The Virtues of praying Tahajjud - The Night Vigil Prayer

**Hamza Asadullah** · 06-25-2012

Tahajjud - The the Night Vigil Prayer

In the name of Allah the most gracious most merciful

The Virtues of praying Tahajjud

Allah Most High said, "Establish worship at the going down of the sun until the dark of the night, and (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn is ever witnessed. And some part of the night awake for its recital, as voluntary worship for you. It may be that your Lord will raise you to a praised estate." [Qur'an, 17: 78-79]

Abu Hurayra (Ra) reports that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer." [Muslim]

Abu Hurayra (Ra) reports that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was asked, "What prayer is most virtuous, after the obligatory prayers?" He said, "Prayer in the depths of the night." [Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah]

Abd Allah ibn Salam (Ra) reports that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "O people! Spread the salams, feed others, maintain family ties, and pray at night when others sleep and you will enter Heaven safely." [Tirmidhi, Hakim]

Abu Umama al-Bahili (Ra) reports that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "Hold fast to night prayer, for it was the way of the righteous before you, a way of drawing closer to your Lord, an expiation for wrong deeds, and a shield from sin." [Tirmidhi, and others] In some narrations, there is an addition, "And it repels sickness from the body."

Ibn Mas`ud (Ra) said, "The virtues of night prayer over day prayer is like the virtue of secret charity over open charity." [Tabarani]

The scholars explain that this refers to voluntary prayers. Imam Saffarini, the Hanbali faqih explained in his Sharh Mandhumat al-Adaab:

"Night prayer is superior to day prayer because: It is more concealed and closer to sincerity. The righteous early Muslims (salaf) used to strive hard to hide their secrets [f: i.e. the actions between them and Allah]."

Hasan [al-Basri] said, "It used to be that a person would have guests staying over and he would pray at night without his guests knowing."

And because night prayer is harder on the lower self, because night is a time of rest from the tire of day, so leaving sleep despite the lower self being desirous of it is a tremendous struggle (mujahada). Some have said, "The best of works are those the lower self is forced to perform."

And because recitation in night prayer is closer to contemplation, because things that busy the heart are mostly absent at night, so the heart is more attentive and is with the tongue in understanding, as Allah Most High said, "Lo! The night vigil is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain. [Lo! You have by day a chain of business. So remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself with a complete devotion.]" (Qur'an, 73: 6-7) It is because of this that we have been commanded to recite the Qur'an in night prayer in a steady recital (tartil).

And it is because of this that night prayer is a shield from sin.

And because night vigil time is the best of times for voluntary worship and prayer, and the closest a servant is to his Lord.

And because it is a time when the doors of the sky are opened, supplications answered, and the needs of those who ask fulfilled.

Allah has praised those who wake up at night for His remembrance, supplication, and to seek forgiveness and entreat Him, saying:

"They forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend of what We have bestowed on them. No soul knows what is kept hid from them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do." [Qur'an, 32: 16-17]

And He said, "Those who pray for pardon in the watches of the night." [Qur'an, 3: 17]

And, "[The (faithful) servants of the Merciful are they who walk upon the earth modestly, and when the foolish one address them answer: Peace;] And who spend the night before their Lord, prostrate and standing" [Qur'an, 25: 63-64]

Allah most negated similitude between those who pray at night and those who do not: "Is the one who worships devoutly in the watches of the night, prostrate and standing, fearful of the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, (to be accounted equal with a disbeliever)? Say: are those who know equal with those who know know? But only people of understanding will pay heed." [Qur'an, 39: 9]" [Saffarini, Ghidha al-Albab Sharh Mandhumat al-Adaab]

Imam Abu Sa'id al-Khadimi said,

"There is scholarly consensus (ijma`) that among the best of virtuous acts is the night vigil prayer." [al-Bariqa al-Mahmudiyya Sharh al-Tariqa al-Muhammadiyya]

The scholars derived the following from the Qur'an and Prophetic hadiths:

1. The minimal night vigil prayer is 2 rakats. [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]

2. Its optimal recommended amount is 8 rakats, because this was the general practice of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions). [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]

