Ammar Alshukry – Mindfulness in Prayer
AI: Summary ©
Mammallow introduces herself to the group and emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and mindfulness in prayer. She highlights the secret of Islam's subhanho data and the secret of Islam's "verbal" and the use of "has been spoken of" in the context of the song, which refers to the negative influence of the speaker's actions on others. The speakers stress the importance of physical preparation, avoiding distractions, and learning to be present during prayer. They stress the importance of avoiding distractions and addressing one's own values.
AI: Summary ©
Fellas, if you guys have any questions, you can feel free to message us in the chat box.
I wanted to welcome everybody to gender circle event. Marshmallow. We're here with Chef Omar Al sugery. He's here from River Oaks and Houston. Is that right?
My husband, he's about to come down. He's actually from Houston. So he's really happy that you're not from Dallas like some other scholars.
So am I.
So Marshall, Asha Kumar here is going to talk to us about mindfulness and salah I won't take much time. But chef if you want to briefly introduce yourself to our group, we'd appreciate it
Okay, um, the last last model sued that can you give me a an idea of how much time we're going for tonight? What's the plan you take all the time you need right guys?
No, inshallah. Inshallah, whatever capacity that you'd like to extend the time to, that's okay. So an hour is good around an hour, hopefully, around around an hour plus or minus, plus or minus, yeah, that's the key here, because we'll see how things go. sha Allah. But yeah, my name is Amara Shoukry. I grew up in Queens, New York. I'm from Sudan originally. And like many kids, whose parents were very attached to their countries of origin, I bet I bounced around back and forth between New York and Sudan. While growing up, and I recently moved to Houston, actually a couple of years ago. So this is year number five for me in Houston, and I was in Clearlake. before and I now live in River
Oaks Islamic, where I am Imam at River Oaks Islamic center. And I'm an instructor for automotive Institute. I was a student and a volunteer and I basically rose through the ranks with regards to motive back in the days in New York as well. Hi, I'm Dylan, I have a degree from an Muller Institute. And I am pleased to be with you all in gymnasts circle tonight. I'm very happy to be with you guys. Is everybody here from Chicago. Is this a Chicago thing or? Most of us? Yeah, most of us are from Chicago. This this our agenda circle. It's the sisterhood group in Chicago. It started off at my house and then thanks to COVID we expanded and so no Mosh now mashallah we have people from
all over. So I see the chat box going off. There's lots of people from everywhere
mashallah, it's awesome.
I see Chicago, Texas, Dallas, Toronto, Canada, New Jersey, Minnesota, Mississippi, Buffalo
you got muted again, she
didn't think interestingly enough, Chicago.
When I when I went to Chicago for the first time, it was you know, when you there are some cities that you have relationship with before you even go? It's just you have there's through what you've seen and what you've heard and you have certain relationship with in Chicago was one of those cities for me. As a kid I grew up watching family matters. It was set in Chicago.
You had the Chicago Bulls and their run through the 90s. And that was, you know, that was my family's team. Even though we were in New York. I just kind of followed what my dad taught him a whole lot like that. He liked the book. So we were a bulls family. But when I when I got to Chicago, I got there in the wintertime my first time and I did not know cold until I came to Chicago like I never felt before like my face was gonna fall off. And that's what happened in Chicago. Summertime. In the summertime Chicago was as beautiful as anyplace in the country. Mashallah, that's a lot of luck. But your pizza is not pizza. So I don't know what what that's about Chicago style. But I did
enjoy Italian beef. When I was introduced there to Italian beef. That was nice.
I wrote a poem it goes in a land where vivid stories are told of great fires, Great Lakes and mobsters of old Al Capone was from Chicago right? Championships carried on the dreams of the bowl. The first feelings nostalgia second feeling is cold.
It's been a long time since I wrote that poem after I
and you ask yourself where the weirdness will stop where gyros are called giros. That was really strange to me. And so it is called Pop. Nonetheless, you'll participate beyond belief and destroying deep dish pizzas and Italian beef. I didn't really enjoy deep dish pizzas that was just for the line and for the audience, but
reminisce walking down streets no walk down streets reminiscing of Gotham, surrounded by the majestic and awesome. As a snowflake descends down the Magnificent Mile, the ambience of Chicago you can't help but love itself. Anyway, that was the Magnificent Mile. That's what it's called. Right?
Yeah, that was just
I think I remember writing that in 2008 2009. And, you know, the dark night, the dark night was actually filmed in Chicago. Yeah, you remember that? That's why Gotham that live, right? Yeah, no, it makes sense. I'm actually from St. Louis. But I moved here to Chicago during med school and residency. And this is where I met my husband.
At the end of this class, we need to hear you do a poem about gender circle. So my gender circle, yeah.
Depends on how my gender circle experience is going to be so.
Cool. So let's begin. Right? So at hamdulillah Salam, ala Rasulillah is like the same Seema cathedra. So this session is on mindfulness and prayer. And I'm basing it on a book by a author named Dr. Heidi abou shaggi. And Dr. Heidi Bucha. It I don't know if any of his books are translated, but his his writing is just beautiful in so many spheres. So if you have access and can Google up his name, and just find random books on whatever, he's always worth the read. And so this book is called The Oh with Amara are suddenly praying for the first time praying for the first time. And it's all about mindfulness in the prayer. And so I'll be I'll be snipping from that as well as
from ignore pain and claim also has a book called a short for Salah, which is mindfulness and prayer. And I know that for sure, has been translated into a lot of things concentration and
humility and brokenness. But I do think the best translation for our purposes in the time that we're living, where people will understand what you mean, is this term of mindfulness, and mindfulness in the prayer starts,
from the very beginning,
just recognizing, if I can give an introduction that when you look at the prayer, the difference between a prayer that is prayed perfectly right completely, versus a prayer that is rushed.
At the end of the day, if you were to count the minutes, between a prayer that is done with thought, Nina, with tranquility, with serenity, where every station has given its right in the prayer, versus a prayer that is just bagging it out without much benefit. It's maybe cumulatively two minutes or three minutes is the difference. Right? It's just two minutes or three minutes.
But the difference is like between the heavens and the earth. And so the prophets of Allah, they send them says the worst thief is the one who steals from his prayer, right? It's just a matter of two minutes and three minutes, but yet for some reason, and a lot of that reason is che pod because he doesn't want you to pray, because that is the thing that vexes him the most if we get to that Inshallah, to Allah, but the difference between the two is just a matter of two, three minutes. And so, you know, just in introducing this topic, the first thing that we have to do with regards to mindfulness is just not rush. Take your time, take the extra two minutes, tranquility is the name of
the game and not just in the prayer, but before the prayer, and hence the Prophets the lightness and I'm told us to not even rush with the prayer that when you walk to the prayer that you walk with a tranquility with the serenity that you never run to catch the Salah in the messages that you walk to it you keep your pace, you don't you don't increase your heart rate to catch the salah. No, come with that tranquility come with that serenity. So that's the first thing so I want to just knock out some some really important aspects right from the beginning. If anybody needs to log out in 10 minutes, they've already benefited in sha Allah. So number one is taking your time in the salon.
Number two is variety is key. Variety is key variety is the name of the game.
When we talk about mindfulness, presence of mind, I want to give you guys an example.
When you are driving home, when you're driving home from your workplace, or you're driving home from your masjid, or you're driving home from your daily commute, whatever that daily commute is, and you're talking to somebody on the phone and you're not thinking of the roads at all you are completely oblivious to everything around you. But your normal exit that you take your normal exit that you take is blocked and
in there, you look at your GPS, and there is some crazy detour that you have to take. And you're talking to that person on the phone, and you have to get off three exits down now an area that you never get out at, and is unfamiliar to you. What do you say to that person on the phone? That's my question. What do you say to that person on the phone? When you now are getting off at an exit that you're unfamiliar with? The answer is,
I'll call you back. Right? And what are you saying? You are saying, I'm going to call you back because I am in unfamiliar territory that focuses that requires my focus. Me being in that unfamiliar territory requires of me mindfulness. I can't be mindless in this moment. I can't be robotic in this moment. And so one of the greatest tools that we have to create mindfulness in the prayer is variety in the prayer variety. If every single Salah you walk in with the thick, same three sword as the same tensile as or what have you, then yes, it's going to be very hard for your Salah to not be robotic. But
we usually have some sore that we've memorized in our lives, that even though we know them, they're just not heavy in our rotation. I'm talking about Solothurn Bina, right, I'm talking about solid, maybe a thicker thought there are so that we are maybe how I seem sort of the Bacara I don't know, everybody's got a different variety of sort of that they might have memorized. But it's not in their rotation very heavily. And so these are the sorts that you want to dust off, or maybe as well learn new swag, right, learn no sweat as well. You know, it's a really interesting dichotomy that you either have people who have memorized Usamah, or some of yours, I'm more 10 sort of resemble. And
then you have a father of the Quran. And we don't have much variety in between the people who know fiber does that and the people who know seven, and the people who know six, and the people who know 10, right, and that comes from a culture of just continuing to learn the Quran, but in any case, varying and that's why in every station of the prayer, there is variety, every station, what do you get up when you when you say, when you get up from record, what do you say there's a variety of things for you to say, when you enter into the prayer, there's a variety of things that you can say, when you are instituted there's I mean, the world is open and beyond it's while you're into you,
it's for you to converse with ALLAH SubhanA data. And so that variety should force inshallah data, presence of mind and mindfulness. So that's number two. Number three, is recognizing that this is going to take time.
