How to Focus and Attain Khushu' in Solat?
How to Focus and Attain Khushu' in Solat? Introduction What is khushu'? The Khaashi'oun in the Qur'an Benefits of khushu' in solat How to attain khushu' in solat? Some supplications of Rasulullah in his solat What if I can't focus? Conclusion Introduction Alhamdulillah; infinite thanks and praises are due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May His Peace and Blessings be upon the master of Khaashi'oun, Habibi Muhammad, his family members, companions and all those who follow their guided path, till the Day of Judgment. In my previous article, 'Why do I Find it Difficult to Pray?', we promised each other, that today, we will discuss and then share, trying to find out; how to focus and attain khushu' in solat. Before we proceed, it's important that we remember this: The previous article is about how to get on our feet and pray. Whether or not we focus in the solat and concentrate; that is what we are going to discuss in this article, insha Allah. Therefore, I assume that, you have read that article beforehand, and also, you have enough time for this 'another long' reading. So, what is 'khushu', in the first place? What is khushu'? شوع ُ ُخ, which literally means 'submissiveness' or „humbleness‟. Its verb is ََ شو َ ( َخkhasa'a), ِ ( ََخkhaashi') (in singular form) and اشو َعع َن ِ who practise and apply khushu') is ٌَ اشو ُ ََخ 'Khushu' is an Arabic word: and its subject is (those (khaashi'oun), (in plural form). The subject means the “humbly submissive”. Allah has described the humbly submissive (Khaashi'oun) in the Qur‟an as, those “who know for certain, that they will meet their Lord, and that they will return to Him.” [Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:46]. Allah has therefore used the term „khaashi'oun‟ to describe the true believers, „Al-Mu‟minoun‟, when He said: "Successful indeed are the believers; those who are during their solat, khaashi'oun (humbly submissive).” [Surah AlMu‟minoun, 23: 1-2]. Based on the above, I define 'khushu'' as “the state of observing Allah, showing humility in His Presence, and hoping for His Mercy and Favour”. In Qur‟anic context, „khushu‟‟ may involve one‟s body, sight, voice, and most importantly, his heart. When the heart submits and humbles, the entire body is likely to follow in humbleness and submissiveness. So, any feeling that leads to observing Allah and fearing Him is simply „khushu‟, and that should have some impacts on one‟s actions. This means, when we are not physically able to settle and be calm during solat; I‟m afraid, it‟s because our hearts are not in the state of khushu‟ yet. The 'Khaashi'oun' in the Qur'an There are several verses in the Qur'an, which indicate 'khushu' and 'khaashi'oun' (submissiveness and the submissive). I would like to present seven of them, with their English translation, and I leave it to you, to ponder upon them. How to Focus and Attain Khushu’ in Solat? | GSalam.Net |1 ِ َّ الصب ِرَو ِ َّ َ اش ِع ِ ِ َََر ِ ِْو َاجعُعن ََ َوأَنوَّ ُه ْمَإِلَْي ِو ََ ُمَم ََلق ُّ ينَيَظُنُّع َنَأَنوَّ ُه َ َوإِنوَّ َهاَلَ َكبِ َيرةٌَإََِّّل َ عَرََبِّ ِه ْم َ الص ََلة َ ْ َّ استَعينُعاَب َ َ ينَ*َالذ َ َعلَىَالْ َخ It means, "And seek help through patience and solat, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]. Who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him." [Al-Baqarah, 2:44-45]. ِ ِ ِ ِ ِ وإِ َّن َِمنَأ َْى ِلَال ِ اش ِعينَلِلَّ ِوو َََّلَي ْشتَورو َنَبِآي ِ ِ َْكت َكَلَ ُه ْم َ ِاتَاللَّ ِووَثَ َمنًاَقَلِ ًيَلَأُولَوٰئ َ ُ َ ْ َ َ َوَماَأُن ِز َلَإِلَْي ُك ْم َ ابَلَ َمنَيوُ ْؤم ُنَباللَّوو َ َوَماَأُن ِز َلَإلَْي ِه َْمَ َخ ِ ِ َّ ِ َ َجرُى ْمَعن َد َِ س اب َ َربِّ ِه ْمَإ َّنَالل َووََ َس ِري َُالْح ُْ أ It means, "And indeed, among the People of the Scripture are those who believe in Allah and what was revealed to you and what was revealed to them, [being] humbly submissive to Allah. They do not exchange the verses of Allah for a small price. Those will have their reward with their Lord. Indeed, Allah is swift in account." [Surah Aali Imran, 3:199]. ِ ِ ِ َ َاتَوي ْدعُعنَونَاَرغَباَورَىباَوَكاَنُعاَلَن ِ ِ َين َ َ سا ِرعُع َنَفيَالْ َخ ْيو َر َ اَخاشع َ ُإنوَّ َُه ْمَ َكانُعاَي َ ً ََ ً َ It means, " Indeed, they (Zakaria a.s. and his family) used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive." [Surah Al-Anbiyaa, 21:90]. ِ َخ ِ َ قَ ْدَأَفْولَحَالْم ْؤِمنُع َن * الَّ ِذين َاشعُعن َ يَص ََلتِ ِه ْم ُ َ َ َى ْمَف ُ َ It means, " Successful indeed are the believers; those who are during their solat, khaashi'oun (humbly submissive)." [Surah Al-Mu'moun, 23:1-2]. ِ َّ اتَو ِ الصابِر ِ ِ َّ ادقِينَو ِ ِ اتَوالْ َقانِتِين ِ ِ ِ ِ ِِ ِِ ِ َّ اتَو ِ َات َ ين َ َالصادق َ َ الص َ ََوالْ َقانت ََ َ ََوال ُْم ْؤمن َ ين َ َوال ُْم ْسل َمات َ ين َ الصاب ِر َ َوال ُْم ْؤمن َ إ ََّنَال ُْم ْسلم َ َّ َو ِ َّ اتَو ِ َاتَوالْمت ِِ ِ ِ اتَوالْحافِ ِظينَفُوروجهمَوال ِ ِ ََّ الصائِ ِمينَو ِ ِ ِ َََينَاللَّوو َ ََوال ُْمت َ ُ َ َوالْ َخاش َع َ َ ْ ُ َ ُ َ َ َ الصائ َم َ َْحافظ َ َ َّ َو َ ص ِّدقَات َ ين َ ين َ الذاك ِر َ صدِّق َ َوالْ َخاشع ِ َ مَمغْ ِفَرًةَوأَجر ِ الذاكِر َّ َ اتَأ َّ َ َكثِير يما ً اَعظ ً ْ َ َ َّ َع َّدَاللووَُلَ ُه َ اَو ً It means, "Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward." [Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:35]. ِ َ ىَاْلَرض ََعلَ ٰىَ ُك ِّلَ َش ْي ٍء َْ تَإِ َّنَالَّ ِذيَأ ْ َاىتَو َّز ْ ََوَرب َ ََّوِم ْنَآيَاتِِوَأَن ْ اء َ ُاىاَلَ ُم ْحيِيَال َْم ْعتَ ٰىَإِنَّو َ ََنزلْن َ ََحي َ ْ ْ كَتَو َر َ َخاش َعةًَفَِإ َذاَأ َت َ اَعلَْيو َهاَال َْم ٌَ قَ ِد ير It means, "And of His signs is that you see the earth stilled, but when We send down upon it rain, it quivers and grows. Indeed, He who has given it life is the Giver of Life to the dead. Indeed, He is over all things competent." [Surah Fussilat, 41:39]. ِ ِ َ اَمن ِ ض ِربوُ َهاَلِلن ََّاسَلَََعلَّ ُه ْمَيَوتَو َف َّك ُرون ُ ََاْل َْمث ْ ْك ُّ َخا ِش ًع ْ َالَن َ َوتِل َ َُجبَ ٍلَلََّرأَيْوتَو ً صد َ اَىوٰ َذاَالْ ُق ْرآ َن َ ََنزلْن َ لَ ْعَأ َ َاَمت ْ ِّ ِّع َ َعلَ ٰى َ َخ ْشيَةَاللَّوو It means, "If We had sent down this Qur'an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah. And these examples We present to the people that perhaps they will give thought." [Surah Al-Hashr, 59:21]. Benefits of khushu' in solat These are some of the benefits of performing solat with focus and humbly submissiveness: Solat with „khushu‟ grants success and survival. Success towards the pleasure of Allah, and survival from the Hell Fire. ِ َخ ِ َ قَ ْدَأَفْولَحَالْم ْؤِمنُع َن * الَّ ِذين َاشعُعن َ يَص ََلتِ ِه ْم ُ َ َ َى ْمَف ُ َ How to Focus and Attain Khushu’ in Solat? | GSalam.Net |2 It means, " Successful indeed are the believers; those who are during their solat, khaashi'oun (humbly submissive)." [Surah Al-Mu'moun, 23:1-2]. A focused solat, I mean solat, which is performed with full consciousness and attention, total submission and humbleness, prevents one from mischief and evil doing. Allah will never say it wrong! ِ َ َالص ََل َةَتَو ْنوهىَع ِنَالْ َفح ََوال ُْمن َك ِر َّ َإِ َّن،َالص ََل َة َّ َوأَقِ ِم َ َٰ ْ َ شاء It means, "... and establish solat. Indeed, solat prohibits immorality and wrongdoing..." [Al-Ankabout, 29:45]. A solat performed with khushu' ensures and guarantees us forgiveness for our sins, till the next solat. Imam Muslim related a Hadeeth in which Rasulullah s.a.w. said: َعب َِ ُالذَن َُّ َاَم ََن َِ تََ َك ََّف ََارةًَََلِ ََماَقَو ْبَولَ ََه ََ اَوَُرَُك ََ ش َُ اَو َُخ ََ عء ََى ََ ض َُ س َُنَ َُو َِ ح َْ ُعبََةٌَفَوَي َ ُصَل َةٌَ ََم َْكَت ََ َُضَُرَه َُ ح َْ َسَلِ ٍَمَت َْ ئَ َُم ٍَ اَم َِنَ َْامَِر َِ ََم ْ َََإَِّلَََّ َكاَن،عع ََها َ عع ََه ََّ َك ََ َِوذََل، ََ ٌتََ َكَبِ ََيرَة َ ََماَلَ َْمَتَُو َْؤ ُالد َْى َرََ َُكَلَّ َو It means, "No Muslim who witnesses solat, and he masters the wudhu' for it, and focuses (applies khushu') in it, unless it has become 'kaffarah' (it expiates) all his sins that have come to pass before that solat, as long as he does not commit great sin (kabair). This is applicable for all time.” One's reward from any solat, is according to the amount of khushu' applied in. Rasulullah says in a Hadeeth narrated by Imam Ahmad: ص َُف ََها َْ َِن،ا َ َثَُوَلُثَُو ََه،َربَُو َعُ ََها،ا َُ َخ َُم،ا َُ َس َُد َُس ََه،ا َُ َسبَُو َعُ ََه،ا َُ ََثُ َُمنَُو ََه،س َعُ ََها َُ ََُت،شَُرََىا َُ ُبَلََوَُ َِم ْنَو ََهاََإِ ََّلََّ َع َُ َيَالصَل َةَ ََماَيُ َْكَت ََّ ِّصَل ََ ُالعَْب َدَلََي ََ ََإِ ََّن َُ س ََه It means, "A slave may pray, but none of its rewards is written, except one-tenth of it, or one-ninth of it, or oneeighth of it, or one-seventh of it, or one-sixth of it, or one-fifth of it, or a quarter of it, or one-third of it, or a half of it." When one performs a focused solat, they develop good feeling of tranquillity, without realizing the source and cause of that good feeling of tranquility. This is why Rasulullah used to ask to Billal, r.a. to call for solat, so they can get that good feeling from it. How to attain khushu' in Solat? Here is an attempt to suggest some tips and ways which we can observe and practise, as possible, in the hope to achieve khushu' in our solat, insha Allah: Remember why you are standing for solat: It‟s important for anyone who stands to perform solat, to ِ َ ىَالصو remember that, we stand for solat, in a response to “ح َِ َل َ َحو ََّيَ ََعلَوىَال َفو، َّ ” َحو ََّيَ ََعلَو, which simply means, َ َل َة “Come for solat.. Come to success”. No success without effort been put in, to focus. Once you have decided to respond to the call, then consider praying on time; Pray on time, as possible: Avoid delaying your solat. Performing solat on time will help in one of the following: 1. One is likely to perform his solat at peace of mind. 2. One is likely to perform some 'nawafil' before the fardh, itself. 3. The chance is that, one will spend some extra five minutes with Allah after 'Assalamu alaikum'. To pray on time, let's go and get ready; Get ready; prepare yourself for solat, and go to the mosque, early: Proper opening leads to focused content, and eventually, satisfying ending, insha Allah. How to start appropriately if we are not prepared? How to Focus and Attain Khushu’ in Solat? | GSalam.Net |3 Go and eat, if you are hungry. Hunger will distract you from your solat, especially, if your meal is ready, and you are getting tempted by its aroma. If you need to go to the gents or to the ladies (lavatory) accordingly, please do so. Take ablution for any other solat: This way, you are preparing your mind (yourself) for the solat. Having this in mind will also help you to prepare for the solat, earlier. When taking wudhu, it's important, to perform it with attention and care. As you take wudhu, imagine; a day will come that you won't be able to perform wudhu for yourself, but someone else will be doing it, on you, for you. Someone, whom you might have never imagine them to be able to put their hand on you (your body). As you wash your face (attentively), supplicate to Allah to grant you brightness in your face, in this life and in the next. As you wash your right hand, imagine the day your record book of deeds will be handed to you; ask Allah to make you among those receiving theirs with their right hands. As you wash your left hand, seek refuge in Allah, from collecting your record book of deeds with your left hand. As you wipe your head, ask Allah to forbid the Hell Fire on your hair and flesh. When washing (wiping) your ears, seek from Allah to make you among those who listen and accept the truth. Upon washing your feet, beg Allah to help you cross the 'sirat' with ease. This way, your wudhu' becomes full of self-reflection and supplications. A good start for a perfect solat, insha Allah! Imam Al-Nawawi mentioned in his book, Al-Azkar, that some righteous 'Salaf' used to reflect when taking 'wudhu', as mentioned above. After your successful wudhu, it's time to experience „the perfect solat'. To do that, consider leaving the Dunia at the entrance of the mosque. So; Switch off from ‘Dunia mode’ into ‘Akhirah mode’: Mosques are built to isolate us from the worldly life when we enter our solat. In order to be in true solat, we need to leave the worldly life behind, at the entrance of the mosque. To remind us of the importance of leaving the Dunia behind us, when entering the mosque, Rasulullah taught would say when he enters the mosque: ِ َوس ْلطَانِِوَال َق ِد ِيم،َوبِعج ِه ِوَال َك ِر ِيم،اهللَالع ِظ ِيم ِ ََالشَْيط ِ ِ ِ َعلَىَر ُس ِ َِ َالرِج َّ َم َن، َعل َّ َو، َّ َو َّ ان ََْ ُ الس َ ِأَعُعذَُب َُ َ َ َلم َ ُالصَلة َ َب ْس ِمَاهلل.