Have you ever started praying and then found yourself suddenly remembering an item you thought you’d lost or a message you’d forgotten to reply to?
The Prophet (SAW) stated that these recollections during Salāh are the work of Shaytān. Shaytān is always busy trying to preoccupy you with thoughts of everything other than Allah (Jazza wa jall). He (SAW)said, “When the call to prayer is announced, Shaytān takes to his heels and passes wind loudly so that he does not hear the adhān. When the adhān finishes, he comes back. When the iqāmah is proclaimed, he takes to his heel (again). When the iqāmah finishes, he comes back so that he can obstruct the person’s heart with his whispers, saying ‘Remember such and such, remember such and such,’ things which he did not remember before, to the extent that the person no longer knows how much he has prayed” (Bukhārī).
Salāh is a link (silah) to your Lord which your archenemy, Shaytān, strives to break by any means. Therefore, he comes to you with all kinds of whispers and doubts.
Shaytan: The Biggest Thief
Shaytan is like a relentless highway robber. The harder the slave tries to turn to Allah, the harder Shaytān tries to rob him and divert him from this noble path. It is for this reason that when one of the predecessors (rahimahullāh) was asked, “Indeed the Jews and Christians say that they do not experience these whispers (in their acts of worship),” he remarked, “They are telling the truth. What will Shaytān do with a demolished house?”
Anyone who turns to Allah (jazza wa jall) will be assaulted with these kinds of whispers, particularly during the beginning of your journey where Shaytān will try his best to divert you. At the start of your journey to Allah (jazza wa jall), Shaytān will have a greater ‘share’ of your Salāh than you. You will then compete with him, going back and forth, until you secure half of it. You must then continue to fight until you can secure all of your Salāh. The Prophet(SAW)said, “A man returns from his prayer and only a tenth, ninth, eighth, seventh, sixth, fifth, fourth, third or half of it, is recorded for him” (Abū Dāwūd).
The initial stages of Salāh are the period when Shaytān will try to convince you that this is a lost battle and there is no hope. Do not give up. Remain steadfast and continue to work on your khushū in Salāh.
Shaytan will not go near the person whose heart has khushū.” – Sahl al-Tustarī (rahimahullāh)
The Deep Concern of the Sahabah
Uthmān b. Abī al-Ās(raziy Allāhu anhu) came to the Messenger of Allah(SWT)and said, “O Messenger of Allah, indeed Shaytān comes in between me and my Salāh and my recitation of the Qur’ān and causes me to doubt.” The Messenger of Allah (SWT)told him, “That is a shaytān known as Khinzab. When you feel his presence, seek Allah’s protection from him and spit lightly to your left three times.” He says, “I did that and then Allah made him go away from me” (Muslim).
The aforementioned Hadīth indicates the importance the Companions (radiy Allāhu anhum) gave to Salāh and the matter of khushū. It also highlights the existence of a specific shayTān who is assigned just for this task, showing us the severity of this matter. Mentally prepare yourself before Salāh, and remember you are in a fight with Khinzab. Always be on guard and remember that your enemy is lurking, ready to ambush.
How To Fight Whispers
1. Say: O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the accursed Satan, from his madness, his pride, and his poetry.
and spit lightly to your left three times as mentioned in the above Hadīth. Continue to do this whenever you feel his presence, and not just once in a while. (Avoid spitting during the congregational prayers).
2. Ignore the whispers and carry on praying. Fight back the whispers and do not let them drag you down.
3. Try hard not to yawn during prayer, and if this is not possible, then cover your mouth. The Messenger of Allah (SWT) said, “If one of you yawns during Salāh, let him suppress it as much as he can as Shaytān enters (the mouth)” (Muslim).
4. Force yourself to think of what you are saying.
5. Work hard on the other ways of attaining khushū. They will all aid you in combatting the whispers during your Salāh.
Some people mentioned to Āmir b. Abdillāh b. Qays (rahimahullāh) that sometimes they lose concentration during Salāh. He went on to ask them, “Do you experience this?” They replied, “Yes.” He replied, “By Allah, I would rather be struck with spears in my stomach than for this to happen to me in my Salāh.”
“If you are inSalāh and Shaytān says to you ‘You are showing off!’ then make your Salāh longer.” – Harīth b. Qays (rahimahullāh)
Source: /lifewithallah.com
