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09/18/2020

Thinking of death when you pray

One of the most interesting advice that we learn from the hadith is that we are encouraged to think of death every time we pray. Understanding the temporal nature of our lives, and our eventual return to our Creator, will automatically increase our sense of humility and concentration during the ṣalāt. When we realize that each and every dhikr, rukū`, sajda and tilāwa that we do during the next few minutes will be the most precious acts we have done in our entire lives, and that a time will come [in the next life] when we will cherish these deeds and inshaAllah bask in its rewards, how do you think the quality of the ṣalat will be impacted?

The Prophet ﷺ said, "When you stand up to pray, pray as if you are about to depart from this world" ((إذا قمت في صلاتك فصل صلاة مودع)) [Aḥmad and Ibn Mājah].

And it is reported that he also said, "Remember death as you pray, because a person who remembers death is most certainly going to improve his prayer. And pray as if you shall never pray again - as if this is your last prayer!" [Daylamī]
((اذكر الموت في صلاتك، فإن الرجل إذا ذكر الموت في صلاته لَحَرِيٌّ أن يحسن صلاته، وصل صلاة رجل لا يظن أن يُصلي صلاة غيرها))

So next time you stand up to pray, just pause for a second, and imagine if this were your very last prayer. Because a day will come, and a time will most certainly come, when you will stand up to pray, and it will actually be your last prayer.

07/28/2020