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
Will You Break Your Fast a Few Minutes Early?
For many years without fail, I have been giving an example in the month of Ramadan, that at the end of a very hot and long day of Summer, a person is sitting at the Dastarkhan (table cloth), close to the time of Iftar, and waiting patiently to open his fast. There are just 3 minutes left for the setting of the sun when he is told: “Eat! What difference will it make if you break your fast now? What is another 2 or 3 minutes? You have already stayed away from food and drink for almost 15-16 hours.” Even if this happens to be the weakest Muslim in respect to obeying Allah Ta’ala, he will respond: “It is the ruling of the Qur’an and Ahadith that I break my fast after the setting of the sun, and not before that time. It is the command of Allah Ta’ala, and I cannot disobey Him.” The weakest person’s Iman becomes so strong at this stage that he will not break his fast. He will refuse to break his fast, even if the world’s great personalities have to say so. So we should question ourselves and answer truthfully: Is it not the Hukm (command) of that same Allah that we perform our Salah five times a day, and for the men, in the Musjid —in Jamat (congregation) as far as possible? Is it not the Command of that same Allah to correctly discharge our Zakah, perform Haj, treat our parents with love and respect, be faithful to our wives and treat them with compassion and vice versa for the wives, be honest in our business dealings and be kind and just to those under our authority?