And these are the aadhaan, purification, covering ones awrah,
facing the qiblah, standing, the intention, the takbeer, seeking refuge, the
basmalah, the recitation of Faatiha and another surah, the rukoo, sujood and
tashahhud.
The Aadhaan
When you hear the call of aadhaan then make the terror of the
call on the Day of Judgement present in your heart and prepare yourself
externally and internally to respond and race towards it. Those who race to
answer this call are the ones who will be called out with benevolence on the Day
of Judgement. Remember also the description which Allaah Azzawajall has
given to the Hypocrites when he said:
And when they stand for the prayer they stand without
earnestness (lazy).
The description of the Believers is the opposite of that. They
stand for the prayer whilst rejoicing and with eargerness and liveliness,
turning themselves towards Allaah Azzawajall.
The Purification
When you purify yourself in your home which is the furthest
place (from the place of prayer), then your clothes which is your nearest
covering and then your skin which is your lowest and innermost covering do not
forget to purify your heart with repentance, remorse, firm resolution not to
return to sins, and avoiding injustices (to others). The purification of the
inner self precedes the purification of the external form.
Covering One’s Awrah
It’s meaning is that you conceal the undesirable parts of
the body from the creation. But bring to mind along with this the ugly traits
and characteristics and the scandals of your inner self. Try to bring about
modesty and feel shameful in front of Allaah Azzawajall from Whom no
secret is hidden as it is not possible to cover it.
Facing the Qiblah
This is turning your face away from all other directions to the
direction of the House of Allaah Azzawajall. Know that it is also
obligatory to turn the heart away from all other things towards Allaah
Azzawajall. Thus there occurs in one of the opening supplications of the prayer:
"I have turned my face towards the One Who Created the heavens and the
earth, sincerely." The purpose is the turning of the heart towards
Allaah and its sincerity towards Him after the body has been made to face
the House of Allaah.
The Standing
This is making the body and the heart stand erect, upright in
front of Allaah Azzawajall. Bring to mind along with this the standing in
front of Allaah on the Day of Judgement for questioning and try to feel
and sense the Might of Allaah Azzawajall. Prepare yourself to stand in
front of Him (in prayer) in such a way that it will lead you to safety on the
Day of Judgement.
The Intentions
Fill your intention with sincerity to Allaah Azzawajall,
hoping for His reward, fearing His punishment and loving His nearness. Train and
nurture yourself to recall this sincere intention along with every speech and
action and know that none will be saved on the Day of Judgement except the
sincere ones. Every action which has a desire for other than Allaah is
adulterated and obscured. Allaah Azzawajall said regarding this:
And We shall turn to whatever actions they did and make them
into scattered dust.
The Takbeer
When you declare the takbeer with your tongue it is desirable
that your heart does not treat it as having lied. If there is something in your
heart which is greater than Allaah the Sublime or your hawaa (whim and
desire) is greater to you than Allaah Azzawajall and you are more
obedient to it than to Allaah the Exalted then you have taken it as a god
and your will have declared its greatness. So your saying: Allaahu-Akbar
will have been but a mere expression of the tongue and the heart will have
refrained from supporting the tongue. If it had not been for repentance, seeking
forgiveness and harbouring good thoughts about Allaah’s generosity
and forgiveness this would have been one of the greatest dangers.
An Explanation of What should be Present in the Heart During every Pillar and Moment from the Actions of the Prayer