3. Lengthier recitation is superior to a larger number of rakats prayed. [Durr al-Mukhtar, Radd al-Muhtar]

4. If one divides the night in thirds, then the final middle third is most virtuous. [Durr al-Mukhtar]

5. If one divides the night in half, then the second half is more virtuous. [ibid.]

6. Voluntary (nafl) prayer at night is more virtuous than voluntary prayer during the day. However, the full reward mentioned in the Qur'anic verses and Prophetic hadiths refers to worship that was preceded by sleep. This is also understood from the very linguistic meaning of tahajjud, which is to struggle rid oneself of sleep. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, quoting Ibn Amir Haajj's Halba]

7. Ibn Nujaym and Haskafi both affirmed that night prayer is recommended. [al-Bahr al-Ra'iq, and al-Durr al-Mukhtar; chosen in al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya] Kamal ibn al-Humam, the brilliant mujtahid who was the greatest Hanafi faqih of the latter half of Islamic history, however, wavered between it being recommended or a confirmed sunna. This is because while the spoken hadiths indicate recommendation, the continued practice of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would seem to indicate it being a confirmed sunna. This was also chosen by Ibn al-Humam's student, Ibn Amir Haaj in his Halba. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

8. It is disliked to leave the night vigil prayer for one who has made it their habit, unless there is an excuse, because the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said to Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him), "O Abd Allah! Do not be like so-and-so. He used to pray at night and then left it." [Bukhari and Muslim] Therefore, one should take on an amount of works one can sustain, for the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, "The most beloved of actions to Allah are the most constant, even if little." [Bukhari and Muslim] [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, from Ibn Amir Haajj's Halba]

9. It is recommended to start the night vigil with two short rakats, because of the hadith of Abu Hurayra that the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, "It you get up for night prayer, start with two short rakats." [Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud]

10. Supplications in the depths of the night are answered, as the hadiths have mentioned.

Referances: Sunnipath, askimam

Here are a few tips to help us pray Tahajjud each night:

1. Practice Qayloola (short nap) which is to sleep even for half an hour after Dhuhr if we can for this has much benefit in terms of being able to awaken for Tahajjud. Onl;y a short nap will suffice from between 15-20 minutes and no more than 30 minutes. Anymore than this may have negative effects with regards to being able to sleep again at night after Isha.

2. Sleep straight after Isha particularly in the summer months and then awaken for Tahajjud.

3. For women in particular it is easier to pray Tahajjud as they could awaken half an hour or 40 minutes before Fajr starts. Pray Tahajjud and then a little while later pray Fajr. For men it is better to awaken earlier and then sleep and awaken for Fajr with jamaat. Which is better? Fajr with jamaat (congregation) so waking up to pray Fajr with congregation should be a priority for men. If a man knows they will not be able to attend Fajr with jamaat then they may do what is recommended for women and that is to awaken 30-40 minutes before Fajr begins.

4. Avoid major sins in particular because major sins stop a person from being able to stay awake praying and worshipping Allah in the night.

5. Another alternative is to pray Tahajjud after Isha before sleeping. This is less reward but nevertheless still rewarding. A great scholar suggested that if one knows that one will not be able to wake up for Tahajjud then one can pray it before sleeping. Witr should be the last prayer of the night, so after one has prayed 4 fard of Isha, 2 Sunnah and 2 nafil then one can do an extra nafil with intention of Tahajjud and then end the night with Witr.

Make effort and dua:

Therefore should try our best to pray Tahajjud as much as we can and if there was one habit that we would desire to gain then it is the habit of praying Tahajjud prayer every night for it is one of the best ways to get closer to Allah and gain high ranks in the hereafter as well as being able to make dua in the best part of the night. Once a person starts praying Tahajjud then they would NEVER want to go back or stop praying it because of the amazing feeling and sensation of elevation and hightened sense of satisfaction n contentment of the heart. There is no feeling like it and we should all aim to implement this prayer into our daily lives, no matter what it takes. Even if we can pray it once or twice a week then build up from there. The main thing is that we make the effort and most of all ask of Allah and beg of him to give us the ability to pray Tahajjud every night.

Ibn Mas`ud (Allah be pleased with him) was asked, "I cannot pray at night." He said, "Your sins have prevented you."

May Allah give all of us the ability to pray Tahajjud every single night in order that we get closer to him. Ameen

**KnockKnock** · 06-25-2012

JazakAllahu Kheir Hamza InshaAllah I will try to implement this and wake up for Tahhajud

**MustafaMc** · 07-19-2012

Should tahajjud be recited silently, in a low voice audible only to oneself or those very near, or audibly enough for others in the same room to hear?

Should du'a be offered during sujud in every rakat or just in witr?

