Getting and staying in the Zone during Salah - The Sweetness of Prayer

Do you remember last Ramadan? That amazing feeling when you were up and praying correctly and on time every day, when you were encouraged and encouraging family and friends to join you in perfecting your Islam? What happened to that feeling we had during Ramadan? How can we get it back in the middle of January when Ramadan is in May? How do we obtain that state of intense concentration required for a perfect salah? Maybe it's time for a little spiritual surgery.

There are a few things that interrupt our salah. One is wandering and/or disturbing thoughts. Another is repeating the prayer in a rote fashion. Yet another is rushing the prayer thinking about time.

We all want to feel close to Allah and please him when we pray. It's our time alone with our Lord and he is watching and listening to us. We need to make each prayer count.

If your thoughts wander, or if you are disturbed by terrible thoughts during salat, you are actually in good company. The Sahabah used to go to our Prophet (pbuh) and enquire about the whispers of shaytan that entered their minds during the prayer. His response was:

‘Are you really having such thoughts?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘That is a clear sign of faith.’” (Narrated by Muslim). (Narrated by Muslim, 132 from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah).

Nawawi explains that the fear of those evil thoughts that you dare not think of again or tell anyone about let alone believe, is a sign of pure faith of one who is free of doubt. Shaytan can play with kaffir in many different ways, but with a Muslim who is sincerely praying, his only weapon is waswaas.

The remedy for this is narrated from ‘Aa’ishah that the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) said:

“let him say Aamantu Billaahi wa Rusulihi (I believe in Allaah and His Messenger). Then that will go away from him.”

(Narrated by Ahmad, 25671; classed as hasan (sound) by al-Albaani in al-Saheehah, 116).

Have you ever wondered why someone turned their head to the left and dry spit three times? They are practicing a cure for waswaas:


The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “That is a devil called Khanzab. If he affects you seek refuge in Allah from him and spit drily to your left three times.” He [the Sahaabi] said, I did that and Allaah took him away from me. (Narrated by Muslim, 2203)


Repeating the prayers in a rote fashion dulls the salah. Although you are saying the words or thinking them, the meaning isn't being prioritized. It's like simply repeating words back to your parent because it is what he wants to hear while he knows you don't really grasp the full weight of what you just said. In salah we are in conversation with Allah as if we can see him, he is right in front of us. Even though we can't see him, he sees us. 
 
Here is what I do to concentrate on meaning:

For surah al-fatiha I concentrate on the idea that Allah is a caring Lord, one that will take care of me now and for always with compassion. Not only is he master of this world and humans but of the Jinn and angels. Any trouble I have can be solved by Allah's grace alone. I think about making my Lord proud and staying on the straight path.

For surah al-iklas I imagine a satellite view of the world and then move past that and further out into the milky way and then to other universes and back down to earth again. It gives me the sense of how tiny we are like ants. Knowing what we can imagine of outer space is only a fraction of what is out there, humbles and takes away egoistic thinking. It creates a feeling of majesty for the One who created literally everything.

During the last section of the salah I remember the history and noble lineage of the families of Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) and Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). I remember the story of Hagar (pbuh) and the sacrifices and trials and how they delt with them with sabr. It reminds me of the examples we should live by.

Thinking about time is another thing that makes the prayers less sweet. Salah is time to step out of the daily grind and smell the roses. The best spiritual coffee break there is. Think of it as a much needed break from the world, having a conversation with the One who made you and sharing your hopes and wishes. It really puts a smile on your face.

Once someone described salah to me as a “Muslim meditation”. I can see how this is true. Time to clear your mind of every day worries and thoughts, think about the majesty and miracle of our world and everything that has ever been created in the universes, beautiful angels smiling hovering and listening to us. Just as the hadith states: “Let us relax, O Bilal, with prayer”. It's a source of tranquillity in our busy lives and if we consider this daily on a consistent basis, how sweet life would be.