This information that we're going to share, Inshallah, tada take your time with it. It's a roadmap. It's not just about the destination. It's not just about the destination, but it is about the journey. And that's why you find so many of the sellers, when they talk about the sweetness of prayer, they'll say I struggled with the prayer for 10 years. Pamela, I struggled with it for 10 years, or 20 years. And then I tasted it sweetness after 20 years. And so recognizing that there is beauty in the struggle, not being disillusioned, not giving up, not losing faith, not losing heart, that Shahla My goal is to continue to focus on my prayer, to be concerned about my prayer, to try to
perfect my prayer as best as I can.
That's number three, number four is to recognize the whole short is like Iman, for sure, this mindfulness, it goes up and it goes down. It doesn't say stagnant. And so if you're not working on raising it, and if it isn't increasing, then it's decreasing.
So I want to make sure that there's something that I'm always going to be working on the province of allied ism said the first thing that will be lost from this ummah is mindfulness in the prayer, right. 1400 years ago, mindfulness of the prayer has been a struggle with the Ummah ever since. And every generation, it gets more challenging, and it gets more difficult. And so we want to be sensitive, and we want to guard this because it is incredibly valuable, because we know and Allah says those believers are successful. Who are they? Those who have in their salon? Oh, sure. Those who have mindfulness in the prayer, right, so those who guard their prayers and are present in their
prayers. Number five, or was this number four? Number four? It No, this is number five, emptying your heart before the prayer. This is a protip. emptying your heart before the prayer. And what I mean by emptying your heart is as the great companion of the Prophet some of it is and then he said, Michelle, Carla, Julie, and yep, that'd be Hagerty, Kabbalah the holy Salah yet fulfilled Salah are called boo Farah, he said it is from the under it is from the understanding of a person the wisdom of a person, the fifth type of person, that they resolve any issues they have before entering into the prayer so that when they enter their heart is unoccupied.
so that when you enter into the prayer, you know what if there's something if there's something on the stove real quick that I can resolve, before jumping into a lot of the hot now and I shouldn't be jumping into a lot of blood in the first place, but the notion of if there's something that I need to get done, then let me get done with it now, and hence, I mean, and this this manifests in a lot of different ways, this notion of let me resolve whatever it is that I want so that when I enter into the prayer, I enter in with a mind that is unoccupied. So whether it's food the Prophet saw the light is and I'm says that when I shot is presented, which is dinner, and the Russia is is is is, is
present the time for Asia, then eat first don't sit there smelling the food and being hungry and all of that and, and try to have a focus prayer note, take your time, eat, enjoy, get satisfied. And then enter into Salah so that your mind is focused. The province of allied SNM says do not pray while you are repelling the two filthy things both which is basically urine and defecation. And so you are avoiding you don't pray while you need to use the bathroom. Right? I'm trying to keep my will do so let me pray right now. No, the Prophet sallallaahu Selim says don't do that. Use the bathroom, renew your role and then come so that you have a heart that is gathered and a mind that is
unoccupied. Okay.
And of course it comes to any other issue as well. Anything else that you are preoccupied with that you resolve it before entering into the prayer?
The importance of the prayer Imam Matisse sets in Mr. Kudrow home minute Islam, Allah did help the Himalayas Salah their portion, the portion of people from Islam is proportionate to their portion of the prayer and their Raha their hope in Islam is in accordance to their hope or their desire for Islam is in accordance to their desire of the prayer, their love of the prayer.
Fight if nutsack says So recognize yourself and know yourself. Why is that until calla Catherine Islamia InDeck. And he says and beware of meeting Allah subhanaw taala with no share of Islam with you or no, no, no respect for Islam or no love of Islam with you. Because your share of Islam, the share of Islam in your heart is in accordance to the share of the prayer in your heart. The share of Islam in your heart is in your share is in the share of the prayer in your heart. And so recognizing the importance of this prayer, that is not a burden rather it is something that Allah Subhana Allah Allah gifted us the ability to communicate with him, the prophets Allah lioness and ascending to the
heavens, to receive this command of the Salah. How many a prayer did we pray distracted? How many a prayer in our lifetimes did we lose to Bliss? How many battles have we lost? And so the secret of the prayer is in turning towards Allah subhanho data with your entire being your body and mind, your body and, and just like it's not permissible to turn your body away from the table endless Allah, if you turn your body away from the table in the Salah, then an obligatory prayer, then your Salah is negated, it's canceled it's voided. And if a person if that's the case, with regards to a person turning their body away from the fibula, what do you think about the person who turns their hearts
away from Allah subhanho data and the prayer. And this, this presenting yourself to ALLAH SubhanA data happens in a number of ways. Number one is in protecting yourself from all of the whispering and the distractions that take away from the reward of the prayer, right? Having complete focus that I'm not engaging in anything else when it comes to the prayer. And you know, one time I was having this discussion about mindfulness,
and a convert brother, he comes up to me and this brother, he he says to me, he says, Is there something wrong with my prayer? And I said, What do you mean? And he goes, you know, you're talking about being distracted and all of this type of stuff and fighting it. And I said, Yeah. He said, Well, I don't experience any of that.
He was like, when I enter into the prayer,
and everything disappears.
And is just me and Allah subhana wa Tada. And he was like, I get goosebumps when the time of prayer comes. I don't even have to check my event app or anything like that. He said, I get goosebumps, my body responds to the time of prayer and he said, when I'm outside of the prayer, I feel less alive. I feel like I am most alive when I enter into the Salah, and everything else
is just like a shadow of life. And he's like, I can't wait for every so long. I can't wait. It. There's nothing that I enjoy in this world more. So what's wrong with my prayer? I'm like, Dude, there's no, there's, there's nothing wrong with your prayer, okay? I read about your prayer and books, okay? I read about your prayer books, there's problem with our prayers. That's what we're trying to work on, we're trying to get like you. But that is a bounty of Allah subhana data he gives him whatever he wishes, some of us are gonna have to work for it. Some people Allah subhana data gifts it to, in any case,
protecting yourself from all of the whispering and distractions that take away from the reward of the prayer, turning to Allah subhana data number two, turning to Allah by exalting him and being in awe of him worshipping a lot as if you see him
that when I use this word a lot, I love it very much that you are entering into an audience with Allah Subhana Allah, you're entering into an audience with the King of kings, and it's just you and it's just him. And so when you enter into the Saba that you are in awe of him, you are worshiping Allah as if you see him. And then number three, that you're turning to Allah by contemplating the meanings of that which is said in prayer, and pondering over them deeply. Thinking about the meanings of prayer, and the meanings of prayer. I have two resources that I want you to look over. Number one is, it's on YouTube. It's a course called sweetness of Salah by Dr. Mohan Abdulaziz Dr.
Mohan Abdulaziz he has a course called The sweetness of Salah and you can find that on YouTube. And it is unbelievable. It's maybe seven or eight years old that recording is
but number two we have another series which is on a Muslim supporter which is called Faith essentials the online faith essentials the online as you hear my my baby screaming in the background, but that's okay. We're in quarantine. We're all locked up together.
