SALAH AND SINCERITY
Salah and sincerity in Salah are two different goals but it is on you which one you wish to strive? Worship has three pillars; amongst them, one is to be sincere towards Allah.
Your progress could be slow but it doesn’t entail a great deal of effort. It only requires a strong ‘Focus’ in prayer and that is the biggest dilemma we face. Due to being extra-involved in worldly desires, it becomes very intricate to concentrate entirely when you speak with your Creator or even attaining ‘Khushoo’.
To make you more dedicated and sincere, we’ll drop down some informative guideline that will make Salah fruitful and will improve the quality of it.
Look for Quiet Place
Choose a silent place to get yourself distracted by world affairs and where there are no voices. Be mindful of the activity. Ward of all the negative thoughts which can become obstacles. This will help you initially to get what you really want at the moment.
Focus On Your Dressing and Positions
Begin with focusing on your dressing just like before you go to a meeting and you make sure everything is perfect. Try feeling excited about your Salah. Fix your body positions and slow down each movement. This will allow you to do Sujood for a longer period and will get you Sakinah (peace) inside you.
Pray Out Loud
Understand what you’re reciting and be vocal. Get a copy of Surah translations so you know the meaning of verses to achieve a better-focused prayer. When we pray out loud, we get conscious of what we’re reading and a chance of mistakes reduces.
“Successful indeed are the believers, those who offer their salah (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness” [Q 23:1-2].
Know the Power of Evil
Defeat Shaitaan as he has promised to annoy us in every possible way. It is said in a Hadith that “Shaitaan called ‘Khinzab’ sits on your shoulder in salah. As soon as you start the Salah, it whispers and does everything to disturb you. It’s a challenge then to not let the power of evil wins over your sincerity. Keep cutting his whispers and do not let Shaitaan to devour upon.
‘Uthan b. Abu al-‘As reported that he came to the Allah’s Messenger ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) and said: “Allah’s Messenger, the Satan intervenes between me and my prayer and my reciting of the Qur’an and he confounds me”. Thereupon, Allah’s Messenger ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said, “That is (the doing of the Satan) who is known as Khinzab and when you perceive its effect, seek refuge with Allah from it and spit three times to your left”. [Muslim].
Create a New Set of Duas
To avoid repetition of the same set of duas, prepare and write down new ones on a paper to not ask Allah the same thing in every Salah. One should continuously make dua to Allah to seek forgiveness and His blessings.
Show Progress
You can do this by increasing its significance and by imagining yourself in hard circumstances. Getting indulged in anxieties will develop a fear of Allah inside you. This will help you perform Salah with devotion and realize the importance of giving sincerity in Salah.
Develop ‘Khushoo’ in Salah
‘Khushoo’ is the biggest sincerity in Salah as Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) told us where your main focus is achieving sincerity. It’s a powerful feeling when your limbs and mind becomes numb when you’re talking and standing in front of your Creator.
