Are you truly present in your Salah?


Integrating the remembrance of Allah (SWT) into our daily lives offers profound rewards. These moments of remembrance provide a much-needed respite from life's demands, fostering a deeper connection with our Creator. Not only does it calm you down, but it also helps you grow spiritually in amazing ways.

As Muslims, we understand just how important prayer is for all aspects in our life. Not only is the entire act significant but maintaining full focus during prayer is debatably a task with greater significance. 

Prayer is the lifeblood of faith. It purifies the soul, and without it, a person's spiritual essence remains incomplete. A person devoid of prayer is often seen as spiritually empty. Prayer is the foundation of religion, as it fosters a conscious awareness of God, cultivates compassion for humanity, and nurtures inner piety. As such, prayer stands as the most fundamental, sacred, and visible expression of faith. It is stated in the Holy Quran: 

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى صَلَاتِهِمْ خَـٰشِعُونَ

“Successful indeed are the believers: They who are during their prayer humbly submissive [khaashi‘oon]” [23:1-2]

The word ‘Khaashi’oon’ is derived from the word ‘Khushoo’ which is an Arabic term that signifies a deep, focused, and humble state of worship. It means praying with heartfelt attention, fully understanding the words recited during Salah.

This just goes to show how important it is to fully submerge yourself in prayer as that is a designated time for Allah (SWT). It's important to avoid thinking of, or resolving any commodity that would potentially divert your attention towards mundane or less significant things. 

As emphasized by the Prophet ﷺ, salah helps a believer fully experience inner peace. He has said, 

 "The coolness of my eyes is in Salah" (Sahih Muslim)


This just goes to show that prayer possesses the  power to soothe the soul and provide profound spiritual nourishment.

In addition to facilitating one’s spiritual health; it also significantly contributes and provides a devotee with substantial benefits to their physical health. 

For the time being, let's set the spiritual benefits of prayer aside and focus on the physical advantages. The 5 daily prayers can easily be considered as a form of exercise for a Muslim as praying requires the believer to move in multiple different positions all of which are scientifically proven to have numerous health benefits. 

Right in the beginning of salah, when we say "Takbir", we move our arms and shoulder muscles, which helps blood flow towards the torso region. Similarly, the “Akamat” stance provided the same results. The “Sujood” is the most crucial position in our prayer, when we touch our forehead to the ground. This pose sends more blood to our brain just like when some people do yoga and stand on their heads for the same reason. 

Furthermore, during the "tashah'hud" position, the muscles at the front of the ankle and foot are stretched as the toes point outward. With knees and hips bent, the lower back is supported in a good posture, helping to strengthen the core. This way of muscle contraction helps in providing a gentle massage, that further helps the devotee relax and get rid of any muscle tension.

The heart is the most important organ of the body and the movements of the prayer are an excellent source of exercise for it as well. According to a hadith, the Prophet ﷺ himself stated, 

“Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it remains healthy the whole body becomes healthy, and if it is diseased, the whole body becomes diseased. Beware, it is the heart”

Islamic prayers are more than just routines; they're deep moments for thinking, asking Allah for help, and fully giving in to His will. These prayers remind Muslims of their true purpose in life: to worship and serve Allah with all their heart.

The benefits and maintenance to our physical health experienced by prayer are quite apparent, but what do we do if we experience pain or difficulty while praying? Our Merciful Lord, Allah (SWT), understands the limitations of His servants. Therefore, He has provided alternative ways to pray for those unable to perform the full physicality of prayer.

Prayer Mat With Backrest

An extension of Salah is Dhikr, the constant remembrance of Allah (SWT). Unlike formal prayer, Dhikr can be practiced anywhere, anytime, and in any situation. It's a powerful tool for finding inner peace and staying connected to God. Many Muslims choose to engage in Dhikr after completing their obligatory prayers, making it a regular part of their spiritual routine.



During this act as well, if you are someone who experiences back pain, it can become a major pain point to fulfill such spiritual activities. Back pain is mostly a byproduct of overly advanced workout regimes or lifting too much, prolonged sitting and lying down, sleeping in an uncomfortable position or wearing a poorly fitting backpack, etc. 

To have to miss out on your Dhikr after prayer due to back pain is saddening, to prevent such circumstances, DEENIN would like to offer the Ebadat Prayer Rug with Backrest. Discover comfort and convenience during your prayer and dhikr time. Specifically designed to provide back support to people looking to sit back and immerse themselves in connecting with their Lord. Provided in 3 vibrant colors, the Ebadat Prayer Rug with Backrest also is made with extra foam padding to ensure maximum comfort during your prayers. To top it all off, its foldable and compact feature allows its storage process to be completely hassle-free making it a great addition to your homes. Quickly get your own prayer rug as this is definitely something you wouldn't want to miss out on!






 

References:

  1. https://quran.com/en/al-muminun/1-2
  2. https://www.iium.edu.my/deed/hadith/muslim/004_smt.html
  3. https://inspiritedminds.org.uk/2019/08/07/proper-presence-in-prayer/
  4. https://www.rehabilityjournal.com/articles/jnpr-aid1020.php#:~:text=Jalsa%2FTashahhud%20(sitting)%20%2D,core%20muscles%20See%20figure%206.

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