The Means That Aid in Humility in Prayer
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
One of the listening sisters, who indicated her name by the letters (N. S), says: How should I act so that my thoughts are focused while performing the prayer?
Answer: You must strive, you must strive to discipline yourself until you gather your heart and your mind in the prayer. If there are distractions, deal with them before the prayer. If there are household needs, deal with them before the prayer if you can, then devote yourself to the prayer with a present heart. If there is food present, eat the food that is present. If there is a present need that might disturb you, fulfill it... hand it over to those responsible, or fulfill it so that you come to the prayer in a state of humility and attentiveness. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 560a. A person observes that if he has food to eat, he eats his need. If he feels the urge to urinate or defecate, he relieves himself. If he has important work, he fulfills it while the time is ample, praise be to Allah, then he comes to the prayer with a present, humble, and attentive heart.
This is if it is a woman in the house or a sick person. But if it is a man, he must attend to the distractions he has, attending to them before the prayer, before the time, then he goes to the mosque and prays with the people with a present, humble heart. So the prayer is the pillar of Islam, and its command is great. And Allah the Exalted says: [Al-Mu'minun: 1-2], and the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 3940Hasan (Darussalam).
So it is obligatory for the man and the woman to attend to this matter. The man fulfills his needs before the prayer, before the adhan, so that he is free for the prayer, then he goes to the mosque. And the woman likewise attends to it; if the prayer time arrives and she is free, she is prepared for the prayer with a humble heart. And if an obstacle arises, she deals with it, as long as the time is ample, praise be to Allah. If food arrives, she eats the food. If the urge to urinate or defecate arrives, she hastens to relieve herself, then she performs wudu. If a guest comes to her, she greets him and fulfills his need, then she prays, as long as the time is ample, until she prays a regulated prayer, having turned to it with her heart, being present in it with her heart, and being humble in it for Allah. This is the believer, with tranquility and no haste and no tapping. A person bows and is tranquil, saying: Subhana Rabbi al-Azim, Subhana Rabbi al-Azim, Subhana Rabbi al-Azim, Subhanaka Allahumma Rabbana wa bihamdika Allahumma ighfir li. He does not hasten, then he raises his head and says:Muwatta Malik 3:17 if he is an imam or praying alone, and he is tranquil while raising his head. He straightens up and says: Mishkat al-Masabih 813, while he is tranquil and upright, placing his right hand over his left hand on his chest; this is the sunnah. And if he adds after that, he says: Sahih Muslim 477, so this is prescribed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do this sometimes. Then he prostrates and is tranquil in the prostration, saying: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1133Sahih (Darussalam) three times or more. The minimum of perfection is three, and if he increases to five or seven, it is better. And he supplicates in his prostration and says: Sahih al-Bukhari 4293, in the bowing and the prostration, Sahih Muslim 487a, Sunan an-Nasa'i 1049Sahih (Darussalam). All of this is said in the bowing and the prostration. But in the prostration, he supplicates additionally, saying: Sahih Muslim 483, O Allah, rectify my heart and my work. O Allah, grant me understanding in my religion. O Allah, forgive me, my parents, and the Muslims. And similar to this of supplications in his prostration. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 875Sahih (Al-Albani), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 876Sahih (Al-Albani) meaning: It is likely that it will be answered for you.
So the point of all this is that a person attends to the causes that aid him in humility before entering the prayer, so that he is present in it with his heart, and so that he is tranquil and humble to his Lord; because the prayer has a great status, and its essence and spirit is humility. May Allah grant everyone success and guidance. Yes.
Answer: You must strive, you must strive to discipline yourself until you gather your heart and your mind in the prayer. If there are distractions, deal with them before the prayer. If there are household needs, deal with them before the prayer if you can, then devote yourself to the prayer with a present heart. If there is food present, eat the food that is present. If there is a present need that might disturb you, fulfill it... hand it over to those responsible, or fulfill it so that you come to the prayer in a state of humility and attentiveness. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
No prayer can be (rightly said) when the food is there (before the worshipper), or when he is prompted by the call of nature.
