DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Sometimes my heart isn't in Salah... what can I do?

**puzobok** · 03-11-2012, 12:23 PM

Ameen to the duas.

This is a great thread. Sister, thank you for posting the question and thank you to everyone else for all the great suggestions.

What I find helpful (and these have already been suggested here), Alhamdulillah, are as follows:

Just before I make niyyat, I try to re-read the translation of Surah Fatiha (or any other surah/ayat) following the words with my eyes slowly, while reciting it in Arabic. Then, I make my niyyat and start salaat reciting slowly while thinking of the meaning of the surah/ayat in English. Strangely, I end up thinking of half of the surah in English and the other half in Turkish while actually reciting it in Arabic. Alhamdulillah, this helps me stay focused on what I am saying. I'm still working on the other parts of the salaat. Insha'Allah, learning Arabic would be very beneficial in this regard too.
Whenever I feel my concentration slipping, I close my eyes and try very hard to re-focus. And, I recite audibly (not yelling, just enough to hear myself speaking the words).
There are a few dua's I like to do dhikr with (not during salaat, but it seems dhikr helps with concentration for salaat too). For these, I usually read the dua in English once and then start, trying to focus on the meaning the whole time. If I ever feel like I'm losing concentration, I just look at the translation again.

Insha'Allah, I will look up the Virtues of Salaat too.

03-11-2012, 12:23 PM	#6
puzobok Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 428 Senior Member	Ameen to the duas. This is a great thread. Sister, thank you for posting the question and thank you to everyone else for all the great suggestions. What I find helpful (and these have already been suggested here), Alhamdulillah, are as follows: Just before I make niyyat, I try to re-read the translation of Surah Fatiha (or any other surah/ayat) following the words with my eyes slowly, while reciting it in Arabic. Then, I make my niyyat and start salaat reciting slowly while thinking of the meaning of the surah/ayat in English. Strangely, I end up thinking of half of the surah in English and the other half in Turkish while actually reciting it in Arabic. Alhamdulillah, this helps me stay focused on what I am saying. I'm still working on the other parts of the salaat. Insha'Allah, learning Arabic would be very beneficial in this regard too. Whenever I feel my concentration slipping, I close my eyes and try very hard to re-focus. And, I recite audibly (not yelling, just enough to hear myself speaking the words). There are a few dua's I like to do dhikr with (not during salaat, but it seems dhikr helps with concentration for salaat too). For these, I usually read the dua in English once and then start, trying to focus on the meaning the whole time. If I ever feel like I'm losing concentration, I just look at the translation again. Insha'Allah, I will look up the Virtues of Salaat too.
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