, so He granted the Sunnah Salah to us before the Fardh Salah. It is only Maghrib which is read immediately after the Azaan. Regarding the Salah, we should not wait for the Azaan and proceed to the Masjid or Musallah. If a person has no excuse, he should be in the Masjid by the time the Azaan is completed, preferably having completed his Wudhu. After responding to the Azaan and making a Du’aa (since this is a time of the acceptance of Dua), the Sunnah Salah should be read. Unfortunately, we complete 4 Rakats in one minute ‘flat’. We want to show speed in Salah since we cannot show speed in any marathon. If carried out as Sunnah, the 4 Rakats of Sunnah will take about 5 minutes. After Sunnah Salah, there will still be a few minutes left before the Jamaat Salah commences. During those minutes, make Istighfaar, Taubah, think of Aakhirah and accountability and presentation of deeds on the Day of Qiyaamah. Reflect on one’s life. What if my death has to come now? Like this, you cut off the business and worldly thoughts as much as possible. Now commences the Fardh Salah, by which 80% of the heart will be in that Salah, insha Allah. If the effort continues, the person will experience “Mi’raj” in his Salah.” Alhamdulillah, many, having followed through with this advice, have found a world of difference in their Salah. When the Sahabah (rahiyallahu ‘anhum) entered Salah, how is it that they were able to maintain their Khushu’ (concentration) in Salah -why is it that they were not disturbed by worldly thoughts, like how we are plagued with worldly thoughts? They, too, came into Salah from the business world yet proceeded directly into the Mi’raj of Salah. The Kaifiyyat was different. From the time they commenced preparation for their Salah, making Wudhu, etc., the kaifiyat was different. It was very unlike our condition: We are talking, joking and laughing, and we enter the Masjid in this manner. On the other hand, they truly understood and believed that they would now stand before Allah Ta’ala – as will be on the Day of Qiyamah. The Ayah described their condition: “And as for those who were in awe of standing before their Lord and restrained themselves from (evil) desires…” [Surah Nazi’at 79:40] So why was it that their Salah was not affected, and they were not diverted or distracted by what they were, until then, occupied with? After all, they were also in business and trade, agriculture, and other avenues of earning a living. They were also selling different items and animals, planting crops, moving into foreign lands and engaging in big business. Allah Ta’ala says in Surah Nur: “…men who are not distracted—either by buying or selling—from Allah’s remembrance, or performing prayer, or paying Zakah. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will tremble,…” [Surah Nur 24:37] Men, whose businesses and transactions, exporting and importing, do not divert them from the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala, do not distract them from the establishment of Salah, and giving Zakah … Allah Ta’ala brought to my heart a beautiful point concerning why the Sahabah (rahiyallahu ‘anhum) were not disturbed in their concentration. And that is that they were men – the true believing men, whose businesses did not prevent them from obedience or divert their attention. Why was their Salah not affected even though they came out of business? Because they came out of one Ibaadah into another. Therefore, from one Ibaadah, they entered into another Ibaadah. They were conscious of Allah Ta’ala’s presence at all times, even in their businesses. Thus, their business was also “Zikrullah”. The same awareness was required for Salah, but this was their condition at all times. In their businesses, they were cautious. Their trade, talking, selling, and purchasing were all carried out as sanctioned by Shari’ah. Their intentions were noble, their efforts were clean, and their earnings were Halaal and pure. They worked not to extend their hands and beg of others. They worked to support their families, contribute to good causes, assist others, give Zakaah, go for Hajj, and so forth. Their intentions were correct, and their businesses were conducted in the manner approved by Allah Ta’ala. That person who has made his business into Ibaadah, then his concentration will remain in Salah. It does not mean that a person is just holding a Tasbih all the time and reading: ‘SubhanAllah, SubhanAllah…’. Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (rahmatullah ‘alayh) mentioned that if a person is selling – for example, mangoes – and goes on repeating: “Mangoes, Mangoes …”, he will get the reward of Tasbeeh because the person’s effort is to acquire Halaal sustenance. So, the Sahabah (rahiyallahu ‘anhum) were conscious of Allah Ta’ala’s presence and were mindful of all the Ahkaam (Laws) pertaining to trade and business, so they simply moved from one Ibaadah to another. Unlike us, our