Dealing with the shakers

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Dealing with the shakers
Anonymous
12/10/01 at 23:58:41
asalaamu alaykum

I felt a need to mention this because I feel that there are people on
this board who can help.

My question is about salah in jamaah. I know that we should commit
ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually into salah. And the scholar
say that if the physical committment is not there, then how can the
heart be committed? Also if you have a problem with the khushoo and focus
with the heart, at least have it with the body, which in itself may
help with the focus of the heart.

It is recommended that when we make our salah that we not make
movements unless they are really necessary. So unnecessary fidgeting, swaying
back and forth, moving the feet, stroking our beard, making noises etc
should not be done unless out of a necessity. This contributes to the
physical stillness of the salah that is necessary for the stillness of
the heart.

Like all of you I am striving to reach this goal. My problem lies
however sometimes when I am in jamaah with a *few* brothers. These brothers
constantly or moving around back and forth, fidgeting, moving their
feet, doing all these things. I try my best to stay focused in the salah
and be concerned about my own salah, but their actions often make my
salah difficult.

I am not talking about the occasional movement, which is out of
necessity and we can understand that. I am talking about the constant constant
fidgeting and moving that some brothers do which is not due to some
actual medical problem but rather really just plain fidgeting and
uncessary physical movements and sounds. It can distract you because their
movements move you and break your own physical stillness.

This bothers me to an extent that by my own experiences I have actually
come to know of some brothers who constantly do this. And I am sorry to
say that often times when I am at the masjid I will try to position
myself away from these brothers and stand with brothers who are very still
in their salah. But of course there are times when it is unavoidable
and you must pray next to these people.

I know that all of you are thinking the same thing: Brother, just focus
on your own salah and not on anyone else. The problem for me is that I
know that if I pray next to certain brothers my salah will be better on
average than if I am next to others.

My question to all of you is how to deal with this? This is for sure
not a good feeling to have, and I should be able to block out the
constant physical disruptions by these brothers on my salah. But unfortunately
I am not at that level yet.

Is there any brother who also feels this way? what do u do? how do you
deal with these shakers? Can you tell them that they should be
physically still in salah? I would feel bad saying such a thing because I know
I should be focusing on my own salah. It jsut bothers me cuz the
fidgeting disrupts my salah.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this or suggestions?

and since i can anonymously say this and not hurt anyone feelings, just
an advice to the brothers wherever you are, be still in your salah
please. it will help your own salah and the salah of your brother!

Re: Dealing with the shakers
haaris
12/11/01 at 06:06:17
slm

Brother, I've not been in your position recently.  Perhaps if you go to your imam and ask him something along the lines of "I'm trying to improve my salat and I know that it is better to remain still whilst in salat but to what extent is movement permissible?" or some such question that will elicit the points that you raised in your post.  When the imam has finished telling you, you could thank him for his help and suggest that he bring this up at the time of salat in case any of the other brothers, like you, are trying to improve their salat and might find this helpful.

This way you might find, Insha Allah, that not only does it bring the point to the brothers about whom you are concerned but also it might help/remind others along in the masjid.

Anyway, I hope that this might help, but in any event may Allah guide you to the best answer.

wlm
Re: Dealing with the shakers
Kathy
12/11/01 at 09:21:25
slm

Another prayer question:

During sujood al-tilaawah a person does not have to have wudo...

Does a woman have to be covered?


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