قارورة وفه
جنني هواك من حيث لا ادري
The following is some advice to help you preserve and safeguard your prayer, and perform it in a proper manner, which makes it more likely to be accepted,
• Perform Wudhoo’ (ablution) properly because the Prophet
• Leave your house in the state of Wudhoo’ because the Prophet
• Be keen to perform it as soon as its time is due because the Prophet
• Be keen to perform it with the congregation because the Prophet
• Be keen to reach before the Imam utters the initial Allahu Akbar because the Prophet
• Be keen to walk to the mosque because the Prophet
• Be attentive with your heart while performing prayer.
• Wait in the mosque for the next prayer as often as you can because the Prophet
• Learn the rulings of prayer and the Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet
• Perform the regular optional prayers at home because the Prophet
• Beware of staying up late at night because you are likely to miss the Fajr prayer.
• Beware of eating, drinking and laughing too much, because this makes performing prayer heavier on the heart.
• Set your alarm for Fajr or get someone to call you to wake up for prayer.
• Ponder upon the verses recited during the prayer.
• Read about the Salaf (righteous predecessors) and their ambition and keenness to guard prayer
• Think about the glory of Allah The Almighty before you start praying.
• Always say the recommended supplications and remembrance after prayers, and do not leave the mosque before finishing them.
Ibn Al-Qayyim
‘There are five ranks of people in relation to prayer,
First, is he who transgresses against himself by neglecting parts of Wudhoo’, its timings and some of its conditions; and he will be punished.
Second, is he who maintains its timings and conditions, but his mind is occupied during prayer; and he will be questioned.
Third, is he who maintains its timings and conditions and all its rights and struggles against himself not to become busy thinking of something else; so he is in a state of Jihad while praying; and he will forgiven.
Fourth, is he whose heart is fully consumed by praying during his prayer, and his main concern is establishing it properly and perfectly, and he is in a state of servitude to his Lord; and he will be rewarded.
Fifth, is he who does as the fourth, but in addition he sets his heart in the Hands of his Lord, watchful of his Lord, glorifying and honoring Him as if he can see his Lord; his mind is concentrated on praying; and this type is far higher than any other rank; and he is close to his Lord and will have the pleasure of being close to his Lord in the Hereafter .’
Which one of these five ranks do you fit in? Hold yourself accountable and weigh it according to your performance of prayer, because it is an accurate scale.
Ways to glorify the status of prayer:
1. Perform it on time.
2. Perfect its conditions and compulsory acts.
3. Rush to perform it.
4. Feel sorrow if any portion was performed improperly, like the one who becomes saddened for not performing it with the congregation because he missed out on the twenty-seven multiples of reward; or if he was inattentive during prayer, for a prayer without complete submission is like a body without a soul.