يم ِ ِ ََ َِر ْح َمت ك َ َاللَّ ُه َّمَافْوتَ ْحَليَأَبْو َع،اهلل َ اب It means, “I seek refuge in Allah, the Supreme; in His Noble Face; in His eternal authority, from the accursed devil. In the name of Allah. May His Peace and Blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, open the doors of Your Mercy for me.” And he, s.a.w., would enter the mosque with his blessed right leg, first. If you want to totally switch from 'Dunia mode' into 'Akhirah mode', consider switching off your mobile phone. Switch off your phone! Proper opening leads to focused content and eventually satisfying ending, insha Allah. How to start appropriately if we are not prepared? How do we get prepared with our phones switched on? I didn't say put your phone on 'silent mode' or on 'airplane mode'! However, there‟s difference between putting our phones on „silent mode‟ and putting them on „airplane mode‟. If you put your phone on silent mode, you can do with it, anything a phone does, only that, it won‟t ring loud when there‟s an incoming call, SMS, or a reminder (alarm). But with airplane mode, you are disconnected from the cellular network coverage. So you won‟t be able to make or receive calls, nor use the internet; also, there will be no facebooking or tweetering, until you deactivate the „airplane mode‟ function again. To really focus in solat, one must learn to switch off their phone. Only put it on 'airplane mode' if you are certain that you won't be triggered to play the games, installed in it. What if your phone accidentally rings? Take it out of your pocket, and turn it off. If we can kill snake during solat (that's if you are brave enough to kill a snake :) ), open the door during solat (if the need arises while we How to Focus and Attain Khushu’ in Solat? | GSalam.Net |4 are in solat), carry babies in solat, then I don‟t see why one can‟t take out their phone from their pocket and turn it off, especially that, the ringtone may be an undesired music, that can distract the entire mosque. Enter the mosque with your status in the sight of Allah: Leave your social status at the entrance of the mosque. This is to ensure that we present our humility before The Master, Allah, s.w.t. And anyone who enters the mosque with their status in the sight of their fellow men, they are unlikely to focus in their solat. If you are popular or respected, and anyone happens to recognize you in the mosque and extent to you their respect, for your status, you may not reject it, but don't forget who you are; in the sight of Allah, as you are in the mosque, His House ِ ِ ِ ِ َنَالْم َح ًدا َ عاَم َ َاللَّووَأ َ ُساج َدَللَّووَفَ ََلَتَ ْدع َ َ َّ َوأ It means, “And the mosques are for Allah (Alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allah.” [Surah Al-Jinn, 72:18]. ِ َّ ِإِنَ ُك ُّلَمنَف ِ َو ْاْل َْر يَالر ْح َمَوٰ َِنَ َع ْب ًَدا َّ ِضَإََِّّلَآت َ َ يَالس َم َاوات It means, “There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful (Allah) as a servant”. [Surah Maryam, 19:93]. Don't buy and sell in the mosque: One of the common things we see and do today is how man can‟t get enough of Dunia. Every opportunity will be seized for sales and trading, let alone direct and indirect promotions. Even in the mosque! No wonder Rasulullah cursed those who trade in the mosque. This is because, it's not only that those who do that don't pray with focus; they also distract others, from doing so. Al-Tirmizhi related a Hadeeth that was narrated by Abu Hurairah r.a., in which Rasulullah, s.a.w. said: َك ََ ج ََارَت ََ ِاهللََُت َ َح ََ ََ ََّلَأََْرَب:َفَو َُقعَلُعا،ج َِد َِ س َْ يَالم ََ اَرأَيَْوَتُ َْمَ ََم َْنََيََبِي ََُأَ َْوَيََوَْبَتَا ََُ َِف ََ ََإِذ It means, "If you see anyone selling or buying in the mosque, say to him: May Allah not earn your trade profit." In other words, Rasulullah is telling us, “not to buy from anyone doing commercial business in the mosque. However, legal fund raising for genuine charity is not included in the above mentioned. Warm-up before the fardh itself: We warm-up with nawafil, du'a or recitation of Al-Qur'an or zikr: If we look into the five times daily minimum solat prescribed for a Muslim, we find that, Rasulullah has encouraged his Ummah to observe the optional prayers (nawafil) before and after the obligatory ones. This is to help us warmup, so to better focus in the real (obligatory) solat. In other words, engage yourself with solat (nawafil), recitation of Al-Qur‟an, memorization of your 3 lines of Al-Qur‟an a day, or recite your du‟as as well as other ibadah(s) including self-reflection. You may do any of that, or all combined, before the obligatory solat itself. Jabir r.a. narrated a Hadeeth which was authenticated by Imam Al-Bukhari, that Rasulullah said: ًََ ََوابَْو ََعَثْ َوَُ ََم َقامَا،ضيلَ َِة َِ الع َِسيلَةََ ََوال َف ََ ًَح ََّمدَا ََ آتَ َُم َِ َالصَلََةَِال َق َائِ ََم َِة ََّ ام َِةَ ََو ََّ َّالد َْع ََعَةَِالَت ََّ َبَ ََى َِذ َِه ََّ اءَ"الَلَّ َُه ََّمَََر ََ س ََم ََُالَنِّ َد َْ َينََي ََ ََم َْنَقَالَََ َِح ام َِة ََ َالقَي َِ َاعَتِيَيََو َْعََم ََ تَلََوَُ َش َف َْ ََّ ََحَل،"ُيَو ََعدَتََّو ََ ح َُمعدَاًَاَلَّ َِذ َْ ََم It mean, “Whoever says when he hears the call to solat (what