She's just trying to give me her feedback as well. But
meanings of prayer, meanings of prayer by Tamia Zubair, and this is on faith essentials dot online to me as were started to me as the daughter of Dr. Farhat Hashmi, right, a world renowned scholar, may Allah preserve them both. And her course is called meanings of parents on faith essentials online, it goes through all of the meanings of the prayer as well, right? But here we're talking about the meanings of not just what is said in the prayer, because we're gonna go over some of those inshallah. But even the meanings of the Quran itself, right, and this is a lifelong journey for all of us, that when you are reading the book of Allah subhanaw taala, that you are understanding what
is being said, and what is being communicated to you now. We're starting the prayer.
How do we start the prayer? Well, even before we start, we gotta prepare for it. And how do we prepare for it, we'll,
we'll do and we'll Lou has two dimensions, it has an inner dimension, and it has an outer dimension. The outer, of course, is purification for the body and preparation for the limbs for acts of worship. And like your Mama loves it, he said that when you are making a will, that you recognize that sins are falling with every drop of water. And so when I'm washing my hands, the sins that I've committed with my hands are dropping. And when I'm rinsing my mouth, the sins that I have spoken, are falling out of me. And when I'm washing my face, the sins that I've committed with my eyes, and when I'm coming to my arms and my head, when I'm washing my feet, right, you're just imagining sins
falling off of your body through this, this physical cleansing. The inner is that so that's the outer is purification for the body, and preparing the limbs for the acts of worship and then you have the inner which is purifying the heart from the contamination of sins and cleansing it with repentance. And so Allah Subhana Allah appears the two together the physical purification, and the inner purification that happens when when Allah Subhana Allah says, in Allah you have buta webbing, where you're able multiple hearing ALLAH SubhanA. Allah loves those who repent, and he loves those who purify themselves. And so I have the physical purification happening and I have the inner
purification happening by seeking forgiveness from Allah subhanaw taala and repenting to Allah and Allah Subhana Allah loves those who purify and those who repent. And that isn't sort of Al Baqarah verse two to two so the numbers two to two.
And the prophets that ally Dave's and then he told us he says mommy come in. There is no one yet thought but there is no one who makes will do and so they perfect their will do and then when they perfect their will do they say a shadow Allah Allah illallah wa had the whole actually gonna wash I don't know Mohammed Abdullah Surah 40 hatherleigh Who avoidable gender samanya Yat Holdeman au Harsha in Muslim, he says except that all of the gates of paradise are open
and eight gates of paradise are open, they will enter from wherever they wish, from whichever one they wish. And so when you make will do remember this nicotinic because all of the gates of paradise will be opened for you. And then we enter into facing the Qibla.
You face the Qibla. And in that moment where you are facing in the Tabler, you raise your hands in emotion, as if you are casting the world behind your shoulders.
What am I throwing behind, I'm throwing behind me that paper that's due. I'm throwing behind me where I parked my car, I'm throwing behind me every bill, I'm throwing behind every argument that I had, right? Because I recognize that Shavon is going to throw all of these at me. As soon as I enter into the bar, I'm taking all of this and I'm throwing it up. I'm throwing all of this out.
shaytaan is so aggressive as soon as you enter into the prayer. That's why we've all experienced this when you entered the Salah, all of a sudden you start remembering things that you hadn't thought of all day. All day, you haven't thought about that paper that's due two weeks ago. And then you're like, Man, the professor mentioned the quizzes tomorrow, all of a sudden you remember the quizzes tomorrow? You had forgotten about it for two weeks. Right? And that's why Hanifa from his his genius, may Allah have mercy on him. Imam, Abu Hanifa Imam came to him and he said, You know, I had I had buried some money of mine. And I have no idea where I buried it. I have no idea. And so
remember, Honeyville told him he said, Go and pray to rock house.
And so the man went to pray to rock us. And he started his salah. And before he even went to the core, do you remember where the money was? And he just exited the prayer. It's like a really simple guy. He just exited that he didn't even finish the prayer. And then he went and he found the money exactly where and he went to the mambo Khalifa and told him and he said a Supanova He said, As soon as I enter into the bear, I remember where it was, and Abu Hanifa Hamdulillah. He said, I did not think that che thought would leave you alone to pray to look as to Allah soprano that
just took us he's like, I don't think Shavon would have let you do that. Right. And so we recognize that when you enter into this prayer, I am casting behind everything of any importance or any significance and a lot of times of no significance. Whatever the entire world I'm throwing it behind me. And if that is the case, then cast What is your heart, aside from the moments in that prayer and remember that ALLAH SubhanA data turns to the one who isn't in the prayer. As long as they don't turn away.
I shouldn't be alone now she asked us for the loss of Allah they send them about about looking left and right in the prayer also, he said this is a way of stealing that she thought takes away from the prayer of a person Shavon whatever. And this is something that we have to be aware of that when you enter into Salah you are entering into in general you are you are at war with JSON in general. Okay, just your entire existence and this is something that we forget that every single day you have an I have an enemy that wants to destroy you.
Luckily then Allah home Sirata Mr. Kim shaytaan says in the Quran, he says I will sit for them on your straight path. I will I will be waiting to ambush them.
And then I will come to them mean bein ad him. We mean hopefully him why a man him Why should my ad What did you put on Shaqiri he says I will come to them from before I will be waiting for that on your straight path. And I will come to them from in front of them and from behind them and from the right of them and from the left of them. He's describing a complete ambush. You're just lollygagging down the straight path you're just killing minding your business. And che Athan is coming to and he's declared it in the Quran. And so this is and you know, I once was looking throughout the Quran to see what was the thing that Allah Subhana Allah commands mankind the most? What was the thing
that Allah commands mankind the most? When he says, Yeah, you have Nast? What is the thing that Allah is admonishing or encouraging or what is the address that Allah makes the most to all of humanity, the Muslim and the non Muslim. And the number one thing was to have Taqwa. Right, and it's incredibly important and consistent. Then the number two thing that Allah subhanaw taala commands mankind to be aware of, is to take Shavon as an enemy.
Recognize that he's your enemy. He's not your friend, he is for you and a clear enemy, so take him as an enemy. Take him as an enemy, meaning he is your enemy. Don't take him as a friend don't think that there's some sort of truce that happened. There's no truce, it is war from the time you enter this world until the time you exit, and if that is the general case, then recognize that salah is a battle
that is war, but every Salah that you pray is a battle
and shaytaan as soon as you enter into Salah he attacks and so the province of the lightest enemy is asked by Ayesha and he says and he says that is
is a stealing that shaytaan does from a person's prayer. And so guard your mind, guard your heart, guard your mind's eye from falling into distraction. Allah subhana data says, Yeah, you ended the latter Karabo Salah for antem suka Allah. Allah says don't enter into the prayer while you are drunken.
We're not just talking about being drunk from alcohol here. We're talking about a drunkenness that comes from negligence. Can you imagine a person entering into the audience of a kink? Someone entering into the quarter of a king, someone entering into the office of a king? And they walk in? And they have this kings undivided attention? What do you want? What can I help with you? You with? What is your need? What is and they say, set up, walk around, touch some stuff in the office and walk out. They had the king's undivided attention. Right? Or maybe they're not even listening to what the king is saying they're ignoring the king just being I mean, that person might have entered
into an audience with the King, and instead incurred the king's anger, the king's wrath, the king's punishment. And so we want to avoid we want to be aware of entering into the Salah, and somehow some way earning ALLAH SubhanA diatas anger, what do you have now to take B so we thrown the world behind us and we said Allahu Akbar, right? Allah is greater, greater than what greater than everything.
And that could be it is two types.
According to Moodle, he says, The first is the tech be of the Saba code, the tech being of the foreigners, the people who are first, right, that's a bit of the first the people who are ahead of everybody else. And the tech bit of the CIBJO code, he says is the technique where the author fills that person's hearts, and then channels upward until it manifests in their tongue. And so by the time they said Allahu Akbar, their chest has been filled with awe and reverence and love from Allah subhanaw taala, it starts at the heart until it reaches their tongue where they pronounced Allah. Right. So you see that.
And he says, this is this is like the top of the top these types of people by the time they get into entered it, they've already been immersed in awe and reverence. And then he says, the other is the tidbit of deceit, and mock deceit. So plus it is, you know, the person was not in the front, but they're, they're the average guy.
And that is the person who begins with the remembrance on their tongue.
