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Spirit Of Prayers
By Muhammad Naweed, with help for translation from Bibi Nabeela
We cannot talk of prayer without concentration. The only things that need to be
done are the movement of the body and the Arabic verses repeated automatically.
Now let us see the spirit of the most important practice in Islam.
Intention
Umar Ibn Al Khattab(R.A) said that he had heard Rasulallahi Salallahu
'Alaihiwasalam said, "Action is according to intention. If someone migrate for
Allahand his Messenger, his migration will be counted as like he has migrated
for Allahand his Messenger and if someone has migrate to obtain the goods of
this world or to marry someone, then his migration will be counted for what he
has migrated for. "(Hadith-E-Muslim Shareef)
Its the same for prayers. If we pray for Allah, we will be Blessed. But if we
pray to show people that we are praying, then this will not be accepted. Allah
knows exactly what is in our hearts.
Sincerity
The purity of the intention and the sincerity of the heart for the Lord of the
universes, elevate the action from this low world and is transformed to an act
of adoration in the next world. This means that sincerity and the intention of
doing something for the sake of Allah that renders everything an
Ibadat(adoration). If we love someone for the sake of Allah, this becomes an
act of adoration. If we go and fetch a glass of water for someone for the sake
of Allah, this becomes an act of adoration. If we go to work for the sake of
Allah, this becomes an act of adoration. And whoever talks of adoration, talks
of blessing.
Rasulallahi Salallahu 'Alaihiwasalam said, "Allah looks neither at your body nor
at your forms, but, he looks at your heart." (Hadith-E-Moslim Shareef)
Concentration
The concentration can weaken and reinforce in function of the degree of the
power of faith in future life in this low world. When we notice that our heart
is not present in our prayers, this is due to the weakness of the faith. And
the cause of the weakness of the faith is due to the love of this low world.
Uprooted in the heart, the love of this low world is something difficult and to
erase it entirely, is something which is rare. It is highly recommanded as far
as possible to concentrate in prayers. God only who give success and
assistance.
Some advice for concentration
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To be prepared: concentration starts from the ablution. Think of the sins which
fall down with the water of the ablution. Put on beautiful clothes that make us
feel comfortable (for example Thawb, kurtas). Put on Attar(perfumes without
alcohol). Light up Incense Sticks. Do the Azaan then the Iqaamat. All these are
rites to enter concentration. If we have problems in concentrating, do a small
Ta'lim before praying. Take a book containing Hadiths and read on concerning
the values of prayers, concentration ... or read the Holy Qur'aan.
-
Pray in a calm and special room. Do not pray in the middle of the living room
where children are running here and there. Install yourself in a clean, calme
place. Be sure that there are no things that can attract your attention while
praying.
-
If you have something incomplete, do it before praying so that you will not
think of it during the prayer but be sure that you do not exceed the time
limited. Do not pray if you have something on fire. Do not pray when food is
served. All these can distract your concentration.
-
Think that you are in the Holy City Of Makkah in front of the Ka'aba. Then
think that you are in front of Almighty Allah. Be respectable. Feel Allah. Pray
as if you are seeing him or as if he is seeing you. When you are in front of a
king or a president, you will respect and concentrate on him. Then why not in
front of Allah, the Lord of the universes and the master of the day of
Judgement?
-
It is advisable to imagine that the heaven is at one's right and hell at one's
left. It is also advisable to think that its one's last day so that this help
you in concentrating more and more and this push you to do your prayer
correctly.
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