A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Defeating the Shaitan |
|---|
| BrKhalid |
| 07/01/02 at 13:59:45 |
| Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) I thought I'd start this thread on *practical* ways we can defeat our enemy when he attacks us. I guess I'll start the ball rolling: [u]Mode of Attack[/u] Shaitan has a habit of whispering to you as prayer time approaches especially when you're tied up doing something else. [u]Purpose of Attack[/u] To delay or miss your prayer [u]Solution[/u] Nothing is more important than our meeting with our Lord. Always try and pray on time. |
| 07/01/02 at 14:00:28 |
| BrKhalid |
| Re: Defeating the Shaitan |
|---|
| Asifa |
| 07/03/02 at 13:14:45 |
| [slm] Fajar prayer timings are little difficult. When a person hits the bed no matter at what time, the last hour of sleep is very difficult to come out from and if one realizes this is a real test from Allah. During this state of confusion whether to leave the bed for prayers, shaitaan plays his active role by putting valid reasons in to our brain and giving us wrong ideas. “ Oh! I couldn’t sleep properly at night so I deserve the sleep of at least 10 more minutes” or the other form of whisper could be “ It’s sooo relaxing l will just take 10 more minutes and would definitely get up for Fajar Prayer” According to my personal experience if one starts listening to these whispers he/she would always end up in delaying Fajar Prayers. So the best way to deal with it to jump out of the bed immediately after listening to prayer Alarm or Azan. Jazak Allahu Khairun |
| NS |
| Re: Defeating the Shaitan |
|---|
| taffi98 |
| 07/03/02 at 22:22:27 |
| masalaam my biggest problem in prayer is thinking about random things or events that occured in the past... and sometimes i think about ppl (teachers, classes...) i would really appreciate any advice u guys could offer... jazakallah khair |
| Re: Defeating the Shaitan |
|---|
| Asifa |
| 07/04/02 at 03:10:12 |
| [slm] Distraction during salaat (prayer) by shaitan Question: If a person praying experiences insinuating thoughts from Shaitan (Satan) in his salaat, causing him problems in reciting Quran, and resulting in bad or evil thoughts, and making him doubt the number of completed rakaat (iterations), what should he do? Answer: This happened to one of the companions of the prophet (sahabah) whose name is Uthman Bin Abi Al-Aas, (may Allah be pleased with him), so he came complaining to the Prophet (peace be upon him), and he said: "The Shaitan comes between me and my salat and causes me problems with my recitation." So the Messenger of Allah, (peace be upon him), said: "That is a shaitan called Khanzab, so if you feel his presence, seek refuge in Allah and blow a mist to your left three times." He said: "I applied this advice and Allah has rid me off him." (Sahih Muslim 2203) This hadith includes two ways to get rid off the shaitan of salat. The first is asking refuge in Allah from the shaitan's evil by pronouncing the words of seeking refuge and this is OK in this case. And the second: blowing with mist to the left three times. This is basically blowing air in a similar manner to spitting, but with a minute mist of saliva, on the condition that this does not disturb or bother the person next to him, nor make the masjid dirty. Sahih Al-Bukhari 001.011.582 Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "When the Adhan is pronounced Satan takes to his heels and passes wind with noise during his flight in order not to hear the Adhan. When the Adhan is completed he comes back and again takes to his heels when the Iqama is pronounced and after its completion he returns again till he whispers into the heart of the person (to divert his attention from his prayer) and makes him remember things which he does not recall to his mind before the prayer and that causes him to forget how much he has prayed." Jazak Allahu Khairun Asifa |
| NS |
| Re: Defeating the Shaitan |
|---|
| taffi98 |
| 07/04/02 at 10:03:47 |
| salaam thanx for the response =). i dont really think bad or evil thoughts during salah... but i start thinking about conversations i had or random stuff... really thats me most of the time... i have difficulty concentrating even when im studying... i always get cought up thinking about other (most of the time irrelevant) things >:( any ideas ??? jazakallah khair |
| Re: Defeating the Shaitan |
|---|
| BrKhalid |
| 07/04/02 at 10:18:31 |
| Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) Along similar lines to what has already been mentioned: [u]Mode of Attack [/u] Shaitan has a habit of making you feel lazy when waking up for Fajr prayer. [u]Purpose of Attack [/u] To miss your prayer [u]Solution [/u] Try to get to bed early after Isha especially in the summer months when the two prayers are very close together. [u]Mode of Attack [/u] Shaitan has a habit of making whispering to you during prayer. [u]Purpose of Attack [/u] To distract you from your prayer and make you forgetful. [u]Solution(s) [/u] One of the methods I learnt from my Imam was to think about Allah as soon your mind wanders and use that distracting thought to bring you back to full concentration. For example, if your mind wanders because you're thinking about what you're going to do at work then think about how lucky you are that Allah has given you a job. After a while you'll find your mind wanders less. |