But the meaning of the tick bead then transfers downward, so you have from the bottom up, and then you have from the top down, top down, the first thing they say is Allahu Akbar, right? They don't enter in with that state, but they're saying Allahu Akbar. And now they're entering into the zone of the prayer, it transfers downwards, and then they wrestle with their intentions and distractions, until their heart is occupied by the presence of Allah subhanho data. And so we were reminded that the statement itself is Allahu Akbar, right? That's the first thing you say. The first thing that you say when you enter into the prayer is Allahu Akbar, Allah is greater. And so beware that the
first statement that you make in the prayer be a lie.
Beware aware that the first statement you make as you enter into the salah be alive. What does this beat itself cure? When you say Allah, but it cures arrogance, you are reminded that ALLAH SubhanA data is greater than you are and, and
pride and arrogance is continuously cured in the Quran. Because arrogance is the greatest impediment to benefiting from the Ayat of Allah. Arrogance is the greatest impediment to benefiting from the Ayat of Allah Subhana Allah to Allah. Allah says in surah, the latter half of the latter verse 146, sorry for an 80 Latina take a bona fide ability to help
when your ocular it now ubia
Allah subhana Dias I will turn away from my science, those who are arrogant upon the earth without right and if they should see every sign they will not believe in it. And if they see the way of consciousness, they will not adopt it as a way and so arrogance becomes this great impediment and in fact even in Surah Al Fatiha er cannot be the way er can study you alone. Do you worship and you alone? Do we seek for help? Should Islam irritate me? And he says that this verse cures to incredible diseases in humanity. Number one, is it showing off right intending other than Allah intending an audience other than Allah Subhana Allah with your actions, your acts of worship, in
particular? How does it cure it? You say yes and not would you alone? Do we worship? I'm not worshiping anyone else. I'm not seeking anyone else. So it cures it yet number one. What Yeah, can I stay you alone? Do we seek for help? What is that cure? It cures
Killer. It cures arrogance. Every single believer no matter how strong no matter how rich no matter how connected, no matter how resourceful no matter how powerful, they all declare to Allah subhanaw taala I need your help. And you alone do we seek for help? And so when we pray today in sha Allah, you're praying your next prayer, when you say Allahu Akbar, remember these meanings and remember whose presence you're going to enter and then we enter into a stiff da, and then a stiff DA is you know, the beginning of the prayer, what you say even before you recite Surah Fatiha and the prophets of Allah they have said them he would say Subhana Allah humo behenic. What about a customer with an
aged look whether Allah has a route, as reported by necessity, he says, Go exalted, so behind is exalted.
Subhana means exalted. Can I give you guys I'm sorry, we're already so far behind. But let me give you guys
let me guys let me give you guys a gift. Okay, this is my gift for you guys.
The word sub Han is generally translated as what is generally translated as Glory be to God. It doesn't mean Glory be to God. It doesn't mean that at all, cool.
Sub Sub Baha means to exalt sub Bahasa literally sub Sahara means to move away from and that's why swimming in Arabic is called Siva, I'm moving away from the shore. Right? Um, and so we'll call off the felonious balloon. Allah subhana data talks about the planets, they're all in orbit, everything the sun and the moon. They're all Yes, backbone. They're all in orbit. There's motion involved. And so what does this beef mean? It means that I am declaring Allah subhanaw taala, far removed, far removed from what from imperfection. And that's why you'll find in the Quran that Allah subhanho data will say Subhana after an imperfection has been attributed to him.
They said that Allah has a son Subhana
Allah is Exalted from this imperfection. So behind Allah, the SRB abtahi laden exalted is the one who took his servants on a nice journey from a mystery that has been a mystery that up so you don't think Allah has the power to do that? Allah is above the imperfection of inability.
That's why you'll find the Quran if you read the Quran, you'll find that the route whatever ALLAH SubhanA data says Subhana that it will be following a imperfection that they attributed whether that the angels are his daughters, or whether it's the gin or what, you will find that cool. And in fact, even when, when we ascend while we're traveling, we say Allahu Akbar, because no matter how I hide, Yet Allah is greater. And when I descend, I'm walking downhill. What do I say? I say, Subhan Allah, Allah is Exalted, from lowly places. And when I lower my face onto the ground, I Say Subhan Allah, Allah, as I lower myself and humility, my Lord is the highest and the prophets of Allah they set it
up when he said something when he saw something that he disliked because it was imperfect, he would say Subhan Allah we flipped it somehow everybody the Arab and the non Arab we all flipped it. And so now we say subhanallah when we see something perfect, we see something amazing we're like this sunset is so beautiful Subhanallah
but that's not know when you see something perfect. What are you supposed to say? You say Masha Allah right sort of them calf La Quwata illa biLlah when you enter into your Jana, why don't you say Masha Allah La Quwata illa biLlah Subotic Allah right all of these phrases are phrases that we can say now,
I am not sharing this with you, I understand that the entire Muslim Ummah is getting this wrong, okay, the entire Muslim Ummah, I am not sharing this with you so that you cannot become the Subhanallah police and you go and you try to correct everybody like everybody's gone in a direction. But you know what, we're in a bit of a we're in a session of knowledge. And so we are supposed to know more than the average person so I'm not sharing this with you so that you can be the Suppan police. But I am sharing this with you so that you can have some fun with it on your on the next time. sha Allah after this Quarantine is over and you get invited to your friend's house and they
cook a meal and they're excited and they say to you how is the meal you can look at them you can smile real big and you can say subhanallah
Subhanallah it was
anyway, in fact, when we hear the when we hear thunder, what do we say when we hear thunder? We say so behind the leather you said the Harajuku Hamdi while Milan economic confetti. Exalted is the one who the angel
was exalt. And so why do we say sort of Han? In the moment where we hear thunder? What is the imperfection that we are exalting Allah subhanaw taala for? Well, we know that primitive societies What did they believe about thunder? They believe that thunder was the voice of God. They believe that thunder was chariot chariots right by the gods riding through the heavens, right? So there's all sorts of all sorts of, of beliefs tied to this notion of thunder. And so we say Subhan Subhanallah these are the Harada behandling. Anyway,
I was a quick tangent for us here. So what do I list if that you Say Subhan? Allah Subhana Allah Houma rather Exalted are you that I will just remind them of all of this because the translation says Glory and Praise be to you, Oh Allah, and it's not glory. So Han means Exalted are you Oh Allah, and bless it is your name and exalted be Your Majesty, and there is none worthy of worship except for you. So that is one way that you enter into the prayer, you can enter into the prayer from the aspect of glorifying Allah subhanaw taala.
But you can also enter the prayer like a sinner. Remember, I talked to you about variety, and so there's variety, even as you enter the prayer, what is the way that you enter the prayer like a sinner? So you can use the one that I mentioned now? Or you can use this version, where you enter in and you say Allahumma by benei, obey and come back to Ben and Masha when Margaret have already asked the prophets of Allah and suddenly said, Yes, Allah when you enter into the prayer, you're quiet for a minute, what do you say? He said, I say, oh, Allah distanced me from my sins like you've noticed that you've distance between the East and the West.
Oh Allah Allah manakin Iman Hatha, I can tell you Naka so we'll have your two minute Dennis. Oh Allah purify me from my garment. purify me for my sense, like a white garment is purified from dirt. Right? White is more difficult to wear because your everything shows and so you have it has to be spotless it has to be clean, and purify me from my sins. Like a white garment is purified from filth or dirt. Allahu Massimino Hubei besides you and Matt You will Oh ALLAH purify me wash me cleanse me from my sins with ice and water or that you can mind between the two so you've got the center's entrance and we've got the the the exalted entrance, the glorifies entrance. We have a third where
the province that Allah said that he would enter into the prayer and he would say Allahu Akbar, All praise is due to Allah. Would you have to wait here the lady for Torah similarity? Well, I have directed my face to the one who has created the heavens and the earth, Hanif and Muslimah. I am declaring Hanif and worshipping Allah subhanaw taala alone as a Muslim mama and Eminem chicane, and I am not from those policies verily in masala tea on a Suki Rama haoma, Marathi Lila, hello, beloved, I mean, lash, Erica will be the co owner to Anna Williams living. Verily my prayer and my sacrifice my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of all that exists. He has no partner. And
by this I have commanded, and I have been commanded. And I'm the first of the Muslims, like Atlanta, Subhanak will be Hamlet, Allah, you are the sovereign, and there's nothing worthy of worship except for you. And this is also an insight. And then after that, so we've entered into a variety, you know, you play around with them by play around, they mean you choose different ones at different times, again, to increase that mindfulness, and then you enter into the st yada, or oh the bIllahi min ash shaytani R rajim. And do not skip this, do not skip this because like I said, you are seeking refuge from the Shavon the prayer is a battle against Shavonne and there's no station that
vexes him more, that harms him more. And there's no battle that is more severe than that of Salah. And so Allah Subhana Allah commanded you to seek refuge in Him, that you'll be fortified and safe to contemplate the verses of Allah subhanaw taala that illuminate the heart and to get access to the verses that get that guidance to the believers and Allah Panisse as revelation to mankind. So Allah knows a place his hatred and his envy and He knows our inability to win the battle without him.
