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AlGhazalisIhya-Book_of_Prayer, page : 37
eyes downcast and confining their gaze to the place of prostration. They
considered their prayers to be perfect when they were unaware of the people to
their right and left. Ibn Umar would allow no object to remain in the place of
prayer, not even a copy of the Koran. He would remove any sword he found
there and erase any writing.
Internal causes pose a more serious problem. One‟s worldly concerns may be
many and varied, so that the mind does not dwell on a single subject but keeps
flying from one direction to another. To lower the eyes is then to no avail, for
plenty of distractions have already got inside. The way to deal with this is to
make a deliberate effort to comprehend the meaning of the words one is reciting
in the prayer, concentrating on this to the exclusion of everything else. It is
helpful to prepare for this before the initial consecration, by reminding oneself of
the Hereafter and that one is standing in communion in the awesome presence
of Allah, the Almighty, and under His scrutiny. Before consecration for prayer,
one should empty the heart of all its cares, leaving oneself free of potential
distractions.
The Messenger of Allah praise and peace be upon him, once said to Uthman ibn
considered their prayers to be perfect when they were unaware of the people to
their right and left. Ibn Umar would allow no object to remain in the place of
prayer, not even a copy of the Koran. He would remove any sword he found
there and erase any writing.
Internal causes pose a more serious problem. One‟s worldly concerns may be
many and varied, so that the mind does not dwell on a single subject but keeps
flying from one direction to another. To lower the eyes is then to no avail, for
plenty of distractions have already got inside. The way to deal with this is to
make a deliberate effort to comprehend the meaning of the words one is reciting
in the prayer, concentrating on this to the exclusion of everything else. It is
helpful to prepare for this before the initial consecration, by reminding oneself of
the Hereafter and that one is standing in communion in the awesome presence
of Allah, the Almighty, and under His scrutiny. Before consecration for prayer,
one should empty the heart of all its cares, leaving oneself free of potential
distractions.
The Messenger of Allah praise and peace be upon him, once said to Uthman ibn