Presence of Heart in Prayer as a Measure of Sincerity

Posted by Hamza Karamali, SunniPath Instructor on April 10th, 2007

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate

Imam Ghazali’s diagnosis of the problem of heedlessness during prayer has an interesting consequence: anything that distracts us from Allah Most High during our prayer is, in reality, dunya, even if it outwardly appears to be religious. This is a powerful tool that we can use to measure our sincerity in the projects that we undertake.

If, for example, I am distracted in prayer by a “cool” fiqh point that I learned in my lesson yesterday, this indicates that I wasn’t seeking knowledge sincerely for Allah Most High: if my seeking knowledge was sincerely for the sake of Allah Most High, I would think of Allah first, and knowledge second. If my mind is busy planning an Islamic project that I am organizing, this reveals that my activism is adulterated by mixed intentions: if the only thing that motivated my activism was Allah Most High, I would be busied by Him from these thoughts during prayer.

Quite frightening, if you think about it.



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Comment:
1
Written by:
Abu Hamza
Posted on:
April 10th, 2007 at 11:43 pm

Is that always the case? I mean can’t the thing that is busying your heart and mind also be for Allah? But maybe this is rare and the general case is what is being addressed

Comment:
2
Written by:
Seekersdigest.org » Blog Archive » Presence of Heart in Prayer as a Measure of Sincerity - Shaykh Hamza Karamali - SunniPath Blog
Posted on:
April 10th, 2007 at 11:55 pm

[…] SunniPath Blog - » Presence of Heart in Prayer as a Measure of Sincerity - Shaykh Hamza Karamali Imam Ghazali’s diagnosis of the problem of heedlessness during prayer has an interesting consequence: anything that distracts us from Allah Most High during our prayer is, in reality, dunya, even if it outwardly appears to be religious. This is a powerful tool that we can use to measure our sincerity in the projects that we undertake. [read on] […]

Comment:
3
Written by:
farah
Posted on:
April 11th, 2007 at 2:09 am

Subhan Allah! Jazakum Allahu khayr.

Comment:
4
Written by:
Abutalha
Posted on:
April 11th, 2007 at 6:55 am

Jazakallah that distinction is very helpful and an indepth understanding is gained through it. I will now be aware of another attack of shaitan.

Comment:
5
Written by:
Hamza Karamali, SunniPath Academy Teacher
Posted on:
April 11th, 2007 at 8:21 am

[This is a response to Abu Hamza’s question above.]

If Allah Most High is one’s only goal in undertaking a certain project, then the heart will not turn to the project during one’s prayer because one is with the One that one is seeking. The only reason why one would turn away from Him to think of the project is if one was attached to the act for reasons other than Allah, e.g., excitement at being “above” others by what one has done, or excitement at being able to put someone else down, or some other reason.

Comment:
6
Written by:
student
Posted on:
April 12th, 2007 at 7:53 am

So if you think of some religious work you’re doing while you’re praying, that means there’s something wrong mixed into your intention? How do you remedy this? Would you need to completely stop doing the religious work that’s distracting you during prayer?

Comment:
7
Written by:
Seekersdigest.org » Blog Archive » Presence of Heart in Prayer as a Measure of Sincerity - Shaykh Hamza Karamali - SunniPath Blog
Posted on:
April 16th, 2007 at 6:40 pm

[…] SunniPath Blog - » Presence of Heart in Prayer as a Measure of Sincerity - Shaykh Hamza Karamali Imam Ghazali’s diagnosis of the problem of heedlessness during prayer has an interesting consequence: anything that distracts us from Allah Most High during our prayer is, in reality, dunya,even if it outwardly appears to be religious. […]

Comment:
8
Written by:
student
Posted on:
May 25th, 2007 at 1:20 am

Reminds of a contention by Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad:

There is no true engagement without detachment.

Comment:
9
Written by:
Asad Hafeez
Posted on:
July 13th, 2007 at 10:56 pm

Salam Aleikum,

In my opinion what the Sheikh has said basically that our mind shouldn’t wander while praying. Many a times it does happen. But I think when this happens we must bring back our attention to our prayers towards Allah Aswajal. And this correction that we do is our challenge whilst praying and this will continue in this world and the hereafter.

I think Allah Aswajal looks at us to see whether we make an effort to control our thoughts and strive towards the path of perfect prayers at each step beesching his eternal guidance, help & forgiveness.

After all it is way we journeyed in life by our actions towards the ideal is what counts as total perfection is only attributable to Allah Aswajal.

Allah Hafiz