From Inspire Magazine
By SALMA MOHIUDDIN
In a zombie like state I go through the motions of prayer. Forgotten chores, academic epiphanies, and past conversations reel through my mind. I finish four rakahs, then doubt whether I did them and forget which passages from the Quran I recited. My attention shifts with the smallest sound, with concentration a distant mirage.
Many things need our attention from a day to day basis that our minds are constantly engaged, even when we are asleep. It is no surprise then that we carry the chaos of our lives in to prayer. Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him said, “There is no good in recitation unaccompanied by reflection.” Many of us can admit to procrastinating doing prayer, and then rushing at the last moment and addressing the second pillar of Islam with blurred movements and incoherent recitations. Without reflection, prayer becomes memorized movements devoid of meaning and reward.
It is related by al-Baqir, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet of Allah said: When a believing servant stands for Prayer, Allah looks at him until he finishes. Allah’s Mercy shadows over his head, the angels surround him from all sides up to the horizon of the heaven, and Allah assigns an angel to stand at his head, saying: ‘0′ Worshipper! If you know who is looking at you, and to whom you are supplicating, you will look nowhere else, nor will you leave your position.’(Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, Chapter 2, Tradition 22).
Prayer requires a state of relaxation where the mind is alert but not wandering. It is a period of time no longer than five minutes where the mind is aware of the soul. Concentration is an integral part of other major faiths as well. It is written in the Torah: “O’ Son of Man, if you empty yourself, i.e. disengage yourself from all other pre-occupations to make yourself available for My worship, I will fill your heart with richness and I will not abandon you to what you seek and long for. And it will be upon Me to close the door of poverty upon you and to fill your heart with awe for Me. (al-Kulayni (RA), Usul al-Kafi,2, “Kitab al-’Iman wa1-Kufr’, “Bab al-‘Ibadah”, Tradition number 1).
Concentration is a form of respect that requires conscious effort. Fortunately, we can train ourselves to concentrate more fully in prayer. Concentration is like a muscle, with exercise it becomes stronger. Here are a few steps that can help increase concentration while in prayer.
The prayer room should be a comfortable temperature. If the room is too hot or cold your mind will keep on reminding you of your bodily discomfort.
Dim the lights. Reducing the visibility of external objects will help you focus. And the sense of darkness excites feelings of fear and awe.
Burn incense, light a fragrant candle or spray the room with perfume. According to researchers, mildly pleasant smells stimulate the part of the brain that affects emotion.
Use Wudhu (formal/minor ablution) as a means of re-organizing thoughts and preparing for Prayer. There should be no interval of talking and discussing worldly matters between the performance of wudhu and your Prayer.
Prayer is a gift of mercy to human kind. It allows for the rejuvenation of the body and mind five times a day. Through the remembrance of Allah, daily events become more meaningful and sound preparations are made for the Hereafter. Sometimes it is easy to forget, but Allah looks fondly upon those whose prayers are performed with sincere concentration.