**Hamza Asadullah** · 07-19-2012

Originally Posted by MustafaMc

Should tahajjud be recited silently, in a low voice audible only to oneself or those very near, or audibly enough for others in the same room to hear?

Should du'a be offered during sujud in every rakat or just in witr?

If you want to pray so that you are more audible during Tahajjud prayer then there is nothing wrong with that as the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) also sometimes prayed loudly or silently during the night prayers. So there is more autonomy in voluntary prayers than there is in Fard prayers.

Regarding making Dua in prostration whilst in prayer then there is a difference of opinion whether or not it can be done in non Arabic during Salaah. It is far better to avoid doing so during the fard prayers but as there is slightly more autonomy during Tahajjud prayers one may utter words such as "Ya Rabb" "Ya Allah" or any other words in Arabic or any Arabic words or dua which is similar to the dua one is intending to make and ask in ones heart without uttering it or ask for forgiveness in Arabic words such as Asthaghfirullah" and cry and beg of him in ones heart for forgiveness. So it is better to avoid using non Arabic during the prayer. But after the prayer one can get into prostration and ask and beg of Allah and cry to him in ones own language.

And Allah knows best in all matters

**ardianto** · 07-19-2012

In my place, one common advice for people who are in problem is "perform salah Tahajjud". Nothing wrong with it, even good. However, it caused a misconception among lay Muslims in my place. They assume, salah Tahajjud is salah to beg Allah, or salah that special only for those who have problem. So, they performed salah Tahajjud only when they got problem.

This is a reality that I have seen my place. And maybe happen in other places too. But this is a misconception that should be 'straightened'.

**Hamza Asadullah** · 07-19-2012

Originally Posted by ardianto

In my place, one common advice for people who are in problem is "perform salah Tahajjud". Nothing wrong with it, even good. However, it caused a misconception among lay Muslims in my place. They assume, salah Tahajjud is salah to beg Allah, or salah that special only for those who have problem. So, they performed salah Tahajjud only when they got problem.

This is a reality that I have seen my place. And maybe happen in other places too. But this is a misconception that should be 'straightened'.

Unfortunately it is a reality for many of us that we only really turn to Allah when we are sad, depressed or are going through trials and adversities, but as soon as we are happy in life and have peace and comfort then we neglect Dua and praising and thanking Allah. So how can we expect for Allah to remember us when we are sad or going through trials and hardships if we do not remember him when we are happy and in peace and comfort? Therefore we should all aim to remember Allah in EVERY condition so that Allah will also remember us in every condition.

May Allah enable us to turn to him regardless of what condition we are in. Ameen

**MustafaMc** · 07-20-2012

Originally Posted by Hamza Asadullah

If you want to pray so that you are more audible during Tahajjud prayer then there is nothing wrong with that as the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) also sometimes prayed loudly or silently during the night prayers. So there is more autonomy in voluntary prayers than there is in Fard prayers.

Regarding making Dua in prostration whilst in prayer then there is a difference of opinion whether or not it can be done in non Arabic during Salaah. It is far better to avoid doing so during the fard prayers but as there is slightly more autonomy during Tahajjud prayers one may utter words such as "Ya Rabb" "Ya Allah" or any other words in Arabic or any Arabic words or dua which is similar to the dua one is intending to make and ask in ones heart without uttering it or ask for forgiveness in Arabic words such as Asthaghfirullah" and cry and beg of him in ones heart for forgiveness. So it is better to avoid using non Arabic during the prayer. But after the prayer one can get into prostration and ask and beg of Allah and cry to him in ones own language.

Wa alaikum assalam, jazak Allahu khayran, for the information. Ramadan mubarak.

**جوري** · 07-20-2012

Are we ever without the need for Allah? I don't recall a time when I wasn't struck by calamity-I don't know that anyone can freely say that they've no problems and at the same time be fully practicing Muslims. 90:4 verily we have created man into toil and struggle

However, little deeds although consistent are better than hitting hard all at once and then stopping.
Do you clean your house one really fantastic clean then neglect it or do maintenance clean all throughout?
Simply remember that shaytaan doesn't whisper only to evil hopeless people without a cause no- he's there every step of the way to cast doubt and make you feel not adequate not good enough just listen to the story of Barsisa by Anwar Al'awlaqi ...
Yes even the most pious are the ones who fall hardest... Don't overwhelm yourself for the religion of Islam is strong and vast and a lifetime of learning and perfecting!