Allah knows shape ons, hatred, and Allah knows our inability to win the battle without him. And so He commands us to invoke his assistance and to seek refuge in Him. And in doing so we're protected from Shaytaan. In doing so, we're protected from Shavon just just again, so that we can kind of recognize let me let me give you a quick example that'll that'll
sort of the Philip uncertainness In sorcerer falak. You seek refuge in one attribute of God, one attribute of God you said put a little bit further I seek refuge and the Lord of the dawn that is one attribute of Allah he is brought up
with that one attribute you
You seek refuge from for things. Machete my follow up from the evil that he created when we share it in the first article, but machete Heiser can either walk up and from the night I seek refuge in his creation, and from the night and from magic and from envy these four things, I sought refuge in one attribute of Allah, the Lord of the daybreak, from four attributes or 444.
Things in sort of a NAS, you seek refuge, not in one attribute of Allah, but in three attributes of Allah, good our own happiness, Maliki NAS Illa hiddenness three attributes of Allah, the Lord of mankind, the king of mankind and the deity of mankind. What am I seeking refuge in Allah from not from four different things just from one machete it was was a kindness from the evil of the whisper, angry cheater, who's that? That's a thought.
That is Shavon Shavon is for you an enemy, take him as an enemy. Take him as an enemy.
Okay.
Now
we've entered we've said this The either
swords or Fatiha, you recite sort of their fights. I don't want to get into sort of Advaita again, I'll refer you to sweetness of salah or the meanings of prayer by Saturday, me or Dr. Forehand, but I will just direct you to one beautiful thing and sort of de facto really beautiful. I know Chicago, you guys study Arabic all the time. Chicago is famous for all of its institutions and all of that type of stuff. So there is something in the language of sort of their fat which is called filthy fat. And if the fat means a changing of tense, changing of tense,
All praise is due to Allah Who the Lord of the Worlds, the benefits and the Most Merciful,
the Master of the Day of Judgment.
What tense is that?
All praise is due to Allah the Lord of the words, are you talking directly to him? Are you talking about him? All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds I'm talking about him, right? Is that third person I always get my persons wrong. I'm assuming that's their person. It is third person. And so all of a sudden, now it changes IACA not Buddha. What Yeah, can stay you alone do we worship you alone we seek for help.
This in Arabic is called LT fat. It is it is shifting, it is turning from I'm turning from third person to second person. And that is done for a number of reasons. But the symbolism that the scholars mentioned, they said number one, when you praise someone, when you praise someone to praise them in their absence, to praise them in their absence is more sincere. And so when I am praising Allah subhana data, I am praising him, without speaking directly to him. I am praising Allah subhana data saying All praise is due to Allah because that is more sincere. But when it comes to the request, to request directly from them, in their presence is more
Elijah Elijah meaning that it is more expected right? It is more there's more hope involved. I'm speaking directly to them.
I know Maryam isn't that amazing? My name is that Allahu Akbar, okay. But then there's number two, there's a second aspect or another symbolism that scholars look to. And they said, when you are beginning sort of the Fatiha and you are praising Allah subhanaw taala it is as if you are on the outside of his court. You are on the outside and you are invoking ALLAH SubhanA wa Tada that you'd be granted entry. And so you say at hamdulillahi rabbil Alameen on Rahman Rahim Malik Yama Deen you are praising Allah subhanaw taala and as you are praising Allah the curtain is lifted, the doors have opened and you have now been ushered into the audience with the King and so you are now as if
you are looking at him saying he cannot do what you're gonna say. You alone do we worship and You alone we seek for help.
And now as you are in direct audience, you continue with your request then also Ottomans the themes about the livina and AMTA right, the shift changes halfway through the store and that is very beautiful. Okay.
Now
your size, sort of their fats how until you get to mean and when you say I mean the prophets of Allah it is and it tells us as reported by Behati he says that Weber's I mean coincides with the mean of the angels will have their sins forgiven all of their sins, all of their previous sins. And there aren't that many actions in Islam.
Um, that come with the promise of all of your sins being forgiven. Maybe 10 More or less, right? Not less, there's at least 10 But it's not that much more.
As far as if you do this, all of your sins will be forgiven. It's things like, hey, Jura, it's things like, hatch. It's things like saying, I mean, in the Salah, it's things like Siyam of Ramadan, pm Ramadan, Yom Laila through cada right all of these things have it. And so, but again, it's limited. It's of course, accepting Islam for those who are brothers, sisters who convert to Islam, right. It's incredibly valuable. All of your person sins are being forgiven. But we see a number of these things actually being tied to the prayer number one whoever says Amin in the Salah, and if you're I mean coincides with Amina the angels, all of your sins are forgiven. Also Earth
might have not followed your line he reports he made We'll do it one time and his his will do his Hadith where he does will do is one of the famous descriptions of the prophets will do when you study the chapter will go in. And then hadith of manhood I find he makes will do and then he said I heard the prophets of Allah do send them say men thought but and who will do we had there whoever prays whoever makes will look like this will do of mine. And then he prays to rock is law you had the Sufi hemianopsia they do not engage in any sort of self talk you're not distracted in the Salah, your focus, you pray a completely focused to rock us, except that all of their sins are forgiven.
Right incredible about any tool guys, at any point in time it is available for you, but you make will do like the prophets of Allah they send them did and then you pray to like us with complete focus. Then we enter into the court, we enter into the court, and we recognize that Arabs did not like to bend their backs for anyone. It was a symbol of humility and debasement. And some of them were ready to make such that before they make a little core. They're not bending their backs. What are the things that you say in little core? What are the things that you'll say on record, you say, for example, some handy Melkote will jump Java wrote, while Kibriya when album as reported by NSA.
And again, my point here is to just showcase that there is variety in every station, and I would refer you to really study and to go back to these books and go back to these other lectures that I ever described. That gives you these because variety is such an important key ingredient to this, this, this aspect of mindfulness of Hana the men of good Mallacoota is the Dominion and so exalted is the one who owns the Dominion, whichever route, Jabba root means power. Jabba root means power will keep it up keep it out means greatness, whilst you're kind of data being above everything else. Well, album and album has also greatness as well. They're a little bit similar, and they're a little
bit different. But for our purposes, that's what that means. And then and then when you get up from record, you say, Send me Allah halimun Hamidah.
Allah accepts from those who praise Him. Allah accepts from those who praise them. Semi high does not mean Allah hears. There's the word some Arabic has a number of meanings, a number of meanings, and semi I hear of the meanings of Semia is to accept is to accept Allah accepts from those who praise him and that's why the prophets of Allah they said I'm used to seek refuge and Allah from what mean Dora Allah you smell from a dua that is not accepted. It doesn't mean heard. Every day is heard by Allah subhanho data, and Allah hears those who praise Him and Allah hears those who don't praise Him. So if you say, say my Allahu Allah Muhammad, that means Allah hears those who praise
Him. But does that mean Allah doesn't hear those who don't praise Him? As long as that means? It means Allah accepts from those who praise Him and so then you say I've been Allah can hunt right to you to all law to you belongs all praise and so you say send me Allah Hanuman Hamidah there's so much more that you can say when you come up from from work or you can say send me Allah Hanuman Hamidah Hamden que seguir en de Ven, Mubarak and V. A ham that is blessing and pure and, and, and plentiful, Thielen plentiful, Samoa to a Middle Earth, filling the heavens and filling the Earth with a mash temperature in back and filling whatever you wish other than this, less than that when
the match the the the deserving of Fennec praise and glory are
the most the truest thing that any servant has said that Allah Subhana Allah that is the one deserving of praise and glory who's who's more deserving of praise and Allah subhanho data.
And we are all servants to you.