لا صلاة بحضرة الطعام، ولا وهو يدافعه الأخبثانThis is if it is a woman in the house or a sick person. But if it is a man, he must attend to the distractions he has, attending to them before the prayer, before the time, then he goes to the mosque and prays with the people with a present, humble heart. So the prayer is the pillar of Islam, and its command is great. And Allah the Exalted says:
(1) Certainly will the believers have succeeded: (2) They who are during their prayer humbly submissive
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَmy comfort has been provided in prayer
جعلت قرة عيني في الصلاةSo it is obligatory for the man and the woman to attend to this matter. The man fulfills his needs before the prayer, before the adhan, so that he is free for the prayer, then he goes to the mosque. And the woman likewise attends to it; if the prayer time arrives and she is free, she is prepared for the prayer with a humble heart. And if an obstacle arises, she deals with it, as long as the time is ample, praise be to Allah. If food arrives, she eats the food. If the urge to urinate or defecate arrives, she hastens to relieve herself, then she performs wudu. If a guest comes to her, she greets him and fulfills his need, then she prays, as long as the time is ample, until she prays a regulated prayer, having turned to it with her heart, being present in it with her heart, and being humble in it for Allah. This is the believer, with tranquility and no haste and no tapping. A person bows and is tranquil, saying: Subhana Rabbi al-Azim, Subhana Rabbi al-Azim, Subhana Rabbi al-Azim, Subhanaka Allahumma Rabbana wa bihamdika Allahumma ighfir li. He does not hasten, then he raises his head and says:
Allah hears whoever praises him, our Lord and praise belongs to You.
سمع الله لمن حمده، ربنا ولك الحمدto Thee belongs praise in the whole of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and in whatever Thou createst afterwards
ربنا ولك الحمد حمداً كثيراً طيباً مباركاً فيه ملء السماوات وملء الأرض وملء ما بينهما وملء ما شئت من شيء بعدthou art worthy of praise and glory, most worthy of what a servant says, and we all are Thy servants, no one can withhold what Thou givest or give what Thou withholdest, and riches cannot avail a wealthy person against Thee.
أهل الثناء والمجد أحق ما قال العبد وكلنا لك عبد، اللهم لا مانع لما أعطيت ولا معطي لما منعت ولا ينفع ذا الجد منك الجدSubhan Rabbial-A'la, Subhan Rabbial-A'la, Subhan Rabbial-A'la (Glory be to my Lord Most High, Glory be to my Lord Most High, Glory be to my Lord Most High)
سبحان ربي الأعلى سبحان ربي الأعلى سبحان ربي الأعلىSubhanaka Allahumma Rabbanã wa bihamdika, Allãhumma ighfirli
سبحانك اللهم ربنا وبحمدك اللهم اغفر ليAll Glorious, All Holy, Lord of the Angels and the Spirit.
سبوح قدوس رب الملائكة والروحSubhana Dhil-jabaruti wal-malakuti wal-kibriya' wal-'azamah (Glory be to the One Who has all power, sovereignty, magnificence and might).
سبحان ذي الجبروت والملكوت والكبرياء والعظمةO Lord, forgive me all my sins, small and great, first and last, open and secret.
اللهم اغفر لي ذنبي كله دقه وجله وأوله وآخره وعلانيته وسرهThe nearest a servant come to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication often.
أقرب ما يكون العبد من ربه وهو ساجد فأكثروا الدعاءand as to prostration, make supplication with exertion in it, that is worthy of being accepted.
أما السجود فاجتهدوا في الدعاء فقمن أن يستجاب لكمSo the point of all this is that a person attends to the causes that aid him in humility before entering the prayer, so that he is present in it with his heart, and so that he is tranquil and humble to his Lord; because the prayer has a great status, and its essence and spirit is humility. May Allah grant everyone success and guidance. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.