**Serendipity** · 07-23-2012

I do tahajjud as 2 rakats then 1 witr, is that right? And I sometimes say a dua (in arabic) in sujood after saying subhannal rabbia ala 3x, is that right as well?

**QueenofHerts** · 07-24-2012

Am I not able to pray isha prayer 30 mins before fajr, is this not permissible?

**Hamza Asadullah** · 07-30-2012

Originally Posted by StarDust

I do tahajjud as 2 rakats then 1 witr, is that right? And I sometimes say a dua (in arabic) in sujood after saying subhannal rabbia ala 3x, is that right as well?

If that is the way you pray in accordance with the madhab you follow then that is fine. You may make dua in Arabic in Sujood in Nawafil (voluntary) prayers like Tahajjud especially those which are mentioned in the Qur'an and Sunnah.

And Allah knows best in all matters

**Hamza Asadullah** · 07-30-2012

Originally Posted by QueenofHerts

Am I not able to pray isha prayer 30 mins before fajr, is this not permissible?

Salaah should not be delayed beyond its appointed time without a valid excuse. Isha prayer should be prayed within half of the night and should not be delayed unecesserily after half of the night is elapsed although it will still be accepted. What you can do is to pray the Fard and Sunnah's and pray the Witr prayer just beforre Fajr and after praying Tahajjud.

And Allah knows in all matters

**Serendipity** · 07-31-2012

Originally Posted by Hamza Asadullah

If that is the way you pray in accordance with the madhab you follow then that is fine. You may make dua in Arabic in Sujood in Nawafil (voluntary) prayers like Tahajjud especially those which are mentioned in the Qur'an and Sunnah.

And Allah knows best in all matters

Are we allowed to say it in normal fard prayers?

**Hamza Asadullah** · 08-07-2012

Our bodys have a right over us:

Narrated Abu Juhaifa (Radi-Allahu 'anhu):

The Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) made a bond of brotherhood
between Salman and Abu Ad-Darda.' Salman paid a visit to Abu Ad-Darda' and
found Um Ad-Darda' dressed in shabby clothes and asked her why she was in
that state. She replied, "Your brother Abu Ad-Darda' is not interested in
(the luxuries of) this world."

In the meantime Abu Ad-Darda' came and prepared a meal for Salman. Salman
requested Abu Ad-Darda' to eat (with him), but Abu Ad-Darda' said, "I am
fasting." Salman said, "I am not going to eat unless you eat." So, Abu
Ad-Darda' ate(with Salman). When it was night and (a part of the night
passed), Abu Ad-Darda' got up (to offer the night prayer), but Salman told
him to sleep and Abu Ad-Darda' slept.

After sometime Abu Ad-Darda' again got up but Salman told him to sleep.
When it was the last hours of the night, Salman told him to get up then,
and both of them offered the prayer. Salman told Abu Ad-Darda', "Your Lord
has a right on you, your soul has a right on you, and your family has a
right on you; so you should give the rights of all those who has a right on
you."

Abu Ad-Darda' came to the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) and
narrated the whole story. The Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) said,
"Salman has spoken the truth."

Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 189

**Hamza Asadullah** · 08-12-2012

How to be constant in the Night prayer:

There are two type of means one must take to becoming consistent in night vigil worship (tahajjud): inward means, and outward means.

As for inward means, these include:

(1) Learning about the tremendous virtues of night vigil worship (tahajjud)
(2) Reflecting on these virtues
(3) Realizing one's need to seek the means of drawing closer to Allah Most High, and to transform one's life into a life of sincere turning towards the Divine--and realizing that one of the most powerful means for this is night vigil worship
(4) Realizing the need to thank Allah Most High for His innumerable blessings upon one--and realizing that there are few expressions of thankfulness and love like getting up at night, leaving one's need and longing for sleep
(5) Making the sincere intention to get up for night vigil worship

(6) Sincerely repenting to one's sin and wrongdoing--whether related to the rights of Allah or the rights of one's fellow humans--, because night vigil worship is an honor, and Divine honor is not granted to wrongdoers.