Allahu Malema at the moment that oh Allah there is no one who gives or sorry, Allah Mala mana Illuma outplayed whether
Mr. OPWDD ma'am and at what I am Farooq, reject them in collegiate. Oh Allah, there is no one who can withhold what you give and then can deal with you withhold, and there is no one. And there is no one who has any relationships or status or resources that can avail against you. There's no There's nobody who doesn't matter what connections you have. There's There's Jett is a person of incredible resources and power and all of that. But there's no one who has that type of authority over you. All. Right, all of this can be said, when you get up from record. And in fact, the Prophet saw the lights and heard a companion saying this after record, and he looked, and he's after the summer, and
he said, who said that? And I said, I did yes with Allah. And he said, I saw the angels, each one trying to race with this statement that you had set up to the heavens, like they were trying to they were competing to take it up to the heavens. And so variety, the different things that you can say, coming out of record, and then we enter into sujets.
We enter into sujood. And sujood is the most profound symbol of worship, with many virtues, with many virtues and many objectives. Okay?
Allah subhana, Allah says, in Surah, Al Fett, verse nine, Muhammad Rasool Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, Allah de anima, who actually don't want to fall and those who are with him, because companions are severe against the disbelievers will Hama will be you know, they are merciful towards one another.
The description of the companions of Rasulullah sallallahu de setelah, is that they are harsh against the disbelievers and they are merciful to one another. Somehow we have become the opposite. We are harsh against each other. And we are merciful to those outside of our community. But for the people who are within our community, we don't play with kid gloves. We try as best as we can to knock them out and cancel them and fire them and all of that type of stuff, right? We've got it backwards. I said, don't I lay off in Roubini and Mattoon. The Arabs, they say are you a lion against me? And you are an ostrich and war? Right? You're you're big and bad against me. But when it
comes time to actually challenge those who who show and deserve that energy and that strength and that power and all of that type of stuff. You're just an ostrich, you're hiding your head in the sand.
Any case, Allah subhanaw taala describes them and he says,
thorough homework and Superjet and you have to warn him and Allah he'll read when you see them prostrating and bowing, seeking Funland mean Allah, seeking the bounty of Allah subhana diamonds follows the mountain, if you will, to him in a very subdued, their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. Their Mark is on their faces, and so on which I had explained this to be for sure. Others said that it's light other said that it's an aura of respect. And and it's a it's one of the virtues of security that the province of lifetime will recognize on their light will be in accordance with their sujood The more someone prostrates the more light and its virtues is that
ALLAH SubhanA data prohibited the Hellfire from burning the parts of the body that touched the floor and prostration right, and so these joints that touch the floor, these parts of your body, and what are the objectives of sujood? What are the objectives number one is humility. The most noble of you, right this? Think about it outside of Salah when would you ever make suit? Right? non Muslims, many of them most of them? If not, I don't want to say all of them, but it couldn't be all of them right? Just that high of a percentage have never brought their foreheads onto the ground ever for any activity in their life.
For our brothers and sisters who are Converse here, can you know correct me if I'm wrong, but before you accepted Islam, was there ever a situation where you put your forehead onto the ground and if that's the case, if you did then what
falls to the ground in in the dust in humility.
And so you make sure your your and your nose and your hands are connected to the earth and you make sure that your forearms are not and that your stomach is not resting on your thighs nor as your thighs resting on your calves everything is in its place. Doing all of this humbling yourself to the King of kings in The Lord of the world. And with that physical humility and tranquility there also has to be an inner tranquility and humility. And as the body prostrates the heart also has to prostrate as the body prostrates the heart also has to prostrate and so be humbled in all of ALLAH SubhanA data broken in his presence repentant to him. And
number two, the second objective of sujood of course is nearness. nearness to Allah subhana wa Tada ALLAH SubhanA Dias this West stood walk tarried in the end of Salah that Allah feel that nearness while you're Institut remembering that you're never closer
To Allah then you are in that position the prophets de la de Sena me said, he said, You are closest to a lot when you are in sujood. So do what so make a lot of DUA and the longer your prostration is the more your closeness with ALLAH SubhanA that is extended. And who else doesn't love the company of those who we love to be extended?
And maybe this is the reason why, you know, there's a serenity and a sweetness that we feel in suits, and the longer that we stay in it, the more enjoyable it becomes, as we continue to come closer to Allah subhana wa Tada. So number two is the second objective is nearness to Allah.
And number three, the third is
the Prophet sallallahu Sallam says, As reported by Muslim and Buddhahood and others who are Massoud, fetch the head fetch day
the prophets of Allah de send them says As for sujood, then strive into
the feminine and use the jab Allah perhaps you will be responded to or it is it is not perhaps but it is appropriate it is right that you will be responded to
and so don't be selfish when you're Institute Don't be selfish when you're institute a couple of aspects when you're in the first question is what should I make that for when I'm Institute What should I make that for?
You know, one thing that I learned from Michelle is
number one is for example let's fix a lot of voters a lot that also selected an issue even right there eight eight such as this asepsis
first such data for example could be for the Prophet satellite is Am I making up for possible loss Allah Allah muscle, the Adam, I'm gonna do it, Mohammed, right, I'm making some sort of draft for the province on the lightest.
Number two, the second stage is that, for example is for your parents every single time it's always for your parents. Or maybe I know some Misha who their first such that is for their parents, they just go with their parents. And then the other six, such this revolve around what's happening in your life, whatever your goals are, whatever you're working on, right? Whether it's
for this quarantine to be lifted anybody, right? Maybe it is for the
your health, maybe it's some goal that you have for your wealth, maybe it's an educational goal, maybe it's whatever, right but we all have things that are happening in our lives. sujood is this best time for you to be making dua to Allah subhanaw taala for it.
And not to be selfish and make God for yourself only. But that you make out for others. You know, one time I was praying, federate, behind chef who did asuni here in Houston, my Shia and after, you know, there was something happening and Alyssa,
I don't remember the year but there was some sort of advance that was happening or some sort of, you know, trial that the people that was that were going through ALLAH SubhanA data, relieve them and free them from their occupation. So after the semester, after the Salah, Chef wood, he just kind of turned around and you know, however many people were there for dinner, he said, Who here made draft for for philosophy in the Salah, who made draft for it?
You know, we're kind of all sheepish, sheepish, but the reality is, is that we are very weak in our engagement of drought, as per the things that are going on in our lives,
as per the things that are going on in our lives, even right now, right? We're in a global pandemic, ask yourself like I will ask myself the question, how much time do we actually spend invoking Allah subhanaw taala to lift this pandemic from us?
Maybe at the beginning we were really energetic to do that making a lot of dua for it to be lifted. But now as it's kind of become the new normal, I've got my Netflix I figured out my work maybe I've got this I've got that, you know, Ramadan happened but I'm not finished. Now I'm not even I'm not even raising my house. I'm not even in my schedule, asking Allah subhanho data to lift this pandemic from us.
Right and so engaging ALLAH SubhanA data while you're into engaging Allah, one of the the
not just for yourself, right? Don't be selfish in your sujood I would did that. He said I make dua for 30 of my brothers, this great companion to the provinces Senator, I make dua for 30 of my brothers and my salute. I named them and I named their fathers. I named them with their names and their father's name like their first name and last name. I mentioned them in my salute all of my friends
Write who is a real friend, a friend is someone who mentions God to you and mentions you to God.
If I'm not on your email list, don't send me a Google doc telling me that you're going to Omaha and if you want me to make dua, if I want you to make dua for me, then fill out this form. No, I'm not filling out a form.
I'm never filling out a form. Don't send me that.
You better be making do out for me if we're friends.
You better the province of Allah, they send themselves the draft for a person in their absence. The drop of a brother for their daughter of a Muslim for their brother or their sister in their absence is Mr. Job. It is responded to Houma is asking when making drought and seafood, can we make the DUA in English? The answer is yes. And follow prayer and follows prayer. Are we going to have a difference of opinion depending on who you ask? Yes. Do I believe that you can Yes.
And I want to share with you actually because this is a very popular question I want to share with you and you can refer back to MGR, the American Muslim jurists Association,
the American Muslim jurists Association, which is a large fifth council here and a very well well respected council that we have in their 14th Imam conference on contemporary issues facing new Muslims. And you can go back to their website, I'm jet.org, I believe, or I'm gonna online, but if you just Google American Muslim jurists Association, you'll find it there 43 minute conference on contemporary issues. The entire conference was devoted to contemporary issues facing the Muslim
and they offered and they said, in general, people may make supplications in their native language during the prayer regarding any issue in which it is permissible to supplicate outside of the prayer of religious or worldly matters. I'll read it again. In general, people may make supplications in their native language, during the prayer regarding any issue in which it is permissible to supplicate outside of the prayer, or religious or worldly matters. Meaning is it's hard for me to make dua for this inside of the outside of the prayer, I can make up for it inside of the prayer.