means): „O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and the prayer to be offered, grant Muhammad the privilege (of intercession) and also the eminence, and resurrect him to the praised position that You have promised him),‟ my intercession for him will be permitted on the Day of Resurrection.” Rasulullah also said in a Hadeeth which was narrated by Anas r.a., and related by Al-Tirmizhi: ام َِةََفا َْد َعُعا ََ انَ ََوا َِلَق َِ اءَ ََّلَيَُوََرَُّدَبََوَْي ََنَاْلَ َذ ََ الد ََع َُّ ََإِ ََّن How to Focus and Attain Khushu’ in Solat? | GSalam.Net |5 It means “Du‟a is not rejected between azhan and iqaamah, so make du‟a". Hasan Al-Basri said, “Congratulations to you O Son of Adam (Muslim)! If you want to talk to Allah, stand for solat. And if you want Allah to talk to you, read Al-Qur‟an” Choose plain prayer mat over colourfully designed: Plain 'sajjadah' (prayer mat) will definitely less distract you, in your solat. Similarly, mosques with fewer decorations and with plain prayer mats send more tranquility in the souls of their visitors. Not only that over decorated mosques may look like churches and temples more than they look like mosques, it's also not permissible, in Islam, for us to excessively decorate our places of prayers. Now, it's time for real solat; Perform your last prayer: Assume this solat to be your last. The possibility is there, no doubt; the fact that no one knows, when death will come to them. So, assume yourself, performing your last prayer, anytime you stand to pray. Imagine this: You are aboard of an airplane, in a location, all you can see is either the sky above you or the ocean beneath you. Suddenly, the captain announces engine failure. The chance for survival is 25%. However, passengers (and you are one of them) have 15 minutes left. So, say your final prayers, or say your last 'good bye' to your relatives or write your last words. You choose to spend your last 15 minutes (based on the current situation) to perform a final two raka'ah to Allah, s.w.t. And within yourself, you have hope that, this solat of yours, although it may be the last, it may also be the cause for the survival of the entire airplane. How would perform that solat? Slow down in your speed of reading and movement: Slow reading, including in Ramadhan; slow movement from state to state helps a lot, in focusing and attaining khushu'. Obviously, one should not say his takbeer, go to ruku' or sujud before the imam, or together with the Imam. Every movement is expected to be after the imam says "... Akbar". With regards to this, Imam Al-Ghazali said, "As the submissiveness of the heart has impact on the other parts of the body parts, the other parts of the body, too, have impact on the heart" Visualize what you read and supplicate: Visualize the written words of the verses you are reading in your solat. The same thing applies to the words of the 'azkar' we supplicate in solat. This is applicable if you don't understand the words you are reading. If you do understand, then why don't we consider internalizing them? Set your sight to your point of sujud: Ensure you focus your sight to the point on which you do your sujud, as you visualize what you read and supplicate, or as you internalize. Close your eyes, if that will help you to focus: Please... only do this, if the immediate tip above didn‟t help. Don’t wander and turn around unnecessarily in solat: Obviously, if you are able to apply all the above, it may be a bit difficult for one to keep roaming with their eyes, in solat, for whatever the reason may be. However, Iblis will try any other possibilities to distract you from your solat. Your body may be still, your heartbeat may be slow and normal, all that, while your mind is in a serious brainstorming. So beware! If you don’t see Allah, Allah sees you: Whether or not we know, Allah is observing us, as we pray, because we are His audience, and we are in communication with Him. If your supervisor or boss was to inspect your solat (not your job); I wonder; how you would deliver or perform it. What more, if Allah Himself is the Observer Who is observing your job and your solat together?! Some supplications of Rasulullah in his solat Below is some of what Rasulullah s.a.w. said and supplicated in his solat. No doubt, the most focused solat is that of Rasulullah s.a.w. And, no matter how one's solat can be focused and concentrated, it bows before that of Rasulullah s.a.w. Therefore, let's reflect on what he said, perhaps we may be able to develop some good habits from his spirit, the fact that a teacher doesn't only transfer their knowledge to their students, but their spirits, too. How to Focus and Attain Khushu’ in Solat? | GSalam.Net |6 In the opening (Istiftah) Proper opening leads to focused content and eventually, satisfying ending, insha Allah. How to start appropriately if we are not prepared? How do we get prepared with our phones switched on? If this is the case, how to be calm and humble before Allah, s.w.t.? If we ponder upon what Rasulullah used to say, immediately after saying "Allahu Akbar", we find concentration in presenting one's self, as an audience before the Lord, Allah, s.w.t. Before we say „Allahu Akbar‟, which means, „Allah is the Greatest‟ to enter into our solat, let‟s remember that we have switched from „Dunia mode‟ into „Akhirah mode‟ before setting our feet into the mosque. So when we say „Allahu Akbar; Allah is the Greatest‟, we should mean by that, that Allah is, indeed, the Greatest, and above anything else in the Dunia, which we have left behind, at the entrance of the mosque. If this is realized, truly, it‟s going to be difficult to get distracted, so easily. Imagine; when we say Allahu Akbar, we raise our hands, with our palms facing the Qiblah, and our „dorsal hands‟ (back of our hands) facing the opposite direction to the Qiblah. By doing that, we are, once again, throwing the Dunia behind us, after we have left it at the entrance earlier on, to have a special one-to-one session, with the Mejesty Lord, Allah, s.w.t. One can recite only one of the following. However, if you are praying alone, or the „jama‟ah‟ which you may be leading agrees for you to read longer, then you may combine some or all of them: ِ َاهللَب ْكرةًَوأ ِ ِ ِِ ِ .