As for outward means, these would include:

(1) Asking Allah Most High to grant one the blessing of getting up for night vigil worship, and to facilitate the means of doing so
(2) Going to sleep early, and leaving those matters (such as idle conversations late at night) that would affect one's ability to get up at night
(3) Not over-eating at night
(4) Taking a nap during the day (ideally at some time during the afternoon, if possible)
(5) Observing the sunnas related to sleeping (such as going to sleep in a state of ritual purity, and reciting the sunna supplications and invocations before sleep)

Source: http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.a...8054&CATE=1370

**Hamza Asadullah** · 07-20-2013

In order to help us to awaken for Tahajjud prayer please read and implement the following beneficial tips:

Productive Muslim Sleep Routine

If you’ve started waking up early and working in those early hours of the day as we recommend at ProductiveMuslim.com, you’ll find that it’s pretty hard to be consistent each and every day with this routine. And when you search for the reasons for this inconsistency, you’ll realise that it’s mainly because it’s hard to regulate your sleep; one day you sleep well, so you wake up early and can work hard. Other days, you don’t sleep so well and those early hours are pretty difficult to maintain.

ProductiveMuslim Sleep Routine

Sleep, as any other activity we do as humans, can be optimized by planning well in advance and following a particular routine each night. You might think: “Dude, I just crash and sleep”. Well, that’s one way of doing it, but here’s another routine. Try it out and tell me if sleep doesn’t become a rewarding, spiritual and fulfilling experience for you after this.

The following sleep routine requires you to prepare for it at least 90 minutes BEFORE you actually sleep. And it’s basically dividing those 90 minutes into 3 parts:

1.One third for Your Lord
2.One third for Your Self
3.One third for Your Sleep

1. One third for Your Lord:

This starts with you making Wudhu, brushing your teeth, putting on nice clothes and perfume and praying Tahajjud and Witr for Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) (Note: If you prefer to wake up before Fajr to pray these night prayers then definitely go with that. However, if you can’t trust yourself to wake up that early, it’s better that you pray Tahajjud and Witr Salah BEFORE you sleep). This is my favourite part of the sleep routine and favourite part of the day!

It’s such a calming experience after going through a long hard day, to stand in front of your Lord, recite His verses, supplicate to Him and ask Him of whatever you desire in this world and the Next. Do this for a couple of nights and you wouldn’t want to give up doing it! In fact, throughout your day, you’ll be anticipating this moment and looking forward to it!

2. One third for Your Self:

This is where you prepare yourself for sleep by putting on your pyjamas, getting into bed and reading a good book for at least 30 minutes. If you’re like me, ideas and thoughts will keep popping into your head as you read, and you will want to save them for later. For these, I have a plain notebook and pen/pencil next to me to scribble anything (and I mean anything) that pops in my head! You’ll be surprised how many great ideas originate from these 30 minutes.

Alternatively, instead of reading, you may spend these 30 minutes brainstorming on a plain notebook any ideas, plans, and projects you have in mind. You don’t have to come up with the ‘perfect’ idea/solution, but simply brainstorm as much as you can then literally “sleep on it” (as the saying goes). In the morning, you’ll be surprised at what your sub-conscious mind brings forth for you.

3. One third for Your Sleep:

I’ve said that this is a third for your sleep, but truly this is a third for your Lord to bless your sleep, and basically this involves going through the duas and verses that one should recite before sleeping as per the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). These include reciting Surah Al-Mulk and Surah Al-Sajdah and other supplications recommended before sleeping. For me, this last part of the routine is like the cherry on top of the cake! Nothing fills you with more tranquility than to sleep having uttered the words of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala).

So there you have it, the ProductiveMuslim routine for Sleep. You may think it’s lengthy, but there has been no day that I’ve followed it, except that I’ve slept peacefully and woken up peacefully.

Hope it works well for you and that you have a productive sleep – Sweet dreams!

Click to read more: http://productivemuslim.com/producti...#ixzz2ZcmAZ2Re

**Hamza Asadullah** · 12-22-2014

The Secret to Islamic Success - Night Prayers (Tahajud)

**Hamza Asadullah** · 06-28-2015

3 ways of attaining focus in our Salaah (prayer) - You will be amazed!

How many of us pray our Salaah day in and day out yet we feel nothing. We pray like robots and we gain nothing from our Salaah except wanting it to end as quickly as possible. We still continue to sin like as if we never prayed Salaah in the first place. Many of us who pray even go days without even thinking of Allah during the prayer. This is because our Salaah has been stolen from us by our own negligence and a heedless heart and mind.

Therefore we must put a stop to this at once. How can we continue to pray in such a way when we are missing out on experiencing the true sweetness of Salaah. We are missing out on such great things which can only be experienced by being able to fully concentrate in Salaah with a focused mind.

