Khushu' in Salah: III

One very important thing we must ensure prior to starting our salah is to observe proper covering. Not only is this an etiquette for standing in front your Lord, it will also serve to increase your Khushu' Inshallah. Prior to starting we must see if our clothing covers our satr and how easy it is to move in. The actions of the salah are not new to us, neither are salah timings a surprise; hence we must ensure that we are appropriately dressed. Imagine standing in front your boss at work, or someone respected and fidgeting with your clothes? You would never. Just think - we are presenting ourselves in front of THE Boss.
Another thing is to give each act of the salah its due haq- what that means is; when you go in ruku', say the tasbeeh slowly and properly. You hands must be on your knees, your head must be aligned with your back; this position must be fully observed before moving on to the next act. Then, when you stand in qauma; thats where you say Sami Allahu liman hamidah - it must look like you have stood up striaght and not like you rushed from your ruku to your sujood.
Between your sujood, ensure you sit back up properly. As the prophet saw said, till each bone is back in its place. Most of us dont even sit half way up, just go back down for our second sajdah. Kindly observe the rules of jalsa. Like so, give each act its due haq! Inshallah this will serve to better or increase your Khushu' in Salah

Khushu' in Salah: Wudu

Salah begins with wudu; hence to attain khushu in salah, we need to attain khushu in wudu. Here are some fard (obligatory)and mustahhab (preferred) elements of wudu.

Obligatory:
1) Niyyah to make wudu
2) Wash your face inclusive of rinsing you mouth and cleaning out your nose - once
3) Wash  your arms -once
4) Masah over your head inclusive of cleaning your ears
5) Wash your feet - once
6) Do it in this order only


Preferred:
1) Do miswak before wudu
2) Wash your hands uptil your wrists thrice
3) Repeat act 2,3 and 5 thrice
4) Rinse your mouth with your right hand and clean out your nose with your left hand

Say Bismillah (just that, not bismillahir rahmanir raheem) before beginning the wudu. This is obligatory in the view of some scholars while others consider it preferred.

We all probably do all of it anyway, but knowing is important, so if the need arises we can perform just the obligatory; for eg if there is a shortage of water, if you are in a public place where you cant be elaborate, etc  Also while we are performing preferred acts consciously and for the sake of Allah's pleasure and in the footsteps of our beloved prophet saw, i feel we most certainly renew our imaan.

Ramadan Counter: Ready, Set, GO!

The month of mercy is fast approaching! have you made your preps yet? Its warm up time before your spiritual work-out. Pen out your goals, think about your daily plan - dont just sleep or laze the fast away. Its a blessed month for a reason; shaytan is in chains, you are FREE to earn hasanah in multiples. Do you feel your pulse racing from excitement about how much good you will get writ in your book of deeds! This is a chance for you and me to ask for forgiveness for everything we may have done wrong - imagine we can start anew the other side of Ramadan Inshallah!!
Dont think the fast will be too long. Allah is allowing you a longer fasting period so you may collect more good deeds Inshallah, so you may do more ibadah, so you may seek His pleasure SubhanAllah! Think positive, be excited - make a niyyah to make it your best Ramadan ever!

Shukr: In sickness and in health

I've written about being thankful during the hard times. Wanting to discuss that further i wanted to address pain in particular. I'm talking of physical pain mainly like you when you fall sick and are burning up or when your joints begin to ache. I once read an article about a little 7yr old girl who felt no pain. She had a condition whereby her nerve-endings were devoid of that sensation. My first reaction was wow, thats pretty cool. So i read further, this little girl had blinded her self in one eye, wears a helmet to protect her skull because she has had so many falls, has her arm and legs are in casts most of the time; has had surgeries to insert steel clips in her joints ... all because she has never felt pain; hence does not know how to prevent injury. SubhanAllah.
Change your approach to pain. Doctors will tell you most diseases are diagnosed when people experience pain or discomfort and when they dont - usually the disease reaches a terminal stage before the doctors find out. Our rabb, Allah - who loves us more than 70 mothers, has given us this sensation of pain for our own benefit and SubhanAllah even then He washes away our sins during our time of pain. Next time you have a headache or fever, dont forget to say Alhamdolillah.Inshallah, the Almighty will not only relieve you but your ranks will be raised  because Allah is THAT merciful.

Tips for memorization

I just got a few tips for effectively memorizing from the Quran:
1) Fajr is the best time to learn. Before you've eaten anything and after your salah
2) Abstaining from lying and haram
3) Using miswak
4) Repeat unfamilair arabic words over and over before you attempt to learn the ayah
5) Read the translation and try to pair up the arabic with the language you are reading translation in
6) Listen to a qari reciting the surah (you will find infinite sources on the net). Correct yourself
7) Learn tajweed

Khushu' in Salah: II

For almost every action in salah, there are alternate adhkar that we can read. We usually keep reading the ones we were taught as kids. Take the time to add another dua to your vocabulary and Inshallah it will renew your  khushu'. For eg do you read Subhanak Allahumma wabihamdika when you begin ur salah? Do you know there atleast 2 other adhkar you can read here? Check Azkare- Masnoona or Hisnul Muslim for lovely adhkar we can learn Inshallah.

Majority Rules?Think Again

In the eyes of Allah, numbers have no value. His Majesty is not affected if only 1 person were to enter Jannah or 1000. It is reported in an authentic hadith that most of mankind will enter hell. Also in the Quran Allah never praises the majority. Rather, the majority is usually used when referring to disobedience. When Allah refers to the grateful ones and to the believing ones, He says they are few. My point is, if you are the only one standing on a principle you know is right - stay strong. People may not understand why you are doing or saying what you are,  because thats not what the majority does or says - know that in the eyes of Allah SWT, one steadfast momin is dearer than anyone; know that believers will be of the few; know that grateful ones will be of the few; dwellers of Jannah will be of the few; those who get the prophet SAW's company will be of the few; those who see Allah will be of the few. One wise man used to pay Oh Allah make me of the few! How wise was he and how foolish are we wanting to fit in when we were made to stand out!

ps: i will get reference of the hadith and possibly a clearer ref of the wise man in mention here.