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Best Deed: To Offer Prayer At Its Appointed Time

[6. Surah Al-An’am: Ayah 120] And abandon open and secret sin; surely they who earn sin shall be recompensed with what they earned.

[Sahih Muslim: Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 144] It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) that: “When the son of Adam recites the Ayat of Sajdah (prostration) and then falls down in prostration, the Satan goes into seclusion and weeps and says: Alas, and in the narration of Abu Kuraib the words are: Woe unto me, the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated and Paradise was entitled to him and I was commanded to prostrate, but I refused and am doomed to Hell.”

[Sahih Muslim: Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 146] It is narrated on the authority of Jabir (Radi Allah Anhu) that he heard the Apostle (may peace and blessings be upon him) saying “Verily between man and between polytheism and unbelief is the negligence of prayer.”

[Sahih Muslim: Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 147] It is narrated on the authority of Abu Zubair (Radi Allah Anhu) that he heard Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (Radi Allah Anhu) said. I heard the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) observing this: “Between man and polytheism and unbelief is the abandonment of salat.”

[Sahih Muslim: Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 151] It is narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah b. Mas’ud (Radi Allah Anhu) that he observed. I asked the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) which deed was the best. He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Prayer at its appointed hour. I (again) said: Then what? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Kindness to the parents. I (again) said: Then what? He replied: Earnest endeavor (Jihad) in the cause of Allah. And I would have not ceased asking more questions but out of regard (for his feelings).

[Sahih Muslim: Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 155] It is reported on the authority of ‘Abdullah (Radi Allah Anhu) that the Apostle of Allah (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) observed: “The best of’ the deeds or deed is the (observance of) prayer at its proper time and kindness to the parents.”

My Lord! grant me that I should be grateful for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents and that I should do good such as Thou art pleased with, and make me enter, by Thy mercy, into Thy servants, the good ones.

Women’s Clothing In Salat

Aaisha (RA) has narrated that RasulAllah (SAW) stated: ‘A mature women’s prayer if performed without a large sheet is not accepted.’ (Abu Dawood, Tirmizi)

For the prayer to be correct there are certain conditions: 
One such condition is that the face, the portion BELOW both ankles, and the fingers of both hands can be exposed. Apart from this, it is COMPULSORY (FARD) to cover all other parts of the body. Whether the women read in privacy or openly, these conditions are binding in both respects. At the time of RasulAllah (SAW), Muslim women would cover their bodies with a thick cloth whether in prayer or outside of this worship. (Sharee Hijab, p124)

Dear sisters, When you attend the Masjid please make sure that you are wearing the appropriate clothing that covers the body adequately according to the conditions set in Shariah.

  1. Women must cover their heads and hair completely with a large sheet/ scarf draped over the shoulders.

  2. Women must wear a long loose fitting shirt with full-length sleeves (to cover the area over the wrist)

  3. Women must wear a loose-fitting full-length lower garment reaching below the ankles. If you choose to wear a skirt, please ensure that it covers the legs and ankles completely to fulfill the conditions of Salat.

  4. If sisters choose to wear clothing of their own choice, then, they are advised respectfully to adopt an Abaya or Burka to attend the Masjid and offer their prayers.