So we must make a firm intention and internalise in our minds that we will strive to do our very best to concentrate and focus in our Salaah so that we may connect with Allah in our Salaah. Once we have connected with Allah in our Salaah then our lives will change for the better and will never be the same again!

The following are just three steps for us to be able to attain proper focus in Salaah!:

1. Do not overeat:

By overeating our mind cannot remain focused as we feel discomfort from a bloated stomach. We can hardly stand still in our prayer as we ate so much. Therefore we must not overeat before our Salaah but eat until we are satisfied and NOT until we are so full that we cannot even move!

2. Prepare for the Salaah:

When we are prepare to go to an interview then many of us will shower, make sure we smell good, put on our best clothes etc. But why is it when we prepare to meet with Allah in our prayers then we go to our prayer in our pyjamas? We pray in clothing that we would not even imagine wearing outside of the house. This is a pathetic state of affairs we are in. We dress so smartly and look our best when we go to an interview to see a creation of Allah yet when we go to see our creator we dress in our worst clothes!

Who is higher than our creator? Who deserves from us that we be in our cleanest state and very best clothing than our Master the lord of the worlds?

Therefore whenever we approach our prayer then we must ensure that we are in the very cleanest state preferably making fresh Wudu before each Salaah and in our best clothes so that our minds are prepared for the meeting with Allah as the Salaah is a meeting with our creator.

3. Focus on Allah:

Before commencing our Salaah we may have all kinds of thoughts in our minds like work, family, finances, food, our past and future events in our lives and even sinful thoughts. So we must not go into the prayer like this otherwise we will be thinking about all of these things during our Salaah and our mind will be distracted and occupied with all kinds of thoughts. Therefore we must take out a little time even a minute or two to try to focus our minds towards Allah. If it helps to close the eyes briefly then do it. Do the following exercise:

Just before your Salaah:

- Imagine your mind is wiped clean like a sheet of paper. There is nothing in your mind for it is wiped clean. Now focus and Imagine that you are laying on the death bed and you see around your that your family are mourning you. But you cannot respond to them for your are dead. No one else can help you except Allah. Focus on Allah. Only Allah can help you.

- Now imagine that you are being lowered into the grave and when you are put onto the dirt then people start dropping the dirt onto you until your grave is filled. Now who can help you except Allah. Focus on Allah.

- Now imagine that you have been raised up on the day of resurrection onto the plains of Arafat. You are running to the central area for Judgement. People around you are also running and they are screaming and panicking like you have never seen before. No one can help you now. Even your Mother does not look at you because she is in fear. Who will come to your aide except Allah. Only Allah. Focus on Allah

- Now imagine that you are in front of Allah on the day of Judgement and he asks you to show him your prayer. What will you show him as you never even focused properly in your Salaah. You always thought of other things when you should have focused on your creator. So you feel utterly ashamed of showing your worthless prayers to Allah. Therefore you beg Allah for one more chance to perfect your prayer. You ask Allah to return you to the Earth so that you may do your prayer properly. Almighty Allah grants you just one chance to go back to the Earth to show him that you can do your prayer properly.

- Now start your prayer and focus on Allah as you are in the present. Do not think of your past and do not think of your future. Keep imagining to yourself:

"I have no past, I have no future, I am in the present and Allah is watching me".

When you recite Surah Fathiha and any other Surah then imagine you are reciting it to Allah. When you go down to Ruku (bent position) then focus on Allah. When you go to Sajda (prostration) then focus on Allah, When you come up to Tashahud then focus on Allah. Each and everything you recite and every position you go into in Salaah then focus on Allah as he is watching you and the Angel of Death is behind you waiting for you to finish your prayer so that he may take your soul! This is how we should concentrate in every Salaah because each and every Salaah may be our last.

So keep repeating this concentration and focus exercise before each Salaah until your focus becomes 100%. It may begin to be less at first but it will improve gradually. Even if we trip and fall then keep gong until you achieve 100% focus every time. Spend however long it takes before each Salaah so that you can focus before you begin. It will not necessarily be an over night change but gradually you will be able to focus more and more in your Salaah and this focus will also help you to focus in other aspects of your life inshaAllah. Ask of Allah to help you focus in each Salaah to give you the true sweetness of the Salaah.

May Allah enable us to pray each Salaah with full focus and concentration so that we may attain the true sweetness of Salaah!