| Re: Defeating the Shaitan |
|---|
| Barr |
| 07/05/02 at 03:34:16 |
| Assalamu'alaikum :-) [quote][u]Mode of Attack [/u] Shaitan has a habit of making whispering to you during prayer. [u]Purpose of Attack [/u] To distract you from your prayer and make you forgetful. [/quote] [u]Solution (B)[/u] Know what you say and read in your prayers, especially for non-Arabic speakers. If possible, know the meaning, word by word - not just a general meaning. Prepare yourself mentally and spiritually before prayers. Don't approach it in haste. Make yourself to always be in a state of alert and consciousness. I'm sure there are other tips too, inshaAllah. Love to hear them :) Wassalam :-) |
| Re: Defeating the Shaitan |
|---|
| BrKhalid |
| 07/11/02 at 06:01:47 |
| [u]Mode of Attack[/u] Shaitan has a habit of whispering to you when you weak and not fully concentrating. [u]Purpose of Attack [/u] To steer you from the straight path [u]Solution[/u] Identify times in the day/night when you are tired/distracted etc and anticipate Shaitan coming to you at these times. Try and avoid situations which will make you more vulnerable. A classic example of this is eating a large meal before prayer and then feeling too lethargic to go to the Masjid. Hence, try and eat after prayer if possible. |
| Re: Defeating the Shaitan |
|---|
| Muneerah134 |
| 07/11/02 at 13:10:40 |
| [quote author=Barr link=board=madrasa;num=1025546385;start=0#6 date=07/05/02 at 03:34:16]Assalamu'alaikum :-) [u]Solution (B)[/u] Know what you say and read in your prayers, especially for non-Arabic speakers. If possible, know the meaning, word by word - not just a general meaning. Prepare yourself mentally and spiritually before prayers. Don't approach it in haste. Make yourself to always be in a state of alert and consciousness. [/quote] [slm] I agree with Sis. Barr. I do something similar to this. When I am first distracted, I pause immediately, and think about what I am saying. This is good for me because I still translate some of the Arabic into English. This helps me concentrate better. Especially the sura I am learning. Asking Allah for help in performing prayer helps me also. Taffi98 - Concentration - what helps me at other times (I am a daydreamer, always have been! ;) ) is to stop and regroup. I take a break, or if I can't walk away I stop and refocus. I do this enough to get myself through it. I don't fight the urge to daydream, I just re-route it. InshaAllah this will help. :-) Muneerah [] |
| Re: Defeating the Shaitan |
|---|
| sista |
| 07/29/02 at 17:25:02 |
| [slm] Inner voice to the rescue! When I have difficulty concentrating, my inner voice shouts at me: "For crying out loud, you are about to DIE! What you going to say in the next few minutes when you meet HIM?" My problem is with fajr prayer (a real pity cos its one of two favourite prayers) - when the alarm drags me out of sleep, often its not a case of shaitan making me think, "Ah well, I deserve a little more sleep...I'll pray in a little while" - more like, "Kwafisha bleearghwha..?"...that is, my mind is just mashed at that time - I'm barely even aware that I'm awake, and have no idea whats going on around me....then I fall asleep without realising it...and miss fajr! :( It doesnt happen that often, but once is too often...any ideas? Jazakallahu kheiran [wlm] Your embarrassed sister in Islam :-) |
| Re: Defeating the Shaitan |
|---|
| Danyala |
| 07/29/02 at 18:43:07 |
| [slm] I have heard that one should think of being in front of Allah and the grave or the afterlife and that should make you concentrate more! i also find that I think of the most mundane things or conversations as soon as I begin reading namaz - we can but strive. Wasalams |
| Re: Defeating the Shaitan |
|---|
| Aabidah |
| 07/29/02 at 23:19:20 |
| [slm] When performing salaah, remember that you are standing in front of Allahu SubhanaHu Wata'ala, and no matter what we do, He is watching us. Rasulullah [saw] advised us to contemplate on death when praying, and to pray each salaah as if it's our last one. Think that if you were to never have a chance to ask for Allah's Forgiveness, and His Mercy, how much focus would you put into your salaah. Try to be conscious of Allah not only with your mind but also with your heart. Before praying, sit down and calm down your senses. Help focus your mind, heart and senses to be in "prayer mode" and think of nothing else. Enter salaah with that state of mind, and it'll help focus more. Here's s/thing that InshaAllah will help: Allaah the Exalted said: The Believers will prosper. Those who are humble and submissive in their prayers (khaashi'oon). Below are some examples which we should read with contemplation and thought so that we see the manner of the prayer of those who have been set as an example for us. Al-Hasan (rh) said: When you stand for the prayer stand with a devout frame of m ind as Allaah has commanded you. Beware of forgetfulness and turning (your your attention) away so that while Allaah looks at you, you are looking at other thin gs besides Him. You ask Allaah for Paradise and seek refuge in Him from the Hell fire while your heart is not present and you are not aware of what your tongue i s uttering. 8br> Ibn Seereen (rh) said: They (those before him from among the companions and taab i'een) used to love that a man looks at the place of prostration in his prayer. Maimoon bin Mahraan said: I never saw Muslim bin Yassaar turning around in his p rayer. Once a section of the mosque fell down. The people in the market got scar ed on account of that yet he was still in the mosque engaged in his prayer and d id not turn away from it (his attention did not escape from it). In another narration: Muslim bin Yassaar was praying one day in the mosque of Ba srah and a part of the mosque fell down. The people gathered around due to it an d he did not even realise until he had finished from his prayer. When Abdullaah bin Zubair used to pray it was as if he was a branch of a tree du e to his khushoo', and birds used to stop on him thinking he was a branch. People used to think that ar-Rabee' bin Khaitham, due to his constant lowering o f the gaze and keeping his head low (in the prayer), was blind. He used to live behind the house of Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood for twenty years and when his slavegir l used to see him she would say: Your blind friend is coming, and Abdullaah used to laugh at her speech. Ali bin al-Humraan would turn red whenever he performed wudhoo. It was said to h im: What is it that you recall while performing wudhoo? He said: Do you know in front of whom I wish to stand? It was said to Aamir bin Qais: Do you not forget in the prayer? He said: Is hade eth (i.e. talk) more loved by me than the qur'aan that I become more occupied wi th it? Having secret conversations with the Beloved drowns all other feelings. Some of the Salaf used to say: The prayer is from the Hereafter so when you ente r it you leave the world. ------------------ Taken from Al-Khushoo fis-Salaat of Ibn Rajab Mukhtasir Minhaaj il-Qaasideen of Ibn Qudaamah ----------------- Among the things that bring about Khushoo in the Prayer: 1. Remembrance of Death Anas (ra) said: The Messenger of Allaah (sas) said: "Remember death within your prayer because when a man remembers death in his prayer is strives to beautify h is prayer and pray the prayer of a man who does not think that he will perform another prayer after it. Take caution and and an excuse is sought for every affa ir." The Messnger of Allaah (sas) has ordered the muslim to remember death during his prayer. This is because it is a means of beautifying the prayer. The thought of death creates apprehension in the souls and by it the actions are sealed. What comes after it is even more frightening. Where is the escape from the compressio n of the grave? And what will our response be when we are questioned in the grav e? Futhermore, we do not know where our destination is, to a garden whose width is as that of the heavens and the earth or to the fire whose fuel is men and sto nes. Thus does the servant imagine the visions of death and what comes after it, so h e prays the prayer of a man who doesn't think that he will perform a prayer afte r it. He, therefore, beautifies his prayer, counts himself amongst the dead, pr epares his shroud, writes his will and returns the rights to those who own them. When he wakes up he does not wait for the evening and when he reaches the eveni ng he does not wait for the morning. In this manner he comes to perform the prayer, humble, submissive and weeping. B etween fer and hope he faces the Hereafter and he bids farewell to the world. It is a farewell prayer and a prayer of farewell. By it he says farewell to his fa mily, parents, brothers and his dearest and nearest ones, in fact the whole worl d. And here he says "Allaahu Akbar" - Allaah is Greater - indeed He is greater than every single thing. He belittles this world and deems it insignificant. Then he makes one of the opening supplications and says "O Allaah make my sins distant from me as you have made the the east and west distant from each other." He visu alises the remoteness of the east from the west then he brings to mind whatever he can from among his sins and mistakes which his back carries. He fears that he will meet Allaah - Subhaanahu - in this state and that death will pass him befo re he has repented; so he calls with this supplication, certain and convinced th at it will be answered. He reflects upon the meaning of all that he utters during his prayer, bringing t o mind the greatness and might of Allaah - Ta'aalaa - in his heart, tears wellin g from his eyes because Paradise and Hellfire have become evidently closer to hi m than his shoelace. He personifies the saying of the Messenger (sas): "Pray a f arewell prayer as if you see Him and though you do not see Him, He certainly see s you." It is essential to be observant of Allaah - Ta'aalaa - so that the matter of pra yer is set aright and that the world is placed behind our backs. If a person kne w that his words are being heard and that they reach the King without a doubt wh at then will he say? And how will he speak? Will you not see him weighing his le tters and words? How will it be for the one who stands erect in front of the All -Hearer the All-Seer and All-Knowing, the One from Whom no secret is hidden? [wlm] Betul |