Mufti Yusuf Danka Al-Kauthar

Develop Khushoo In Salah

  1. Striving to gain that which gives and strengthens Khushoo.
  2. Preparing oneself properly for Prayer.
  3. Moving at a measured pace during Salah
  4. Remembering death while praying
  5. Thinking about the Aayath and Adhkaar being recited during Salah and interacting with them.
  6. Pausing at the end of each Aayah.
  7. Reciting in a slow, rhythmic tone (Tarteel) and making one’s voice beautiful while reciting.
  8. Knowing that Allah responds to Salah
  9. Praying with a barrier (sutrah) in front of one and praying close to it.
  10. Looking at the place of prostration.
  11. Varying the Surahs, Ayahs, Adhkaars, and Duas recited in Salah.
  12. Performing Sujood al Tilawah when reciting an ayah where this is required.
  13. Seeking refuge with Allah from the Shaytaan.
  14. Thinking of how the Salaf were when they performed Salah.
  15. Striving to offer duas at the appropriate times during Salah, especially in Sujood.
  16. Adhkaar is to be recited after prayer.
  17. Removing anything that may distract the worshipper.
  18. Not praying in a garment that has decorations, writings, or pictures that will distract the worshipper.
  19. Not praying when food is prepared when one wants to eat.
  20. Not praying when one needs to answer the call of nature.
  21. Not praying when one feels sleepy.
  22. Not praying behind someone who is talking or sleeping.
  23. Not occupying oneself with smoothing the ground in front of one.
  24. The Prophet (SAW) said: Do not wipe the (ground) when you are praying, but if you have to do then do it only once. (Abu Dawud:946)
  25. Not disturbing others with one’s recitation.
  26. Not turning around during prayer.
  27. Not raising one’s gaze to the heavens.
  28. Not spitting in front of one when in Salah.
  29. Trying not to yawn when in Salah.
  30. Not putting one’s hands on one’s hips when in Salah.
  31. Not letting one’s clothes hang down (Sadl) during Salah.
  32. Not rembling like animals in Salah.

Allah’s Response To The Believer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. [Quran 1:1]

When Allah’s sincere servant says: All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the universe! [Quran 1:2]
Allah the Highest says: My servant has Praised Me.

When Allah’s sincere servant says: The most Merciful, the Most Beneficent! [Quran 1:3]
He (Allah the Most High) says: My servant has lauded Me.

When Allah’s sincere servant says: Master of the Day of Judgment! [Quran 1:4]
He (Allah the highest) says: My servant has glorified Me. [My servant entrusted (his affairs) to Me.]

When Allah’s sincere servant says:
You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help! [Quran 1:5]
He (Allah the highest) says: This is Between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for.

When Allah’s sincere servant says:
Guide us to the Straight Path! The path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your blessings! Not the path of those who earned Your wrath, or erred and went astray. [Quran 1:6-7]
He (Allah the highest) says: This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) has said:
[Muslim, Book #004, Hadith #0775] “Abu Huraira reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace Be upon him) said: If anyone observes prayer in which he does not recite Umm al-Qur’an, It is deficient [he said this three times] and not complete. It was said to Abu Huraira: At times we are behind the Imam. He said: Recite it inwardly, for he had heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace Be upon him) declare that Allah the Exalted had said: I have divided the prayer into two halves Between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks. When the servant says: Praise Be to Allah, the Lord of the universe, Allah the Highest says: My servant has Praised Me. And when he (the servant) says: The Most Compassionate, the Merciful, Allah the Highest says: My servant has lauded Me. And when he (the servant) says: Master of the Day of judgment, He remarks: My servant has glorified Me. and sometimes He would say: My servant entrusted (his affairs) to Me. And when he (the worshiper) says: Thee do we worship and of Thee do we ask help, He (Allah) says: This is Between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. Then, when he (the worshiper) says: Guide us to the straight path, the path of those to whom Thou hast Been Gracious not of those who have incurred Thy displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray, He (Allah) says: This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. Sufyan said: ‘Ala b. ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Ya’qub narrated it to me when I went to him and he was confined to his home on account of illness, and I asked him about it.”

[Malik’s Muwatta, Book #3, Hadith #3.10.41] “Yahya related to me from Malik from al-Ala ibn Abd ar-Rahman ibn Ya’qub that he heard Abu’s-Sa’ib, the mawla of Hisham ibn Zuhra, says he had heard Abu Hurayra say, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, ‘Whoever prays a prayer without reciting the umm al-Qur’an in it, his prayer is aborted, it is aborted, it is aborted, incomplete.’ So I said, ‘Abu Hurayra, sometimes I am behind the imam. ‘He pulled my forearm and said, ‘Recite it to yourself, O Persian, for I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say that Allah the Blessed, the Exalted, said, “I have divided the prayer into two halves Between me and my slave. One half of it is for Me and one half of it is for My slave, and My slave has what he asks.” ‘The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Recite.” The slave says, ‘Praise Be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.’ Allah the Blessed, the Exalted, says, ‘My slave has Praised Me.’ The slave says, ‘The Merciful, the Compassionate.’ Allah says, ‘My slave has spoken well of Me.’ The slave says, ‘Master of the Day of the Deen.’ Allah says, ‘My slave has glorified Me.’ The slave says, ‘You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help. ‘Allah says, ‘This ayat is Between Me and My slave, and for My slave is what he asks. ‘The slave says, ‘Guide us in the straight Path, the Path of those whom You have blessed, not of those with whom You are angry, nor those who are in error. ‘ Allah says, ‘These are for My slaves, and for my slave is what he asks .’ ”

Surah Fatihah – Theme (Maududi)
This Sura is in fact a prayer that Allah has taught to all those who want to make study his book. It has been placed at the very beginning of the book to teach this lesson to the reader: if you sincerely want to benefit from the Quran you should offer this prayer to the Lord of the Universe. This preface is meant to create a strong desire in the heart of the reader to seek guidance from the Lord of the Universe who alone can grant it. Thus Al- Fatihah indirectly teaches that the best thing for a man is to pray for guidance to the straight path to study the Quran with the mental attitude of a seeker- after-truth and to recognize the fact that the Lord of the Universe is the source of all knowledge. He should therefore begin the study of the Quran with a prayer to him for guidance. From this theme, it becomes clear that the real relation between Al-Fatihah and the Quran is not that of an introduction to a book but that of a prayer and its answer. Al-Fatihah is the prayer from the servant and the Quran is the answer from the Master to his prayer. The servant prays to Allah to show him guidance and the Master places the whole of the Quran before him in answer to his prayer as if to say This is the Guidance you begged from Me.

And Celebrate The Praises Of Your Lord

And from among you there should be a party who invite to good and enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong, and these it is that shall be successful.

[Sahih Al-Bukhari: Volume 1, Book 10, Number 547] Narrated Jarir bin ‘Abdullah: We were with the Prophet on a full moon night. He looked at the moon and said, “You will certainly see your Lord as you see this moon, and there will be no trouble in seeing Him. So if you can avoid missing (through sleep, business, etc.) a prayer before the rising of the sun (Fajr) and before its setting (‘Asr) you must do so. He (the Prophet ) then recited the following verse: “And celebrate the praises Of Your Lord before The rising of the sun And before (its) setting.” (50.39)

[20. Surah Tauha: Ayah 130]” And glorify your Lord by the praising of Him before the rising of the sun and before its setting, and during hours of the night do also glorify (Him) and during parts of the day, that you may be well pleased.”

[20. Surah Tauha: Ayah 131] Do not let your eyes crave what We have allowed some of the disbelievers to enjoy; the ˹fleeting˺ splendor of this worldly life, which We test them with. But your Lord’s provision ˹in the Hereafter˺ is far better and more lasting.

[20. Surah Tauha: Ayah 132] Bid your people to pray, and be diligent in ˹observing˺ it. We do not ask you to provide. It is We Who provide for you. And the ultimate outcome is ˹only˺ for ˹the people of˺ righteousness.

My Lord! grant me that I should be grateful for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents and that I should do good such as Thou art pleased with, and make me enter, by Thy mercy, into Thy servants, the good ones.

Quran, The Glorious Book Of Guidance

“(This is) the Glorious Book in which there is no chance of doubt. (It is) a guide for those who guard against evil and fear Allah: who believe in the unseen, and are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided them with; Who believe in what has been revealed to you and what was revealed to those before you, and are certain of the Hereafter. It is they who follow the guidance from their LORD and it is they who shall prosper.”
[2:2]; [2:3]; [2:4]; [2:5]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) has said :
[Muslim, Book #004, Hadith #1694] “’Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Auf reported: I asked ‘A’isha, the mother of the believers, (to tell me) the words with which the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) commenced the prayer when he got up at night. She said: When he got up at night he would commence his prayer with these words: O Allah, Lord of Gabriel, and Michael, and Israfil, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, Who knowest the unseen and the seen; Thou decidest amongst Thy servants concerning their differences. Guide me with Thy permission in the divergent views (which the people) hold about Truth, for it is Thou Who guidest whom Thou wilt to the Straight Path”

Praying Duha

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.31a
The time for ‘duha’ begins when the sun is about a spear’s length above the horizon and it continues until the sun reaches its meridian. It is preferred to delay it until the sun has risen high and the day has become hot.
Zaid ibn Arqam (r.a.)relates: “The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s) went to the people of Quba’, and they were performing the ‘Duha’ prayer, and he (s.a.w.s) said: ‘The prayer of ‘Duha’ should be observed when the young weaned camels feel the heat of the sun.'”
Related by Ahmad, Muslim, and at-Tirmidhi .

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.31b
The minimum number of rak’ah to be prayed in the supererogatory ‘Duha’ (forenoon) prayer is two. The most the Prophet (s.a.w.s) performed was eight rak’at, whereas, the most he (s.a.w.s) mentioned was twelve rak’at. Some eminent scholars, such as Abu Ja’far At-Tabari, Al-Mulaimi, and Ar-Ruwyani, who subscribes to the Shafi’ school of thought, say there is no maximum limit to the number of rak’at that one may perform for the voluntary ‘Duha’ prayers.
Al-‘lraqi says, in the commentary on Sunan At-Tirmidhi: “None of the companions of the Prophet (s.a.w.s) or followers are known to have restricted it to twelve rak’at.” As-Syuti agrees with it.

Sa’id ibn Mansur (r.a.) records that al-Hassan (r.a.) was asked: “Did the companions of the Prophet (s.a.w.s) perform the ‘Duha’ prayer?” He answered: “Yes . . . some of them would pray two rak’at, and some of them would pray four rak’at, and some of them would continue until half the [early] day [had passed].”

Umm Hani (r.a.) narrates that the Prophet sallallahu ‘alehi wa sallam prayed eight rak’at of ‘Duha’ and made the taslim after every two rak’at.
Related by Abu Dawud.

Aishah (r.a.) reports: “The Prophet (s.a.w.s) would pray four rak’at for ‘Duha’ and would add to it whatever Allah willed.”
Related by Ahmad, Muslim, and ibn Majah.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.274 Narrated by Abu Huraira (r.a.)
My friend [the Prophet (s.a.w.s)] advised me to do three things and I shall not leave them till I die, these are: To fast three days every month, to offer the voluntary Duha prayer, and to offer Witr before sleeping.

In light of the above guidance of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s), it would be considered a Sunnah to offer the voluntary ‘Duha’ (forenoon) prayers between the time the sun has completely risen until it reaches its zenith or meridian at mid-day. One may offer a minimum of two rakahs, and a maximum of as much as one wishes.

How To Pray Salatul Tasbih

Many of us know that it is a prayer that we should pray at least once in our lifetimes, although we should make a regular habit of praying it as it is a prayer full of many virtues and benefits. May Allah ta’ala reward every person that benefits from reading and learning from this article….Ameen.

Pray Salatul Tasbih as follows:
This salaat (namaz) is offered by reading four rakaats. At a time and can be read in any part of the day and night beside the three makrooh times, keeping in mind the forbidden times for performing Salat. The Tasbih to be read in Salaat-Ul-Tasbeeh is the third kahalimah:

” Subhaan Allahi Wal Hamdulillahi Wa Laa ilaha illal Laahu Wallahu Akbar ”

Method: The above Tasbih is to be read 300 times in the four Rakaats. In the first rakaat, after reading Sana “Subhaana Kallahumma…”, read the above tasbih 15 times. Now recite Aaoz and “Bismillah…”, Then read sura Fatiha and a Surah then read the tasbih again 10 times. (this will total 25 times) Go into ruku saying Takbeer (Allah Hoo Akbar), after reciting “Subhaana Rabbiyal Azeem” a minimum of three times read the tasbih 10 times in Ruku. (Total 35) Saying “Samee Allahu Liman Hamidah Rabbana Lakal Hamdh” get up from ruku. Now read the tasbih 10 times again. (Total 45) Go into Sajdah saying Takbeer (Allah Hoo Akbar) and after reciting “Subhaana Rabbiyal A’la” minimum of three times read the tasbih 10 times in the first Sajdah. (Total 55) Now sit up from the first Sajdah and sit in the “At-tahiyah” position (sitting position) saying Takbeer (Allah Hoo Akbar). Sitting in this position read tasbih 10 times (total 65) Go into the second sajdah and again read Takbeer (Allah Hoo Akbar) and after reciting “Subhaana Rabbiyal A’la” a minimum of three times read the tasbih 10 times in the second Sajdah again. (total 75)

Get up to begin 2nd Rakat saying Takbeer (Allah Hoo Akbar). Do rakah #2 in the same fashion, but before reading Bismillah “Bismillah…”, and Surah Fatiha, read the tasbih 15 times. Follow the rest as you did in the first Rakat. After the second Sajdah of the Second Rakat sit in Qaidah Oola (first sitting) read Attahiyat, Durood, and Dua then get up for 3rd rakaat without saying, Salam. Begin the third Rakat, just like the first Rakat, with Sana “Subhaana Kallahumma…”, and read the above tasbih 15 times.

Follow the rest as you did in the first Rakat until you sit for Qaidah Akihra (last sitting) after the second sajdah of the fourth Rakah. In Qaidah Akihra Attahiyat (the last sitting position of namaz), Durood, Dua finish Salah with Salam.

Special notes for Salat-Ul-Tasbih:
1) Do not count loudly. It will break your namaz
2) Do not count on fingers or by holding a Bead Tasbih in hand.
3) You may count by pressing the fingers as a reminder. For example, if you are in Ruku. You press the pinky of your right hand first for the first count, then the finger next to it for the second count, then the middle finger for the third count, following this method until you reach the pinky of your left hand will give you an exact count of ten. Use the same method in Qayam, Sajdah, and Jalsa.
4) If missed a count then make it up in the next posture. For example, if forgot to recite Tasbih after Surah in Qayam. Then you may recite Tasbish 20 times instead of 10 in Rukuh after “Subhaana Rabbiyal Azeem”. Missed Tasbih cannot be recited in Qayam after ruku and Jalsa between Sajdah. If you missed the Tasbih in Ruku then recite 20 in the first Sajdah instead of the Qayam after rukuh. Similarly if missed the Tasbih in the first Sajdah then do not make it up in Jalsa. Instead, recite missed tasbih in the second Sajdah. If Tasbih has been missed in the last sajdah of the second or fourth Rakah then you can recite the missed ones before Attahiyat in Qaidah.
5) If you miss a wajib in Salah and have to do Sajdah Sahaw. You don’t have to recite Tasbih in Sajdah sahoo, since the 300 count has been established. But if you missed Tasbih in any of the postures and remember it later, then you may recite the missed Tasbih in Sajdah Sahaw now.
6) It is preferable to recite after Surah Fatiha Sura Takathuur in the first raka’, Surah Wal A’sr in the second raka’, Surah Kaferoon (qul ya aiyuhal Kafiroon) in the third and Surah Akhlas (Qul hu Allah-hu ahd) in the fourth raka’. If one does not remember these surahs they can recite the ones they prefer.

Amazing Tips To Love Your Prayer Like Never Before!

Why Can’t We Always Be Close to Allah?

It just doesn’t feel the same . . . I lost it . . . How can I get it back?

Get ready for the ultimate Salah booster; a set of amazing productivity tips to enhance your prayer, give you a fresh perspective on the world of Salah, and make you love your prayer like never before, Insha’Allah!

Allah advises and seeks help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive (to Allah). (Quran 2:45)

Below are productivity tips based on a summary of the beautiful :

How to taste the true beauty of the Salah series by Mishari AlKharraz:

1. Say Allahu Akbar and throw the world behind you
Did you ever think: why do we start our prayer with Allahu Akbar, not with Subhan Allah? Realize that when you say Allahu Akbar you affirm that the one before whom you are about to stand is greater than anything occupying you at that moment—greater than your sleep, your families, your bills, and your worries. Just imagine that when you say Allahu Akbar while raising your hands you are throwing all of that behind you!

2. Visualize the veil
When you stand to pray, Allah commands: Raise the veils from between Me and my servant! As soon as you say Allahu Akbar and start your prayer, Allah sets His beautiful face to yours and doesn’t turn away from you, unless you do.

When your thoughts your sight drifts off, He orders the veils to be drawn back down.

Visualize these veils being lifted to keep concentrated with your heart and body. Are you still drifting? This is why you repeat the great words, Allahu Akbar, as you move into each position; it’s a reminder and a new chance again and again to focus!

3. Salute the King
Imagine walking into a palace, how would you recognize the servants of the king?

Probably by their humble position: looking down. As you lower your gaze to the place of your prostration and place your hands right over left and close to your chest it is time to salute the King.

Imagine standing in front of Allah as you utter this beautiful salutation and feel each word: SubhanakaAllahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabaaraka ismuka wa ta’alaa jadduka (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.
Realize that only the parts of Salah you are mindful of are being accepted and that Satan does his very best to steal every sweet moment you have with Allah!

4.Feel Each Ayah of Surah Al-Fatihah is Answered
You are now ready to enter the essence of it all: SurahAl-Fatihah, the greatest chapter of the Quran. Know that Allah Himself answers back when you recite surah Al-Fatihah, so add a short pause after each ayah, feeling this amazing dialogue. How can you ever drift off in this part of the prayer?

5. Utter His Name with Pure Love
What has brought us to stand here right now? It is your love and longing to be with Allah. And when you meet up with your beloved, what do you first say? The sweet sound of the beloved’s name, the name that blesses everything it falls upon! Feel the bismillaahir-rahmaanir-raheem soothing your heart as it gently rolls off your lips…

6. Stand Still at: “the Lord of the Worlds.”
The Prophet told us, “Alhamdulillahfills the scale!” (Muslim)

Really feel grateful when you say Alhamdulillah. Did you see those documentaries where they zoom out from the cells of a plant’s leaf all the way to the planets and galaxies?

Now instead of that leaf, start the zoom-out process with the image of yourself standing before Allah. Then zoom back down, through the universe, to the place you are standing in prayer. The next time you pray view yourself from above and faraway and truly taste the meaning of Rabbil al-alameen(Lord of the worlds)!

7. Reflect on Ar-Rahmaanir Raheem before MaalikiYawm-Deen
Have you ever wondered why Allah’s names Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem come before Maalikiyawmid-Deen (Master of the Day of Judgment)? Be reminded that it is the Most Gracious and Merciful who will judge us on the Day of Judgment! So feel empowered and comforted when you say Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem and then pause a moment at Maaliki yawm-Deen, realizing the horrors of that Day.

8.Know what “Iyyaaka Na’budu wa Iyyaaka Nasta’een” ReallyMeans
You alone we worship, and unto You alone, we turn for help.

Let this remind you to make Allah alone your focus, not the people. So when you are asked, why did you do this or that (deed), you can firmly answer: for Allah!

Feel this ayah by knowing that the companions used to weep for hours reciting it. One of them was once praying in Mecca. His friend went ahead and did the tawaf and when he returned him, he was still at this verse, repeating it and crying, until the sun came up.

9. Say Ameen As if Your Life Depended on it
The most comprehensive supplication you can make is: ihdinas-sirat-al-mustaqeem(Guide us to the straight path). See how you followed the proper etiquette of how to ask Allah.

You started glorifying and praising Him and then you make your request: Guide us. Now realize that your entire existence depends on this supplication. The Ameen you’ll pronounce now will have to come from the bottom of your heart. Ameen means my lord, grant or answer (my prayers). Say Ameen as if you have been sentenced to death and are pleading for pardon, begging with passion.

10. Feel the Bond with Your Lord
When you say subhanaRabbiyya- al-‘adheem (How perfect My Lord is, The Supreme)in ruku’, focus on the pronoun that means my (in Rabbi). It adds that element of bonding: He is My Lord, who raised me in His care and who is nurturing me. Know the Prophet and the companions used to be in the bowing position as long as he would be in the standing segment of Salah.

One companion said that he recited Al Fatihah, then Al Baqarah, Ali Imran, An-Nisaa’, and AlMa’idah, and the companion Abdullah Ibn Al Zubair was beside him, still in his ruku’!

11. Win the Grand Finale: Your Sujood
Your Sujood is the ultimate symbol of complete submission to your Creator. The Prophet said: The closest that a servant is to his Lord is when he is in prostration. (Muslim)

And: Prostratemuch because there is no Muslim that prostrates to Allah except that Allah raises him one degree in Paradise by it and forgives for him a sin. (Ahmad)

Imagine you are being raised one degree in Paradise with each sujood and a sin falls off you with each prostration. Prostrate with body, heart, and soul and taste the sweetest feeling in the world!

12. Supplicate Before the Tasleem
After the words of the tashahhud (sitting position at the end of prayer) and before the tasleem (saying salaam to indicate the end of prayer), there is a precious moment many wastes! When the Prophet taught Abdullah ibn Mas’ood the tashahhud he said: … Then let him choose whatever supplications he wishes. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Remember this: the sweetness of this life lies in remembering Him, and the sweetness of the next life lies in seeing Him! The next time you proceed for prayer, go because you love Him, go because you miss Him and long to be with Him… Feel your heart flutter. Only then, will you be on your way to attaining that inner peace and comfort Salah was prescribed for?[Mishari Al-Kharraz]

Republished from Understand Quran.
Courtesy: Khawlah Bint Yahya
Compiled, edited, and adapted by Khalid Latif

 

Acts Which Entitle Paradise And Remove Us From Hellfire

Narrated Mu’adh ibn Jabal: (Allah be pleased with him) I said to Allah’s Messenger [Peace be upon him] ‘Inform me about an act which would entitle me to get into Paradise, and remove me away from Hell-Fire’. The Prophet [peace be upon him] said…
You have asked me about a matter which ostensibly appears to be difficult but it is easy to those for whom ALLAH [the Exalted] has made it easy.
#1/- Worship Allah and do not associate anything with him
#2/- Establish Prayer
#3/- Pay the Zakat
#4/ Observe the fast of Ramadan and
#5/ Perform ‘Hajj’ to the sacred House… [ Ka`bah]
The Prophet [Peace be upon him] then said… Should I not direct you to the gateways of good? Listen to me… Fasting is a shield against evil. Charity extinguishes the fire of sin… just as water extinguishes fire. The Prayer of a person during the middle of the night. he then recited … ‘Who Forsake their Beds’… then he continued… Should I not direct you to the highest level of this matter to the Pillar on which it rests and it’s top?
I said…’Yes, do tell me…Prophet [Peace be upon him answered…The uppermost level of the matter is Islam, its Pillar is the Prayer,
and its Top is ‘Jihad’. Should I not inform you of the sheet anchor of all this…?
I said… ‘Yes, Allah’s Apostle of course do it. he took hold of his Tongue and said…Exercise restraint on it.
I said: ‘Apostle of Allah, would we be held responsible for what we say with it?
Thereupon Prophet [Peace be upon him] said… ‘ Mu`adh, may your mother be bereaved. will anything else besides irresponsible talk cause the people to be thrown into the Hell-Fire upon their faces or on their nostrils?