ًَل َ َصي َ َو، َ َ ُ َو ُس ْب َحا َن، َ ًالح ْم ُدَللَّوَ َكثيرا َ ًاهللَُأَ ْكبَو ُرَ َكبيرا It means, "Allah is Most Great. Much praise is for Allah. And I declare the perfection of Allah in the early morning and in the late afternoon". ِ ِ كَاللَّ َه َّم َ.َوَّلََإِلَوََغَْيو ُر ََك، َ َاس ُم ْ َوتَوبَ َار َك، َ ََوتَو َعال، َ ىَج ُّد َك َ ك َ َوب َح ْمد َك َ ُ َ َُس ْب َحان It means, "How perfect You are, O Allah, and I praise You. Blessed be Your name, and lofty is Your position and none has the right to be worshiped except You." ِ ِ ًاتَواْلَرضَحنِيفا ِِ ِ ِ َُإِ َّنَصَلَتِيَون.ين ِ َّ تَو َج ِهيَلِلَّ ِذيَفَطَر َب َْ يَوَم ََ َِالم ْش ِرك ِّ َر َ ُ َ َ ْ َ َالس َم َاو َ َوَم َماتيَللَّو َ اي َ سك ُ َوَماَأَنَاَم َن َ ًَم ْسلما َ َحَي ُ َ َ َ ْ َ ُ َو َّج ْه ِ ت ِ َ ِيكَلَوَوبِ َذل .ين ََ َالم ْس ِل ِم ََ العالَ ِم َ ُ َوأَنَاَم َن َ ُ كَأُم ْر َ ُ َ ََّلََ َش ِر.ين ِ ِ ِ ُ َظَلَم،اَعب ُد َك ََفَِإنَّوََُّلََيَو ْغ ِف ُر،ًيَج ِميعا ََ ْاللَّ ُه َّمَأَن ُ ِالمل ُ ْيَوا ْعتَو َرف َ َْأَن،ت َ ََّْلََإِلَوََإَِّلََّأَن،ك ْ َ َيَوأَن ْ َ َِفَا ْغف ْرَليَ َذُنُعب،تَبِ َذنْبِي َ تَنَو ْفس َ َِّرب َت َ َت ِ ِ ِ ِ ُّ ََِّّيَسيِّئَو َهاَإَِّل ََ َْح َسنِ َهاََإَِّلَّ َأَن ْ اص ِر ُ ص ِر َ ْعب َإَِّلَّ َأَن َ ف َ ف ْ َََّلَ َي،ِّيَسيِّئَو َها ْ َ َو.ت ْ ََّلَ َيَو ْهديَْل،س ِن َاْلَ ْخَلَ ِق ْ َو ْاىدنِيَْل، َ ُالذن َ َعن َ َعن َ ت َ َح ِ َأ،ت َّ َو، .ك ََ عبَإَلَْي ََ ْأَن َ َوإِلَْي َ َِأَنَاَب،ك َ سَإِلَْي َ َْوال َخ ْيو ُرَ ُكلُّوَُفِيَيَ َدي، َ َْو َس ْع َدي َ َلَبَّو ْي.ت َ َتَوبَ َارْك،ك ْ َ َوتَو ََعالَْي ُ َُوأَت َ َستَوغْف ُر َك َت َك َ ك َ ك َك َ الش ُّرَلَْي It means, "I have turned my face sincerely, towards He, who has brought forth the heavens and the Earth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah. Indeed my solat (prayer), my sacrifice, my life and my death are for Allah, Lord of the worlds, no partner has He, with this; I am commanded and I am of the Muslims. O Allah, You are the Sovereign, none has the right to be worshiped except You. You are my Lord, and I am Your servant. I have wronged my own soul, and have acknowledged my sins, so forgive me all my sins, for no one forgives sins except You. Guide me to the best of characters, for none can guide to it other than You, and deliver me from worst of characters, for none can deliver me from it other than You. Here I am, in answer to Your call, happy to serve You. All good is within Your hands, and evil does not stem from You. I exist by Your will, and will return to You. Blessed and High are You, I seek Your forgiveness and repent unto You." So, after you have said some or all of the above, with full focus, you are set to be in sweetness of solat, insha Allah! Al-Fatihah Abu Hurairah narrated a Hadeeth authenticated by Imam Muslim that he heard Rasulullah saying: How to Focus and Attain Khushu’ in Solat? | GSalam.Net |7 ََََقَوال،"ين ََ العواَل َِم َِّ الح ْمو َُدََلِلَّو َِوَََر ََ "َالع ْبو َُد ََ ََََفَوَِإ َذاَقَوال."ََاَسوأَل ََ َ ََوَلََِعَْب َِد،ص َفَْي َِن َْ ِيَن َ يَوبََوَْي ََنَ ََعَْب َِد ََ َِل َةَبََوَْيَن َ الص ََّ َت َُ س َْم ََ َ"َق:اهللَُتَو ََعاَلى َ ََََقال َ َب َ يَم َ،"كَيَو َْعَِمَال َِّودي َِن َِ َ ََوَإِذَاَقَوالَََ" ََمالِو."َع ْبو َِدي ََ ىَعلَو َّي ََ َ"أَثَْونَو:َقَوالَََاللَّو َوَُتَو َعوالَى،"يم َِ الر َْح ََم َِنَال ََّورَِح ََ َِ" ََح َِم َدَن:الَلََّوَُتَو ََعالَى ََّ "ََََ ََوَإِذَاَقَال."يَعَبَ َِدي َ،يَوبَوَْي ََنَ ََع ْبو َِدي ََ َ" َىو َذاَبََوَْينِو:َََقَوال،"ين َُ اكََنَ ْسوَتَ َِع ََ اكَنَو َْعبُو َُدَ ََوَإِيَّو ََ َفَوَِإذَاَقَوالَََ"َإِيَّو."َعَْب َِدي ََ إلي ََ َ"فَو َّع:ًَيَعَْب َِدي"َ–َ ََوقَالَََ ََمََّرة ََ َِ" ََم َّج َدَن:ََقَال َّ َض َّ ََعبَ ََعلَوَْي َِه َْمَ ََوَّل َ:َََقَوال،"ين ََ ِّالضواَل َِ ضو ََ َتَ ََعلََْي َِه َْمَغَْيو َِر ََ ينَأَنَْو ََع َْم ََ طَاَلَّ َِذ َ صََرا َِ َ.يم ََ سَتَ َِق َْ الم َُ َط َ اَالصََرا َِّ ََفََِإذَاَقَالَََ"َاِ َْى َِدَن."ََاَسأَل ََ يَم ََ ََوَلََِعَْب َِد ُ ْالم َغ ."ََاَسأَل ََ يَم ََ يَوَلََِعَْب َِد ََ اَلََِعَْب َِد َ ََى َذ It means, "Allah said: “I have divided solat between Myself and My slave into two halves, and My slave shall have what he asks for.” When the slave says: “Al-hamdu lillahi rabbi l-alamin (All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Lord of the worlds”, Allah says: „My slave has praised Me.‟ And when he says: “Ar-Rahmaan ir-Raheem (The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful), Allah (mighty and sublime be He)” says: „My slave has extolled Me.‟ When he says: “Maaliki yawm id-deen (The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Resurrection)”, Allah says: „My slave has glorified Me‟ - and on one occasion He said: „My slave has submitted to My power.‟ And when he says: “Iyyaaka na‟budu wa iyyaaka nasta‟een (You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help)”, He says: „This is between Me and My slave, and My slave shall have what he is asking for.‟ And when he says: “Ihdina‟s-siraata‟l- mustaqeem, siraat alladheena an‟amta alayhim ghayril-maghdoobi alayhim wa la‟ d-daalleen (Guide us to the Straight Way. The way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray)”, He says: „This is for My slave, and My slave shall have what he has asked for.