Salat (prayers) are the most important way to worship Allah. In this act of worship, all our senses and your bodies are currently in the process of supplicating to Allah. During this act of worship some evil beings can interfere with your act of supplication.
Has it been difficult for you to focus on your prayer (Salat)? Do you often feel that you have made mistakes or become confused during Salat? Do you wonder during prayers if it’s your first cycle (rakat) or second? This means that Satan has successfully been distracting you from supplicating to Allah.
Sometimes, it can be our own mind that can distract us during prayers. It is important to have full concentration in our prayers because there might be a chance that your prayers can get rejected solely because of the absence of your mind. We’ve made this blog containing 3 important ways to perform Salat that might help you concentrate on your prayers and perform them even better:
Steps You Should Follow Before Prayers
- Identify elements that can disturb you during prayers and try to get rid of them. For example, if some kind of noise outside your house distracts you, instead of praying at home, go to a nearby mosque to perform them more easily.
- Know the meaning of prayers (Salat). You should make efforts to find out what each and every word that you recite during prayers means. Learn the words by your heart so that whenever you recite them during prayers, you can remind yourself of their meaning. This will keep you focused and help you concentrate better on your prayer.
- Try to pray together with fellow Muslims (pray in jama’ah) in the mosques. This will help you feel the sense of togetherness and unity with others. Praying together adds Barakah in prayers. You can talk to other Muslims on Islam and get a better understanding of it, helping you understand the meaning of Islam better.
- Try to pray in accordance with the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H).
- Disconnect yourself from the world for a few minutes. Calm yourself down and relax. Try to capture the calmness in your mind and then prepare it by thinking about your prayers (Salat).
- Try to get rid of any stress in your mind.
- Wear clean clothes before Salat.
- Decide what Surahs and Duas you will recite during prayers.
- In your mind, make the intention of praying only for the sake of Almighty Allah and to please Him. Concentrate on the nature of the prayer you are going to make. You will be able to concentrate better and will become more attentive if the intention in your mind is clear.
Steps You Should Follow During Prayers
- Always be disciplined during prayers. Stand upright for prayers. When you are about to start your prayer, think of it as something like your last prayer. Believe that Allah is watching you. Be silent and still as practically possible. Don’t keep your eyes closed. Look down straight to where your head will be placed when you prostrate (Sujood).
- Do not rush your prayers. Perform every cycle(rakat) of your prayers in a completely relaxed manner and make sure that you don’t forget anything and always say the verses properly. It is said in one of the Hadith that: “Hastiness is from Satan.”
- Remind yourself that during the prayers you’re offering, you’re meeting with Allah.
- Always pay attention to your recitation of the verses. Recite the verses softly without disturbing others (if you’re in a mosque).
- Whenever you feel lost during prayers, bring your mind back by reciting Ta’uz (Refuge to Allah from Satan):
- “Audhu billahi min-ash shaytanir rajim” Translation: (I seek Allah’s protection from Satan, the accursed).
Steps You Should Follow After Prayers
- After completing your prayers, take some time to evaluate your prayers and also engage in making Dhikr and making Duas. Figure out if the prayer has softened your heart or not.
- Beseech Allah sincerely to accept your prayers by Reciting: “Allahumma a ‘inni ‘ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husn ‘ibadatika” Translation: “O Allah, help me in remembering You, in thanking You and in worshipping You in the best way.”
- Do Dhikr as suggested by Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) such as: “Allahumma antas salamu wa minkas salamu wa ilaika yarji’us salam. Haiyina Rabbana bis salami tabarakta ya dhal jalaali wal ikram” and do Tasbeeh such as: Subhan Allah “Exalted is Allah” (33 times), Alhamdullilah “Praise to God” (33 times), Allahu Akbar “God is the Greatest” (34 times)
- Make it a regular practice to make Duas specially to seek refuge from hellfire, particularly after Fajr and Maghrib prayers.
- Send Durood and Salam to Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
- Make Du’a (supplications)as much as you can.
These vital steps and solutions can help you perform your prayers (Salat) and help you fully concentrate on your prayers.
