Seeking the Perfection of Salat (Part 1)

Salat is the second pillar of faith and one of the first things that we should learn after embracing Islam is how to pray salat. However, our instruction should go beyond the rituals of prayer in Islam.  This series of articles is not a “how to pray in islam guide” with each step by step instruction. There are so many guides available online.  Rather, this series of articles will seek to help the Muslim to perfect the salat so that he or she can magnify and reach the highest levels of reward from Allah (SWT) for this obligation of prayer in Islam that Allah puts upon us.  Let us all learn from the wisdom of Shaykh Adly as he instructs us… (Ed.)

By Shaykh Muhammad S.Adly

There are Muslims who come to me saying “Oh Shaykh, I have been Muslim for 6 years and I am only now learning this thing or that thing.” So I say to you as I say to them; don’t worry! I have been Muslim for 66 years and I’m still finding and learning things every day about salah and other aspects of worship. All of us, Muslims, are on a path of knowledge and we must continue to work the best we can to perfect the way that we submit ourselves to Allah (SWT).

The issue of Salat and the perfection of prayer will take several stages to understand and insha’Allah we will complete these lessons in the following issues of the magazine. Before we start to talk about perfecting salaat, we must first talk about the importance of prayer.

What does it mean to be in Salah? It means to be in a private session with Allah (SWT) and to be in communication with the Almighty Creator. It is a scheduled meeting with Him to seek His guidance, protection, and mercy. Rasoulullah (SAWS) said, “… the coolness of my eyes is in prayer,” which indicates the extreme level of peace and tranquility that we should find in salat. In fact, the solution to all our problems is supposed to be found through salaah by communicating with our Rabb (Creator).

Every year I see news about sales, like on Black Friday, when people will stand outside of stores all night long to get a 30% discount on a television. Even Muslims, subhanallah, will spend all this energy and focus into discount shopping. There is nothing wrong with getting a good deal, but we have to ask ourselves if we are taking advantage of the opportunity for salat and putting the same kind of energy into our prayers. It is our nature to put attention, devotion and dedication to the things that are most important to us. What is more important? Half price off the newest game system or communication with your Lord? Which one are we really putting the most attention, devotion and dedication toward?

Let us focus on the next two hadiths to see the beauty of being in salat:

It was narrated by al- Bukhaari in his Saheeh (1145) and by Muslim (1261) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains and says: ‘Who will call upon Me, that I may answer Him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?’”

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (SAWS) said: “Whoever offers a prayer in which he does not recite Umm al-Kitaab (i.e., al-Faatihah), it is defective” and he said it three times. It was said to Abu Hurayrah, “(What if) we are behind the imam?” He said, “Recite it to yourself, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say, ‘Allah said: I have divided prayer between Myself and My slave into two halves, and My slave shall have what he has asked for.

When the slave says: Al-hamdu lillahi rabbi l-alamin (All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)), Allah says: My slave has praised Me.”

Allah (SWT) has promised us in the Qur’an “Indeed, success is for the believers.” (23:1) Who are the successful ones? Who are the believers? The first thing that Allah (SWT) gives us as a quality of the successful is “those who are humble in prayer” (23:2). How many people pray, but they are not praying? People assume that they are praying, but they are not because they have not attained humility and devotion in salaat.

If you compare your prayer to the description in the Qur’an and Hadith, then you may find a big difference between what you are doing and what Allah has prescribed. We have to learn the right way, the proper way to be mindful, to be reflective, and to focus on our success which comes from having our mind and heart in salah.

Consider the following hadith; which may apply to many of us:

The Prophet (SAWS) said to one who prayed badly and was not tranquil and dignified in his prayer: “Go back and pray for you have not prayed.” And he did that three times. Then the man said: “O Messenger of Allah, by the One Who sent you with the truth, I cannot do any better than this, teach me.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When you stand up to pray, do wudoo’ well, then turn to face the qiblah and say takbeer, and recite whatever you can of Qur’aan. Then bow until you are at ease in bowing, then raise your head until you are standing up straight. Then prostrate until you are at ease in prostration, then sit up until you are sitting up straight and are at ease in sitting. Then prostrate until you are at ease in prostration, then get up until you are standing up straight. Then do that throughout your prayer.” (Agreed upon as Sahih).

The Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) tells us in an authentic hadith, “The first thing the people will be accountable for on the Day of Judgment is prayer, Allah will say to His angels (even though He already knows): “Look at my servants’ prayers. Were they complete or not?” If they were complete, it will be written as complete. If they were not fully complete, Allah will say: “See if my servant has voluntary prayers;” if he has them, Allah will say: “Complete his obligatory prayers shortage with his voluntary prayers.” Then the rest of his deeds will be dealt with in the same manner.” (Reported by Imams Ahmad, Abu Dawood, An-Nisa’i, and Al-Hakim)

Not hajj, not fasting… but prayer! Hajj you do once, just one time in your life if you can afford it. Fasting you are required to do one month a year. However, Salah you are supposed to be doing five times a day!

Surah al-Ma’un says, in verse 4-6 “So woe to those worshipers, Those who are heedless of their prayers. Those who do things only to be seen by others.” Therefore, the sincerity of worship is very serious. Also, missing prayer is a sin; you have to seek forgiveness and make tawba. Sometimes people have problems, their minds are fogged up with other problems of this world, and they get distracted. If a Muslim doesn’t pray for a week, he is still Muslim, but he has committed a serious sin. The solution and restitution is to return to prayer; when you are in prayer, you find success, and in sujood, you are the closest to Allah because you are in submission. This is where you reconnect with Allah and find ease to your problems.

How important is Salat? It is so important that when Allah (SWT) greeted Moses (AS) for the first time, He said, “Indeed I am Allah, so worship me and establish the prayer for my remembrance” (20:14). When Jesus (AS) spoke as a baby, the first thing we are told that he said was, “I am indeed a servant of God; He has given me revelation and made me a prophet, And He has made me blessed wherever I am, and has recommended to me prayer and the paying of zakat as long as I live.” (19:20-21)

If salah is good, everything will be good, if salah is corrupt, then everything to follow is corrupted. This is because salah is purification of the heart; it is an expression of love and devotion to Allah. Every stage of Salah is significant physically and spiritually, starting with ablution and ensuring that you are clean from impurities; so your mindset is focused on cleanliness and purity for Salah.

Before the salah, the Prophet (SAWS) used to remind the believing Companions and say, “Pray as if this is your last prayer.” – If this is going to be the last prayer, how much perfection and devotion can you put into it? Here are five things that we must keep in mind before we even make takbir to begin our salat:

1. Rasoulullah (SAWS) said, “If you come to the prayer, come walking, not running” This prepares you before the salat to have respect and devotion, to consider each step. It also indicates that you should not be rushing in at the last minute, but that you have been mindful of the prayer and that you have made the intention to pray on time even before the Athan is called.
2. How do you meet and speak with Allah? Allah commands us, “Put on your adornment (proper and decent dress) when you attend your Masjid at the time of every prayer.” (7:31) That means we should be mindful of what we wear so that it is not only modest but also proper to make salah in. Do not go in sloppy clothing, a torn T-shirt or something with a foul slogan or image. Do not go without grooming yourself properly to stand in salat. So many people stagger out of bed and stand in prayer without taking a moment to make themselves presentable to Allah (SWT). How devoted and focused can you be if you do not take a moment to straighten your hair? Have the mindset of being in a private session with Allah to ask for his mercy, to seek his forgiveness. Allah is the most worthy one for whom we beautify ourselves for.
3. Consider the place you are going to pray. Is there a distraction? Is there anything that would keep you from focusing on salat? Is the TV on? Are there lectures or other noises playing in the background? Is the room too hot or too cold? You should be comfortable and free from distraction where you make prayer so that you won’t be rushing in your prayer.
4. Consider your physical condition before making salat. If you are hungry, eat first (unless you are fasting of course). If you have to use the bathroom, then do that and replace your wudu; don’t be lazy and spend the whole time in salat dancing because you neglected the rights that your body has over you! Get yourself into a condition that is at peace so that you can put your devotion and focus on prayer.
5. Go to the masjid early and wait for the prayer, do not delay. This relates to the first point, but it is especially important for Jumuah. If you come in the middle of the khutbah, then make your two “welcome rak’at” and sit down. Do not go into either extreme of sitting down while neglecting your two rak’at or praying a full sunnah of four rak’at after the two “welcome rak’at”. Be respectful to the khatib and your other brothers and sisters in Islam. Arrive early, pray every prayer that you intend to pray and give yourself enough time to pray them properly with full devotion.

Insha’Allah next month, we will continue with more points to focus on in purifying the salat to prepare for the greatest success in this life and the hereafter.

Sh. Muhammad S. Adly is an author of over 37 books on Islamic topics, including a comprehensive book on salat for new Muslims. Please visit him online and view his videos on YouTube for more lessons from the respected Imam and to purchase his books.