‟” If this „frequently recited‟, yet unique conversation takes place with concentration, when Allah responds to us and says "This is for My slave, and My slave has what he has asks for", this means that; we are granted hidayah; a guide to the right path; the path of those whom Allah has bestowed His Grace. Moreover, we are protected from been on the path of those who earned His anger or has gone astray. Again, Allah will never say it wrong! َاءَ َوال ُْمن َك ِر َِ ش َّ َإِ َّن،َالص ََل َة َّ َوأَقِ ِم َ َالص ََل َةَتَو ْنو َه َٰىَ َع َِنَالْ َف ْح It means, "... and establish solat. Indeed, solat prohibits immorality and wrongdoing." [Al-Ankabout, 29:45]. Isn't this, exactly, what you just asked for? It's achievable, then, but with focus! While Bowing (In the state o f ruku') While bowing or being in the state of „ruku‟, Rasulullah would stretch his blessed back, leveling his blessed head with his blessed back; and his blessed hands straight to his blessed knees, in the way that, even if water was to be poured on his blessed back, it will stay. In other words he forms an angle of 90 degrees, while in the state of „ruku‟. Then he would supplicate with either of the following or all combined according to different situations. It means, "How Perfect my Lord is, The Supreme." ََالع ِظ ِيم َ َربِّ َي َ ُس ْب َحا َن ِ ِ .وح َِ الر ُّ َر ُّ َو ٌ ُُّسب ٌ عحَقُ ُّد َ َالمَلَئ َكة َ ب َ وس It means, "Perfect and Holy (He is), Lord of the angels and the soul (Rouh, i.e. Jibril). .َاللَّ ُه َّمَا ْغ ِف ْرلِي.اَوبِ َح ْم ِد ََك َ َُس ْب َحان َ ََربوَّن َ كَالَلَّ ُه َّم It means, "How Perfect You are, our Lord, and I praise You. O Allah, forgive me". How to Focus and Attain Khushu’ in Solat? | GSalam.Net |8 ِِ ِ ِ ْ َّك َسم ِعي َوبص ِري َومخِّي َو َعظ ِْمي وما َاستََو َقل َب َُ َسلَ ْم ِّ َر َ َ َخ.ت َ ََول َ َِوب َ َاللَّ ُه َّم َل ُ َآم ْن ُ َرَك ْع ْ ََ ْ ك َأ َ ك َ ت َبو َقَ َد َم َّي َللَّو َ ُ َ َ َ َ ْ َ َ َش َ َل َ ،ت َ ،ت َ ك .ين ََ العالَ ِم َ It means, "O Allah, unto You I have bowed, and in You I have believed, and to You I have submitted. My hearing, sight, mind, bones, tendons and what my feet carry are humbled before You." When rising up from ruku’ Most of us, we rise up from our ruku‟ to take some rest, but we don‟t really take a rest, because we are mostly in hurry and have no focus. For Rasulullah, s.a.w. he would rise up, back to his normal position; to allow every part of his blessed body to go back to their normal positions. He would then, say the following; with concentration: ِ ِ .َُح ِم َد َه َ َسم َ َاهللَُل َم ْن It means, "May Allah answer he, who praises Him." ِ ات ِ ِِ ِ َوِملء َم،ض َوِملء َماَبويونََوهما ِ َّ َملء، ِ َ.ت َِم ْن َ َش ْي ٍء َبَو ْع َُد َ ََربوَّنَاَل َ اَش ْئ َ ك َ َ ْ َ َ ُ ْ َ َ َ ْ َ ِ َوم ْل َء َاْل َْر ُ ًَح ْمداًَ َكثيراًَطَيِّبا، َ َالح ْم ُد َ َالس َم َاو َ ْ َمبَ َاركاًَفيو ِ َىل َالثوَّنَ ِاء َو َك َِ َم ْع ِط َي َ ََُّماَق َ اَالج ِّد َِم ْن َ ََوُكلُّنَاَل، َ َمنَو ْع َ َمانِ َ َلِ َماَأَ ْعطَْي َ ك َ ال َ ََوَّلََيَو ْنو َف َذ، َ ََلما ُ ََوَّل، َ َََّل،َع ْب ٌد َ َحق َ َأ،الم ْجد َ ت َ ت َ َ َ َالع ْب ُد َ َْ أ .الج َُّد َ It means, "Our Lord, for You is all praise, an abundant beautiful blessed praise. The heavens and the Earth and all between them abound with Your praises, and all that You will abounds with Your praises. O Possessor of praise and majesty, the truest thing a slave has said (of You) and we are all Your slaves. O Allah, none can prevent what You have willed to bestow and none can bestow what You have willed to prevent, and no wealth or majesty can benefit anyone, as from You is all wealth and majesty." While prostrating (In the state of sujud) It is narrated that Rasulullah s.a.w. said: ِ أَقوْربَماَي ُكع ُنَالع ْب ُد َِمنَربِِّوَو ُىعَس َاج ٌد َ َ َ َ ْ َ َ َ َُ which means, “The closest a slave can be to his Lord is when he prostrates (in sujud). [Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud]. Therefore, in sujud, Rasulullah would normally sing Allah the best of praises. However, the first of following supplications is the basic and essential. You may recite more according to your situation. َربِّ َيَاْلَ ْعلَى َ ُس ْب َحا َن It means, "How Perfect my Lord is, The Most High." ِ ِ .وح َِ الر ُّ َر، ُّ َو ٌ ُُسب ٌ عحَقُ ُّد َ َالمَلَئ َكة َ ب َ وس It means, "Perfect and Holy (He is), Lord of the angels and the soul (Rouh, i.e. Jibril)." .َاللَّ ُه َّمَا ْغ ِف ْرَلِي،اَوبِ َح ْم ِد َك َ َُس ْب َحان َ ََربوَّن َ كَاللَّ ُه َّم It means, "How Perfect You are, our Lord, and I praise You. O Allah, forgive me". َس ُن َ ََول، َ َِوب، ُ ك َ َس َج ْد َ َاللَّ ُه َّم َل َ َو ْج ِهيَلِلَّ ِذ ُ َسلَ ْم ُ َآم ْن ْ َتَوبَا َر َك َاهللُ َأ،ُص َره ْ ك َأ َ ََوب َ َو َ َو َش َّق، َ ت َ ك َ َُس ْم َعو َ ُص َّعَره َ ُيَخلَ َقو َ َس َج َد، َ ت َ ت َ َح .ين ََ ال َخالِِق It means, "O Allah, unto You I have prostrated and in You I have believed, and unto You I have submitted. My face has prostrated before He, Who created it and fashioned it, and brought forth its faculties of hearing and seeing. Blessed is Allah, the Best of creators." How to Focus and Attain Khushu’ in Solat? | GSalam.Net |9 ِ َ َِوبِمعافَات،ك ِ َض ِ ِ ْ ََّلَ َأ،ك ََعلَى َ َوأ، َ َعلَْي َ ك َِم ْن َ َِعُعذُ َب َ َِع ُقعبَت َ ت َ َك َماَأَثْونَو ْي َ َْأَن،ك َ اللَّ ُه َّم َأَعُعذُ َبِ ِر َ ت َ اء ُ ك َم ْن َ ُ َ َ َس َخط َ اك َم ْن َ ك ً َُحصيَثَون .ك ََ نَو ْف ِس It means, "O Allah, I take refuge within Your pleasure from Your displeasure and within Your pardon from Your punishment, and I take refuge in You from You. I cannot enumerate Your praise. You are as You have praised Yourself." ِ َوأ ََّولَو،َدقَّوَو ِجلَّو، ِ ُآخره ِ ِ ِ ِ .َُو َعَلَنِيَتَ َو َ َُوس َّره، َ َ َو َ ُ َ ُ َ ُ ُاللَّ ُه َّمَا ْغف ْرَليَذَنْبيَ ُكلَّو It means, "O Allah, forgive me all of my sins, the small and the great of them, the first and last of them, and the seen and hidden of them." Between the two sujud When he, s.a.w. sits, up from sujud, and expecting to go down, for another, he doesn't just relax, as most of us would do, the concentration continues and the communication with Allah gets more pleasant. He would say, s.a.w.: ..بَا ْغ ِف ْرلِي ِّ َ َر..بَا ْغ ِف ْرَلِي ِّ َر It means, "My Lord, forgive me, My Lord, forgive me." ِ ِ ِ ْ َو،َوارحمنِي،بَا ْغ ِفرلِي .َو ْاى ِدنِي،ي َ َو ْارُزقْن،ي َ َو ْارفَو ْعن،ي َ اجبُو ْرن َ ْ َ ْ َ ْ ِّ َر It means, "My Lord, forgive me, have mercy upon me, guide me, enrich me, give me health, grant me sustenance and raise my rank." In the end It's time to bid farewell to Allah, until the next appointment for solat. 'Good Bye' is not what Rasulullah, s.a.w. would say; what he would say is either one of the following forms of tashahhud: ِ ِ ىَعب ِ ِ ُ ََّّحي ِ الت ِ اد ِ ِ َ.ين ََ َالصالِ ِح َُ ََوالطَّيِّب َّ َاهلل َّ َو، َّ َ .َُوبَو َرَكاتَُو َّ َ .ات َ َعلَْي ُ الصلَ َع َ السَلَ ُم َ السَلَ ُم َ َاَو َعل َ ََعلَْيون َ َوَر ْح َمةُ َاهلل َ ك َأَيوَّ ُهاَالنَّب ُّي َ ات َ ات َللَّو َّ َوأَ ْش َه ُدَأ، .َُوَر ُسعلَُو َ ًَم َح َّمدا ُ َن َ َُع ْب ُده َ ُأَ ْش َه ُدَأَ ْنََّلََإِلَ َوَإَِّلََّاهلل It means, "Glorifications (of any kind) is for Allah. All acts of worship and good deeds are for Him. Peace and the Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you, O the Messenger. Peace be upon us and all of Allah's righteous servants. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped except Allah, and Muhammad is His slave and Messenger". ِ ِ َعب ِ الت ِ اد ِ ِ ََاهلل ََّ ات َّ َ .َُوبَو َرَكاتَُو َّ َ .ات َلِلَّ َِو َ َعلَْي ُ َات َالطَّيِّب ُ َالصلَ َع ُ ات َال ُومبَ َارَك ُ ََّّحي َ َعلَْيونَا َ السَلَ ُم َ السَلَ ُم َ َعلَى َ ك َأَيُّو َها َالنََّب َُّي َ َوَر ْح َمةُ َاهلل َّ َوأَ ْش َه ُدَأ، .َاهلل َِ عل ََ الصالِ ِح ُ َر ُس َّ ُ َن َ ًَم َح َّمدا َ َُأَ ْش َه ُدَأَ ْنََّلََإِلَوََإَِّلََّاهلل.ين It means, "Glorifications (of any kind), Blessings, all acts of worship and good deeds are for Allah. Peace and the Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you, O the Messenger. Peace be upon us and all of Allah's righteous servants. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped except Allah, and Muhammad is Messenger of Allah". ِ ِ ىَعب ِ الت ِ اد ِ ِ ََأَ ْش َه ُد.ين ََ َالصالِ ِح َّ َاهلل َّ ات َّ َ.َُوبَو َرَكاتَُو َّ َ.اتَلِلََِّو َ َعلَْي ُ َالصلَ َع ُ َاتَال َطَّيِّب ُ ََّّحي َ السَلَ ُم َ السَلَ ُم َ َاَو َعل َ ََعلَْيون َ كَأَيوُّ َهاَالنَّب َُّيَ َوَر ْح َمةَُاهلل َّ َوأ، .َُوَر ُسعلَُو َ ًَم َح َّمدا ُ َن َ َُع ْب ُده َ ُأَ ْنََّلََإِلَوََإَِّلََّاهلل It means, "Glorifications (of any kind), good deeds and all acts of worship are for Allah. Peace and the Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you, O the Messenger. Peace be upon us and all of Allah's righteous servants. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped except Allah, and Muhammad is His slave and Messenger". In the last tashahhud, after one has recited one of the above, they have to recite the following solawat: How to Focus and Attain Khushu’ in Solat? | GSalam.Net | 10 َح ََّم ٍَد ََ ىَم َُ َالَلَّ َُه ََّمََبَاَِركََْ ََعَل.جي ٌَد َِ كَ ََح َِمي ٌَدَ ََم ََ َّيمََإَِن ََ اى َِ ىَآلََإِبَْوََر َِ يمَ ََو ََعَل ََ اى َِ تَ ََعَلىََإِبَْوََر ََ اَصَلََّْي ََ ح ََّم ٍدََ َك ََم ََ ىَآلَ َُم َِ ح ََّم ٍَدَ ََو ََعَل ََ ىَم َُ ص َِّلَ ََعَل ََ َالَلَّ َُه ََّم .جي ٌَد َِ كَ ََح َِمي ٌَدَ ََم ََ َّيمََإَِن ََ اى َِ ىَآلََإِبَْوََر َِ َيمَ ََو ََعل ََ اى َِ تَ ََعلَىََإِبَْوََر ََ اَبَََارَْك َ ح ََّم ٍدََ َك ََم ََ ىَآلَ َُم َِ َََو ََعل It means, "O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. Verily, You are full of praise and majesty. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, just as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. Verily, You are full of praise and majesty." After the above solawat, one may recite only one of the following supplications, or all combined (in the last tashahhud); before salam. ِ ات ِ َجهنَّم ِ َ ِاللَّه َّمَإِنِّيَأُععذَُب ِ ِ ِ ِ ِ ابَال َقب ِر ِ ِ َع َذ َّ يح .َالدجاَّ َِل ِ َالم ِس َ َوم ْن، َ كَم ْن ُ ُ َ َوم ْنَ َش ِّرَف ْتونَة َ الم َم َ اَو َ ََالم ْحي َ َوم ْنَف ْتونَة، َ ْ ِ َع َذ َ َ َ ََ اب It means, "O Allah, I take refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, from the torment of the Fire, from the trials and tribulations of life and death and from the evil affliction of Al-Maseeh Al-Dajjaal. (the False Messiah)" ِ ِ َ،ِّر ُ َس َرْر ُ َّر َ َْوأَن َ َْأَن،تَأَ ْعلَ َُمَبِ ِو َِمنِّي َ َْوَماَأَن، ُ َْس َرف ُ َوَماَأَ ْعلَْن ُ يَماَقَ َّد ْم ْ َوَماَأ ْ َوَماَأ ُ َالم َقد َ اللَّ ُه َّمَا ْغف ْرَل ْ َوَماَأَخ ُ ت َ ِّم ُ ت َ ت َت َت َت َت ُ َالم َؤخ .ت ََ َّْلََإِلَوََإَِّلََّأَن It means, "O Allah, forgive me for those sins which have come to pass as well as those which shall come to pass, and those I have committed in secret as well as those I have made public, and where I have exceeded all bounds as well as those things about which You are more knowledgeable. You are The Expediter and The Delayer. None has the right to be worshiped except You." ِ ِ ِ ِ َِفَا ْغ ِفرل،ت ِ ُ اللَّه َّم َإِنِّيَظَلَم ِ ِ ُّ َوَّلََيَو ْغ ِفر، َعر َ ََّو ْار َح ْمنِيَإِن، َ ْك َأَن َ ْعب َإِ ََّلََّأَن ُ َ َُالذن ْ َ ْ ُ ت َالغَ ُف َ يَمغْف َرًة َم ْن َع ْند َك َ ًت َنَو ْفسيَظُلْماًَ َكثيراًَ َكبيرا ُ .يم َُ الرِح َّ It means, "O Allah, I have indeed oppressed my soul excessively and none can forgive sins except You, so forgive me a forgiveness from Yourself and have mercy upon me. Surely, You are The Most-Forgiving, The Most Merciful." ِ كَالع ْفعَو ِ اف َ.َوالغنَى َ الع َف َ َُسأَل ُ ك ْ َاللَّ ُه َّمَإِنِّيَأ.العافيَ َة ْ اللَّ ُه َّمَإِنِّيَأ َ ىَو َ َ َ َ َ َُسأَل َ ىَوالتُّو َق َ َاله َد It means, "O Allah, I seek from You pardon and safety. O Allah, I seek from You guidance, piety, chastity and wealth". Lastly 'Assalamu alaikum warahmatullah'... to the right and to the left; and your solat is done. However, Rasulullah would stay back after solat, for another 5 minutes, approximately. It's not easy to leave someone you dearly love like that. So, during that five minutes, he, s.a.w. would say and supplicate with the following: It means, "I seek Allah's Forgiveness." َ)3x(َََاهلل َ َستَوغْ ِف ُر ْأ ِ َ تَيَاَ َذ .