Question
Kindly provide a Hadith that can be quoted regarding performing salah with devotion and concentration.
Answer
Numerous narrations encourage inward and outward devotion and concentration in salah. Among them are the following:
1) Sayyiduna ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan (radiyallahu ‘anhu) once called for a container of water which he poured over his hands three times, washing them. Then he put his right hand in the vessel, gurgled his mouth and cleaned his nose. He then washed his face three times and his forearms to the elbows three times. Then he wiped his head (masah) and washed his feet to the ankles three times. Then he said: “Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Whoever makes wudu like this and then performs two rakats, in which he does not become distracted will have his past sins forgiven.”
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 159 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 537)
2) Sayyiduna ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports, “I heard Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallalm) say:
” If any Muslim performs wudu well then stands up and performs two rakats of salah with full devotion and concentration then Jannah wil be compulsory for him…”
(Sahih Muslim,Hadith: 552)
3) Sayyiduna ‘Ubadah ibn Samit (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports, I heard Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say:
“Allah has ordained the five daily salah, whomsoever performs wudu well, performs salah on time, completes the ruku’ (and other postures correctly), concentrates and is devoted, it is the guarantee of Allah that he will forgive him. But whomsoever does not do this then he has no guarantee, Allah may forgive him or Allah may Punish him.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 425)
4) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports:
Once Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) entered the Masjid. A man entered, performed salah and went to greet Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to him: “Repeat your salah, for you have not prayed.”
The man went back and performed salah in the same manner as before, returned and greeted Rasulullah (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) who said: “Go back and perform your salah, for you have not prayed.
This happened thrice. The man said, “By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I cannot offer salah in a better way than this. Teach me how to pray.” Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “When you stand for salah say the takbir and then recite from the Quran (of what you know by heart), then bow (go into ruku’) until your body is at ease. Then raise your head and stand up until your body is at ease, then prostrate until your body is at ease, then raise from sajdah till you are at ease (ie. do not hurry) and perform the rest of your salah in this manner.
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 757 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 397)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar