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How to maintain concentration in prayer

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How to maintain concentration in prayer
amatullah
05/26/03 at 12:49:00
Assalamu-Alaikum,

A reply from Islam Online Fatwa Section (http://www.islamonline.net/fatwaapplication/english/display.asp?hFatwaID=€01) on the question about "How to maintain concentration in prayer".  The Mufti Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi gives a very analytical and useful reply.

Yours sincerely,

Shah Abdul Hannan

Title   How to Maintain Concentration in Prayer  
Name    Maksud -Afghanistan
Question        As-Salamu `alaykum. Thank you very much for your wonderful service. I have an urgent question on which I need your proper answer, Insha’ Allah. I pray five times a day, but I can never keep my attention in prayers. My mind always seems to wonder, preoccupied with other things. It seems that Satan manages to get closer to me even when I am praying. I would really like to solve this problem. Do you think focusing on the meaning of what I recite in prayer would be a solution?  
Date    5/May/2003  
Mufti   Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi  
Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear brother in Islam, thank you very much for having confidence in us, and we hope our efforts, which are purely for Allah’s Sake, meet your expectations. We implore Allah, from the depth of our hearts, to help you attain tranquility and appease your heart, Amen.

In his response to the question, Dr. Muzzamil Siddiqi, former president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), issues the following Fatwa:

“May Allah bless you for your concern about your salah. We all should try to pay attention to our prayers and we should try to improve our prayers and to make them beautiful. The whole purpose of prayer is to remember Allah and to feel in His presence. In a famous hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "The ihsan (right and beautiful action) is to worship Allah as though you are seeing Him, and while you see Him not yet truly He sees you…" (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

The following things will help you, Insha’ Allah, keep your concentration while praying:

1. Intention should be in the heart. That is the real place of intention. Intend that you are praying to Allah Almighty and only for His sake. Focus on the nature of the prayer you are making. Is it an obligatory prayer or a supererogatory one? Are you praying Fajr, Zuhr, `Asr, Maghrib or `Isha’ and any other prayer? How many prayer units or rak`hs you intend to pray and whether you are praying alone or with the congregation? The clearer you are in your intention, the better will be your attention and concentration.

2. Perform your prayers on their appointed times without delay.

3. Perform your prayer according to the sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

4. Stand upright. Keep your eyes open and look at the place of your prostration or sujud while your are standing. In bowing or ruku` look at your feet, in sujud towards the floor and in the sitting position at your lap or your hands.

5. Do not play with your hands and do not rub your face, body or clothes. Be as quiet and still as possible.

6. Think yourself in the Presence of Allah and Allah is facing you.

7. Do not rush your prayers (i.e., to perform your prayers in haste). Rather, you ought to perform every part of your prayer with care and in a relaxed manner.

8. Recite the words carefully. Pay attention to what you are saying. You should learn the meaning of various supplications or du`a’s in prayer.

9. Implore Allah earnestly to help you in your prayers and to accept your prayers. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say, "Allahumma a`inni `ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husn `ibadatika (O Allah help me in remembering You, in thanking You and in worshipping You in the best way).”

10. Finally, remember that haram food, haram income and sins take away the joy and concentration in prayer. Keep yourself pure and clean as much as you can.”

May Allah guide you to the Straight Path, and direct you to that which pleases Him, Amen.

Allah Almighty knows best.


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