In my native language, what does native language mean? The only people who are not allowed to make dua in a language other than Arabic,
in the Salah, are people who are arabic speaking.
So if I am if I'm a native error, right, I'm a native Arabic speaker in Salam. Salam is not the time for me to practice my French. It's not the time for me to practice my Spanish. But if I don't speak Arabic, and I want to talk to Allah Subhana Allah about my car that broke down last week, what do I do I have in the Sunnah of the prophets of Allah, they said, I'm about a car that broke out, broke down.
I want to vent to Allah Subhana Allah about something that's going on in my life, I can do that Institute. And in whatever language, the tears will flow, and the heart will break and the tongue will speak,
then that is the most important aspect is that communication with Allah Subhana Allah data. And so if you're Institute and you are false, novel prayer, I believe that you can make your app in English or auditory or whatever language and by the way, if you ask any Arab
do they make too out when they talk to ALLAH SubhanA data? And so do do they do it in Arabic like classical Arabic? Really, some do, but your average Arab will speak to Allah subhanaw taala and whatever their dialect is, right? And that's not that's not the pure Arabic language, right? And so this is something that's already in practice. We're just trying to expand it to include all of our brothers and sisters Inshallah, that okay, let's, let's wrap up here. Okay, so we're talking about sujood. We're still in objective number three of sujood, which is,
number four is forgiveness of sins, that you reflect on the sins that you've committed and that when your institute descends, fall from you, the more tranquil you are, the more you weep, the more sincere you are in your weeping the more distance leaves you the province of the lightest, and them he says that a slave when they stand to pray, all of their sins are brought forth, and they are placed on his head and his neck. And then when he makes Roku or sujood, they fall off, ensued or record this fall off. And this is reported by Bruno Amon is an authenticated by shahada divine May Allah Subhan Allah Allah have mercy on all of them. And so it goes without saying that the more sins
one has, the more extended their prostration should be. And
another objective of sujood This is number five is the battle itself. Right? We talked about Shavon and the battle and remember the crying of a bliss, that when you make sujood He weeps and he says the Son of Adam was commanded to prosper
Great and prostrated and for them is Jana, and I was commanded to prostrate and I refused. So for me is the fire
and
you're like okay, well I wasn't really thinking about harming at least by making Sajida but you know, some of our great Muslims were like that I'm gonna blah blah the Allah I know, when he would leave when he would pray he would recite very, very loudly and I will work with the law and when he used to recite your site very, very quietly and so Allah Subhana Allah Daddy says, Well, I teach you how to be Salah Tico and how to have it we have a bitterly been a daddy Casa de la Sabina. Remember when he was asked why do you recite what what was asked? Why do you recite so quietly? He said in the Mahabharata between IG I'm simply conversing with my lord. It's like a one on one conversation.
See your way out right? This is an a&b conversation, see your way out.
I don't need anybody else to hear. Oh man, why are you reciting so loudly? He said, Oh, through the shaytaan I'm repelling shape on like Roman is like I'm fighting this
I'm repelling che Athan, right Ahmed is engaged with his battle with shape on all the time. No wonder he's probably beat up shaytaan so much shape and eventually started crossing the street like I don't want to see this guy anymore. Right. And so just being present with Russell with the the the engagement of Shavonne remembering that Mr. Wilkie said he said Aw Jubeir
my stroke who is the great Tabby and he was a servant of Aisha Radi Allahu anha and used to say when he used to narrate Hadith from Arusha, he will say, and heavy materials will be lies on the lies from the beloved of Rasulullah sallallahu as he was speaking
mountain of knowledge say Demetri bit
what his story is unbelievable, maybe another time, but he says to him, there's nothing left of the sweetness of this world. Other than dusting our faces, a person will continue to rotate between these objectives and and make your or you might make your entire Salah for one of them.
For example, I might make my entire Salah for example, just for the purpose of driving today.
Or I might make the entire purpose of my salah for example, just to beat up shape on today, every session, that's what I'm focused on. Or I might make my entire select example today, just focusing on the notion of my sins being forgiven and extended my sujood and sins falling off. Or I might make it for example, for the purpose of just enjoying that nearness with Allah Subhana Allah.
And so all of these things, and then eventually a person, I hope that we all experienced this, that we get to this point where we experience what what material is safe to say, you come to Japan, which is the sweetness, when you're either to call a tiny for Salah and the prophets, Allah ism says the coolness of my eyes has been made and so on. Now,
the province of Elijah said that He prohibited and he, he, he said that when one of you goes into sujood, they should not pack in their suit. You don't just bounce your head off the ground. That's your system. And he gave the example. He said it's like a person and we can appreciate this example coming out of Ramadan. He said, it's like a person who is hungry. And they only eat two dates, or they only eat a day or two. What will that benefit them? Do you imagine if your thought at the end of a long day is simply a day or two? You're going to be fighting somebody? You don't benefit? Yeah, technically you broke your fast, but it didn't really benefit you. Right. Similarly sujood it's like
that. Technically you made such though but you don't benefit from that system. And so again, taking your time and what's the difference between a such that where you're picking the ground, and he's such that where you're actually saying somehow I'd be allowed as powerbi.com will be another five seconds? Six seconds. Again the worst thief is the thief who steals from their prayer. The worst thief is the thief who steals from their prayer
okay.
And then you go into your second session after the first and reflect on how out of all of the actions in block out that entire block ah, this is the one that has two doses prescribed
such that you need to have them and the more you prostrate the higher USN then it is the most symbolic action of worship and then you enter into a dyad to allow sorrow to play back. And what does it mean it means life.
It means life hat and it also means perfection and ceramah it means free from freedom from deficiency. And then you at the end you conclude by seeking refuge from for things
seeking refuge from
a
A punishment of the grave, and the punishment of the Hellfire, and fitna and mercy had the job, the Antichrist and the fitna of living and dying. And then you make a throw after that as well, after you're done with it, the here and the follow up on the progress of Elijah setelah. This is also a moment of drought right before you exit. And that symbolism is also beautiful. Because when you're a guest, and you're about to leave somebody's house, what is the host? Say? Is there anything else I can give you? Is there anything more that I can offer you here? Why don't you take this here? Why don't you take that they're trying to load things into your car, before you leave.
In the salah. Right before you exit.
You have the opportunity now to make your final requests. Is there anything more that you want? Is there anything else that you forgot? That that's it Ah, what a beautiful, beautiful prayer that we have. And then you see a satellite a coma.
And you're looking to the right, and you're imagining that this setup that you're seeing is extending to every believer who has ever lived, and the angels and everything of ALLAH SubhanA Tadesse creation, and then you look to the left, and you believe the same thing, and you are exiting the presence of the king and you are saddened by the disconnection, which you are thankful for the audience, and you are exiting the presence of the one who happiness lies with. And so this is the Salah, and a quick overview, if I could just mention a few more physical practical steps that we can do in sha Allah.
Of course, I think one of the most important things while we're in quarantine is just the physical preparation that you that you dress nicely for the prayer that you smell good that you put on perfume that you that you prepare a place for the prayer, that you remove any sort of distractions, and there are many a hadith to that effect. The prophets little lady has had them removed curtains and he changed garments, and he replaced garments, if they were too distracting from his prayer. And so if that's what the Prophet saw a light is and and what about us, right? How distracted are we in by the art that we have in our houses and by the TVs and by the things that we're wearing? Right?
Being very sensitive to where your eye falls, and so on. Even and even children and all of that, of course, absolutely. So as best as you can, if you can kind of create a little niche for yourself in the house, maybe if you have that type of space that you create a prayer place, or at the very least, that you just mentally and physically.
You will know a difference between a prayer where you dress up and try it out. Get dressed up beautifully for this Allah, Allah subhana data says yeah, but you had them who do Zenyatta Komenda chemistry or children of Adam beautify your predict your yourselves in every Masjid must hear doesn't just mean masjid for walls message, it means every place of prayer, including if that's what I'm about to pray right now to share my house. And we want to take advantage as well of kind of praying at home all the time, because we've been praying at home all the time, I can get dressed to the nines and I'm doing just fine and I can put on perfume and I don't have to worry about bothering
anybody or anything like that. I can do that all by myself. And it's all good, right? And so I can play around with and see where I find my heart. I can I can create an ambiance for myself. I can do all of these things, all of these weird things. Sisters were mentioned yoga, like you go to the all of these weird, these retreats and all of that type of stuff, mindfulness and concentration and they will do all of that right. All of this affects the prayer undoubtedly, all of this affects the parents so trying as best as we can. Okay, cool. And with that in Charlotte out of southern lights and Mohammed I don't know what the
does aka l'affaire shift Amara that was mind blowing I think I speak for like the all the over 200 people that joined us Subhan Allah That was amazing. We're going to start a petition so he can make sure that you come back I know how much I had to convince you this time.
So make sure you guys go on Instagram and DM Sheikh Omar and convince him to come back to General circle.
Oh, go ahead. Thanks for the invitation. You'd have to convince me if I remember correctly I accepted right away
that he did accept right away and we were supposed to do this during Ramadan but Alhamdulillah we had so many things going on and this was perfect timing after Ramadan to make sure we keep up with our spirituality.
My husband was listening in and he said that anytime he eats my food he's gonna say Subhan Allah from now on
as well if she knows she's been on the secret but you know what?
What What a legend that's legendary right there.
Alright, just like a love affair. If anybody has
Any questions
you can try to message in here I sent a link if you guys want to join the chat for any class announcements, and any inshallah any future classes
we can go from there Shahla. Did you want to do a quick draw, share? And then we can head out? I see there are some questions. Do we have some time for them? Or what can we do? Um, yeah. So I see them in the chat. So let's see here.
How do you make dua after to shout before to steam? Can they be chosen for banner ads? Yes, they can be or they can be personal DUA and native language. Both of those are fine.
Do you have advice for working people, medical professionals having to take pay between seeing patients? How can we make the most of it when time is limited, it's like anything else. It doesn't matter whether you're a working professional, or whether you're working in corporate America, or whether you're a student or anytime that a person is busy, and they don't have time. Or as much time as they were like that they they do what they can to hula must adopt them. And so I can pray a perfect prayer in five minutes.
I can pray a perfect prayer in six minutes, right? It's just about hitting the beats and being presence of mind. And as best as you can, finding a place where you will be able to focus for a minute. However, whatever communications you need to make, make, to have need to have to make with the people around you so that you can have just five minutes of focus and presence of mine, then, and that's it.
I would also say one of the great things that helps a person be focused in the prayer and have an audience with ALLAH SubhanA data in the prayer is being mindful of Allah outside of the prayer. And so having a lot of Vicodin and they get it Hamdulillah this session isn't about ticket but it could very well be about ticket because they could have a massive Hana data is if you're in the medical profession. I would the example that I like to give about medicine, and Victoria here she can correct me. But what is the one thing as far as exercise that doctors always recommend patients do?
What is that one exercise?
What would it be?
Um, cardio
walking
you
steps a day or what have you. And it's just walking for people you know, we want to do like big things like walking isn't. It's too easy, right? Even my daughter's crying at the idea of walking, she wants to go on a jump, we want to run. We want to do CrossFit, we want to do triathlons. You don't have to do all of that. You just need to walk. That's it. And thinking of Allah subhanho data is like that. Just it's the most basic thing. But over a lifetime it gives you the greatest results when Nicola so saying Subhanallah and that hamdulillah and that in Allah and Allah, Allah Allah, Allah Allah. In fact the prophets of Allah Addison because you said busy, the prophets of Allah,
they send them gave the Dhikr of Allah as a prescription to the people complain to him about being too busy, or being too weak, or being too old. Lots of times a person comes to us from Allah says Allah says Allah so Allah insha Allah and Islam, but cathelicidin the legislation's of Islam are too much like just tell me something that I can hold on to just give me one thing. He said, Let your tongue be moist with the remembrance of Allah. Okay, so I will tell you, just a reminder that make a lot of the gift, make that your constant companion outside of the prayer, right, Your Presence of Allah outside of the prayer, then Inshallah, when you enter into the prayer, even if it's a short
prayer, Inshallah, that presence of mine will be there as well.
Do you have advice off for how Muslim women moms can leave distractions with kids hanging off of you? It is hard with kids hanging off of you. I know. You know, my wife prays with my daughter hanging off with her all the time. And as soon as we start praying, that's when she enjoys. She becomes most adventurous, but as best as you can understand that Allah Subhana Allah is ALLAH SubhanA data is most Merciful and Allah Subhana Allah knows your circumstances. So as best as I can, and maybe some of the mothers as well. I don't want to I don't feel like I need to speak behalf on behalf of everybody here. You all have your own experiences so you can type in the chat and
Charlotte died and you can help our sister here who need some advice as far as moms goes.
Let's see here.
How do you make graphics shows we answered that sometimes my kids do something super cute and I smile. Do I have to do the whole prayer again? No, a smile won't break it.
Laughter might bet a smile won't, but you need to be careful. You know, I'm reminded of a dad
who one time he was, he gives the example of the importance of knowing Arabic. But he was in Salah, and he was talking about his firstborn daughter. So this is his first child, and she's a year old. And he's in Salah.
And he's reading so often when after code is being slaughtered.
And she's kind of just crawling and picking herself up off of the table, and she's leaning against the table. And he says, she's in front of him, and he's reading sort of an went off record. And then all of a sudden, she pushes off of the table. And she starts taking her first steps. And he's insula watching her, take her first steps.
And he was just like, oh my god, like, it was so unbelievable.
And then he hears a verse that he's reciting.
Yeah, you had leadin Armineh that will he come on while Comala Hola, docman decorilla Oh, you who believe. Do not let your wealth or your children distract you from the randomness of a life.
Do not let your wealth and your children distract you from the remnants of a lot. My EFI daddy como Lake como hacer la and whoever does that they are of the losers. When you said I was a
child is walking first steps. And this verse hit me like
Do not let anything distract you from the Mercy of Allah, from the from the remembrance of Allah. That is our goal that we all decided to get to. All of our kids are super cute, and amazing and adorable. And when we enter into salah, they start smiling and all of that which is beautiful and Alas, panned out to protect all of our children. But we Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. And what's beautiful, we didn't talk about that during the session. But why do we say Allahu Akbar as we're rotating through the Scylla it's like a camera that constantly needs to be refocused. You know, when you've got a camera starts to get blurry, you need to refocus it, you need to refocus it. And even
as we're entering into Salaat we said Allahu Akbar the first time when we entered, but even within the prayer, there's just so many things that are so a lot with what again, a much greater and then I'm going in again, a lot with what is greater than whatever distractions are coming my way, even if those are my children.
If I could, I just got a private question, which I think is worthy for your attention.
The question was, How can a person combat laziness when they want to pray, but there may be just overcome with laziness and aren't able to be consistent in Salah. So number one is to recognize that laziness in Salah is one of the signs of the hypocrites loss of Hannah Dyer says what about calm enough seletti Calm Musa, you might win and that's what I have called on the light enough that when they stand for the prayer, the standard least
when they stand for the prayer, the standings we believe the hypocrites they would.
It was the last thing that they wanted to do, right. So my first thing is, if I'm lazy about the prayer, remember right at the beginning of the session, we talked about the amount Muhammad saying that your Islam is tied to your your share of Islam is tied to your share of the prayer. You love the prayer, you care about the prayer that's your love and care for it's not your lazy about the prayer. You're lazy about Islam. Right. And so I recognize this something that I shouldn't be very concerned about, and I'm glad that you're mentioning it. As for how does a person then remove that laziness from themselves?
I would say double dosage on the hereafter
learning about Jana, learning about the hellfire, go on listen to a few lectures, detailed descriptions, Paradise Hellfire Day of Judgment, these types of things, I guarantee you that will not only make you it will make you jump out of bed to pray tomorrow.
It will make you jump out of bed to pray to workouts because that is where we're going. And so, there's there is an incredible rectifying nature to learning about the Hereafter. And part of our problem communally is that we don't talk about the hereafter that much anymore. When was the last time you were sitting in the car with a friend and instead of talking about the Chicago Bulls because let's be honest, there's nothing to talk about that you sat and you talked about paradise or you talked about the Hellfire you talked about was the last time right we only talked about gender and not almost now in academic settings. But when was the last time you in a friend just said you
know what let's let's read some a hadith about the hellfire. Let's talk about paradise.