ام َِ َوا ِل ْك َر َّ ك َّ ت َ َوِم ْن، َ َتَوبَ َارْك،َالسَلَ ُم َ ْاللَّ ُه َّمَأَن َ اَالجَلَل َ َالسَلَ ُم Meaning, "O Allah, You are The Source of Peace (Al-Salam) and from You is all peace, blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honour." ََم ْع ِط َي َلِ َما ٌَ َعلَىَ ُك ِّل َ َش ْي ٍء َقَ ِد ََ َو ُى َع ُ َالمل َ َو ْح َدهََُّلََ َش ِر َ َمانِ َ َلِ َماَأَ ْعطَْي َ َُولَو ُ ََوَّل، َ ََاللَّ ُه َّم ََّل.ير َ ت َ َالح ْم ُد َ ْك ُ َُلَو،ُيك َلَو َ َُّلََإِلَوَ َإَِّلَّاهلل ِ َوَّلََيو ْنو َف َ َذاَالجد،ت .َالج َُّد َ َِّم ْن َ ك َ ُ َ َ َ َمنَو ْع It means, "None has the right to be worshiped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise, and He is over all things omnipotent. O Allah, none can prevent what You have willed to bestow and none can bestow what You have willed to prevent, and no wealth or majesty can benefit anyone, as from You is all wealth and majesty." How to Focus and Attain Khushu’ in Solat? | GSalam.Net | 11 َََوَّل َِ َِوَّلََقُو َّع َةَإَِّلََّب ٌَ َعلَىَ ُك ِّلَ َش ْي ٍءَقَ ِد ُ َالمل َ َو ْح َدهََُّلََ َش ِر َ َو ُى َع َ َُولَو َ َََّل.ير َ ََُّلََإِلَوََإَِّلََّاهلل.اهلل َ َح ْع َل َ َالح ْم ُد َ ْك ُ َُلَو،ُيكَلَو َ َُّلََإِلَوََإَِّلَّاهلل ِ ِ ََّلََإِلَوََإَِّلََّاهلل،َالحسن .َولَ ْعَ َك ِرهََال َكافِ ُرو َن ْ َولَوَُال َف ْ َلَوَُالنو،ُنَو ْعبُ ُدَإَِّلََّإِيَّاه ُُ َ ِّين َ ض ُل َ ُِّع َمة َ ينَلَوَُالد َ َم ْخلص ُ َ ََ َُولَوَُالثوَّنَاء It means, "None has the right to be worshiped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise, and He is over all things omnipotent. There is no might, nor power except with Allah. None has the right to be worshiped except Allah and we worship none except Him. For Him is all favour, grace and glorious praise. None has the right to be worshiped except Allah and we are sincere in faith and devotion to Him, although the disbelievers detest it." )33 Times( ُسْب َحا َنَاهلل )33 Times( الح ْم ُدَلِلََِّو َ )33 Times( اهللَُأَ ْكبَو َُر They mean: .ير ٌَ َعلَىَ ُك ِّلَ َش ْي ٍءَقَ ِد ُ َالمل َ َو ْح َدهََُّلََ َش ِر َ َو ُى َع َ َُولَو َ َالح ْم ُد َ ْك ُ َُلَو،ُيكَلَو َ َُّلََإِلَوََإَِّلَّاهلل "I seek Allah's Forgiveness." "All praise is for Allah." "Allah is the Greatest." "None has the right to be worshiped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is over all things omnipotent." And after this, one may recite the following: Ayatul Kursi Surah Al-Ikhlas Surah Al-Falaq Surah Al-Naas Rasulullah once said to Mu‟azh Ibn Jabal, r.a. in a Hadeeth narrated by Abu Dawud and An-Nasa-ee: ِ ِ َاللَّه َّمَأ:ٍَلة ِ َ َعن ِ َ" ك ََ ِادت َ سَأَ ْنَتَو ُق َ َُّإِنِّيَْل ُِحب،ُاَم َعاذ َ ََو ُح ْس ِنَعب ُ عل ُ َ َص َ َدبوُ َرََ ُك ِّل ُ َ" َواللَّوَي َ َو ُش ْك ِر َك َ ِّيَعلَىَذ ْك ِر َك َ َفََلَتَو ْن،ك It means, “By Allah, I love you, O Mu‟azh! So do not forget to say after every solat: O Allah, help me to remember You, be grateful to You and worship You in a better way.” It‟s therefore understood that any kind of du‟a is „mustajab‟ after solat. So make it a point to present a humble request before Allah, before you switch back from „Akhirah mode‟ into „Dunia mode‟. The minimum is: ِ ِ اللَّه َّمَأ ِ َ َعن َك ََ ِادت َ ََو ُح ْس ِنَعب ُ َ َو ُش َْك ِر َك َ ِّيَعلَىَذ ْك ِر َك Which means, “O Allah, help me to remember You, be grateful to You and worship You in a better way.” Click here to download a PDF file format of all the supplications which Rasulullah said in his solat, that are mentioned in this article. Click here for a PDF file sample of the du‟as of Rasulullah, s.a.w., which you may use to supplicate after your solat and in other special sessions, with Allah, s.w.t. How to Focus and Attain Khushu’ in Solat? | GSalam.Net | 12 What if I can't focus? The possibility of inability to focus after carefully applying all the above is very low and thin. This being said, it is important that we remember; focus in solat, as in well as in any beneficial cause, requires practice, hard work and (self) discipline, in order to achieve it. I can sense how (as you read some of the lines above) difficult you think it is, to switch off one‟s phone, just because we are entering the mosque. I don‟t think you would read Qur‟an in the stadium, where you go to watch a football match. Why then, would you engage yourself with worldly life in the place you are seeking forgiveness and in the presence of Allah, s.w.t. Do you find communicating with Allah boring? The most important is to be able to do it (focus in our solat) fo the minimum of two weeks, and it will become a good habit in 'ibadah, insha Allah. Conclusion I know (from myself) that, most of the time, when we stand for solat, we actually stand for brainstorming instead of solat. Iblis (Satan) reminds us of all the brilliant ideas and the perfect solutions to our problems, but the moment we say “Assalamu alaikum”, everything (all the genius solutions and ideas) disappears. Don‟t let this happen to you again, after today! Remember: Proper opening leads to focused content and eventually satisfying ending, insha Allah. How to start appropriately if we are not properly prepared? How would we be prepared if our phones engage us even in the peak of solat? If we are able to overcome the above, and attain the desired tranquility in solat, and come out of our solat with our hearts filled with satisfaction, we can notice excitement in our hearts, through to the next solat, round the clock insha Allah. If we maintain this successfully, we will therefore, be able to develop a good habit in solat, insha Allah. Solat is an ibadah beyond the physical exercise which we carry out on daily basis. Khushu' is the soul of that 'ibadah. And because it‟s beyond physical exercise, it‟s called solat and never called exercise! Allah knows best. Allahu Hafiz :) Abdul-Salam Abdul-Hameed GSalam.Net Facebook.com/GSalam.NetPage ====================================================== Read also: Why do I Find it Difficult to Pray? “Relief us with it, O Bilal!” Appreciation and Gratefulness How to Focus and Attain Khushu’ in Solat? | GSalam.Net | 13
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