| Re: Defeating the Shaitan |
|---|
| Aabidah |
| 07/29/02 at 23:20:49 |
| [slm] I just realized this, after I posted...there are extra spaces in between a lot of the words, sorry about that...... [wlm] Betul |
| Re: Defeating the Shaitan |
|---|
| Kareema_Abdul-Khab |
| 07/31/02 at 02:52:23 |
| Sista try this: set an second alarm either at the opposite side of your room or in a place where it's hard to reach. That way, you'll be forced to get outta bed and not go back to sleep :) |
| Re: Defeating the Shaitan |
|---|
| Asifa |
| 08/01/02 at 13:39:26 |
| [slm] Satan Hinders the Slave from Acting by Means of Procrastination and Laziness Dr. `Umar Al-Ashqar Chapter: From the Ways of Satan in Leading Humans Astray The World of the Jinn and Devils © 1998 al-Basheer Publications and Translations Concerning this point, Satan has many ways and means. It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "During your sleep, Satan ties three knots at the back of your Decks. He breathes the following into them, 'The night is long so keep on sleeping.' If the person wakes and praises Allah, then one of the knots is unfastened. And if he performs ablution, the second knot is unfastened. When he prays, all of the knots are unfastened. After that he will be energetic and happy in the morning. Otherwise he would get up listless and grouchy." It is also recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim that he said, "When one of you rises from your sleep he should make ablution. He should rinse his nose three times. For Satan stays in the upper part of one's nose during the night." Al-Bukhari also records that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about a man who sleeps until the morning comes, that is, after the time of the dawn prayer. He said, "That is a man whom Satan has urinated into his two ears." What we have mentioned is from among the ways that Satan hinders the human from doing some actions. He also whispers into the human a love for laziness, postponing or procrastinating actions and thinking about what a long period of time one has for such and such action or work. Ibn al-Jauzi has written on this topic, stating, How many of the Jews or Christians have considered in their hearts love for Islam. But Iblees always hinders them. He says to them, "Do not be hasty. Look closer into the matter." And they postpone their conversion until they die as unbelievers. In the same way the one who is disobedient to Allah postpones his repentance. He sets his sights on his desires and he hopes he will repent later. But, as the poet said, "Do not rush to perform the sins you desire and think about the period of repentance beforehand." How many are determined to do something and then they postpone it. Perhaps a scholar is determined to return to his study. Satan says, "Rest for a while." Or a servant is alerted to the prayer at night and he says to him, "You have plenty of time." He will not stop making people love laziness and postponing of actions and he makes the person rely on hopes and dreams. It is necessary for the energetic person to take matters into his own hand and act upon his energy. The energetic finds the time to do things and does not procrastinate and he turns away from just dreaming. The one who has a real fear of Allah does not feel safe of punishment. The soul never stops in its dispute about evil and facing the good. But it always expects that it will have plenty of time to complete the good. One of the early scholars said, "Beware of procrastinating. It is the greatest of the soldiers of Satan." The serious, non-procrastinating person and the one who rests on his hopes and puts off working are like two who are passing through a city while journeying. The serious, energetic one buys his provisions early and waits for his traveling out of the city. The procrastinator says, "I will wait, as perhaps we will stay here a month," and continues to put off buying his provisions and preparing for his departure, until the last minute wherein he becomes rushed and mistake prone. This is how people are in this world. Some of them are prepared and alert. When the angel of death comes, he is not sorrowful. Others are deceived by thinking they can procrastinate and they will despair when the time to move on comes. It is part of one’s nature to love laziness and dreams but then Iblees comes and builds upon that. This makes it difficult to struggle against him in that matter. But the one who is alert knows that he is in the middle of a battle. He knows that his enemy does not rest. And if it seems that he is resting, it is actually just part of his strategy… Ibn al-Jauzi, Talbees Iblees, p. 458 Jazak Allah Khair Your sister in Islam Asifa |
| NS |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |