Inspirational Stories

Salah

6 Steps to Achieve a Quality Salah

1. Focus on your technique.

This relates to each po1sition you take during salah. For example, you can focus on how your feet are positioned during sajdah (prostration) e.g. making sure they do not come off the ground whilst in prostration. Another example can be making sure you're standing upright after ruku' before going into sajdah, etc. I don't want to go into the fine details of each position as salah is practiced slightly differently amongst people, but according to how you are told to conduct your salah, try to follow it EXACTLY like that.

A way of achieving this is to slow down in each position. This would be especially important if you're naturally a quick reader and your salah normally finishes quickly. Slowing down can mean reciting the Quran a bit more slowly or just holding your position i.e. in sajdah for a few seconds more than normal after you have finished reciting. Inshallah, this will allow you to relax and get that piece of mind and sakinah/peace inside of you that you have completed THAT position in a way that is pleasing to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) as opposed to perhaps rushing the salah.

Additionally, you will find slowing down allows the salah to run smoothly in a beautiful manner.

2. Understand what you're reciting.

You don't have to be a scholar to understand what you're reciting. We should make the effort to understand at least some of what is read during salah.
For example, Surah al-Fatihah is something we all read during salah but do we know what, "Iyyaka na'a budu wa-iyyaka nasta aeen" means? (You {Alone} we worship, and You {Alone} we ask for help [for each and everything]. This Surah is also fairly short and therefore not difficult to remember.

Once we understand what we are reading during salah even if it's not all of what is read, then we will find that sweetness you obtain from salah {with Allah's subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) grace} through understanding what we are saying. This can only allow us to become closer to Him.

Also, understanding the different chapters and verses we read and their translation during salah e.g. Surah An-Nas, Al-Falaq, Al-'Asr etc., is something that will allow us to achieve a better focused salah. Those mentioned are very short and are about a couple of lines long but are packed with meaning.
You will find that, in the majority of English translations, these Surahs mentioned with the translation but also their background – for example, where the Surah was revealed and after which incident in the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)'s life the verses were revealed.

That is why it is highly recommended to get a copy of the translation of the Quran (the more recent translations include backgrounds) so you understand what you're reading as well as the story behind it. This will, inshallah, increase the enjoyment we receive from our recitation during Salah.

3. Know your opposition.

This is our enemy, Shaitaan. We are blessed by Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) that we are in a position to be performing salah but this doesn't stop Shaitaan in our salah who is ever busy trying to distract us from our worship.
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. That's why if you find yourself running through your shopping list or what you have to do for the rest of the day then know that this is the shaitaan working its magic.

'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].

If we understand the different tricks of the shaitaan, we can avoid falling into its traps and letting our minds wander in salah.

4. 'Get in the zone'.

This is a reference to getting ourselves focused. When we are doing something important for example completing an assignment, project for work, college or university, what do we do to make sure we are not distracted? This may be isolating ourselves and going in a quiet place which can and should be applied to our salah. Anything that allows us to focus, concentrate and block out the world during salah can only benefit us.

Many people find sitting in wait for the salah, doing zikr (remembrance) for a few minutes is very useful. This will inshallah allow you to forget about the world and the various things you have to do for a few minutes. Therefore, when the salah begins, you will be fully focused.

5. Increase the significance/importance of THIS salah.

Try to think of the salah you are about to perform as the one in which Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) will question you about on the Day of Judgement. This should help us to perform the salah with the devotion, concentration and care we are looking for.

Also, it may help to think of the salah as something we will be marked on like in an interview. Therefore, questions may arise from the salah such as, 'Did the person read with care?' 'Where was their mind during salah?' We should try to truthfully answer and evaluate ourselves after the salah.

Additionally, consider that this salah may be your last. I'm sure if we were told this would be our last salah, we would perform it with extreme devotion, avoid anything and anyone that distracted us and make it the longest salah possible. This is something to reflect on.

6. Continuously make duaa.

This is a vital point to consider for everyone. Duaa should constantly be made to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) as without the help of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) and His willing, we will not be able to perform the salah as required. We should continuously ask Him to send blessings on us and if for example we are struggling with remembering the Quran, or concentrating then we should continuously seek help from Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He).

Also, duaa should be made asking for forgiveness from Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) for not achieving the standards required of us even if we feel we possess some levels of devotion, care and quality during our salah.

Finally, duaa should be made thanking Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) for all His bounties and giving us the blessings to be able to perform salah and pray to him despite our many faults.

A duaa that should, therefore, be read constantly after salah is, 'Allahumma innee ala zikrika wa shukrika wa husni ibaadatik' (O'Allah, help me remember You, to be grateful to You, and to worship You in an excellent manner).

How about you? How do you focus in your Salah? Leave your tips in the comments section so that we may learn from one another!