Remembrance of Allah — Page 93
Twenty-two Methods of Concentration in Prayers 93 Yunhā min Dhālik; Hadith 374). 23 He gave this instruction for the benefit of his Ummah. 13. The thirteenth Method— As I have already men- tioned, when someone stands to offer S al a t, he should do so having made the Niyyat and Qa s ad [Declaration of Resolve]. Similarly, he should also make the determination that he will not let any thought enter S al a t. Of course, everybody knows that he should not permit thoughts to come, but old matters become forgotten. So for this reason when one stands up to offer S al a t he should remind himself at that time that he will not permit any other thought to come to mind during the S al a t. 14. The Fourteenth Method— When a believer stands behind the imam to offer the S al a t, the recitation of the imam keeps him awake and alert. It is as if the imam is safeguarding him. (From this, one can learn how essential it is to offer the S al a t behind the imam. ) But when offering Prayer alone, one should follow this excellent method employed by the Holy Prophet s as , his companions ra , and many great sufis, and that is to repeatedly recite those special verses of the Holy Quran that inculcate the fear of Allah. For instance, when reciting S u rah al-F a ti h ah, repeat the following verse often: * ُنْيِعَتْسَن َکاَّیِا َو ُدُبْعَن َکاَّیِا * You alone do we worship and You alone do we implore for help ( S u rah al-F a ti h ah, 1:5). [Publisher]