Submissiveness in Salah

Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) says in the beginning of Surat Al Mu`minun: "Successful indeed are the believers. * Those who offer their Salât (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness." [Surat Al Mu'minun: 1 - 2]. The Ayah was interpreted as follows: "Their hearts feel the horror of the situation when starting Salah between the hands of Allah, so they submit and revere then submissiveness spreads to organs, features, and movements. Then their souls are overwhelmed by the loftiness of Allah and all things that may occupy their minds go away and remain only occupied by Him.

The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "Soon, you shall enter great masjids without seeing any person showing reverence [in Salah]." [Reported by Ibn Majah with authentic chain of narration according to Al Albany]. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The first thing to be removed from this nation is submissiveness until you see no devout person." [A good and authentic Hadith, reported by At-Tabarany with a good chain of transmission in At-Targhib wat-Tarhib (1 / 354)].

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Allah shall not look at a servant who does not straighten his back between his bowing and prostration." [A good Hadith, reported by Imam Ahmad with a good chain of transmission].

Generally, submissiveness is showing humbleness to Allah, the submissiveness of the heart to Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted), and the total surrender to His Rulings. Submissiveness shall not be achieved except for those who know Allah and recall His Greatness. Submissiveness must start from the heart then it spreads to body organs, so there is no Salah without submissiveness as the Messenger (peace be upon him) confirmed in the Hadith: "A person finishes his Salah without having the full reward except the half except one-third until he said: except one-tenth of its reward."

So, Salah that is accepted by Allah and atones sins is the Salah which a believer performs perfectly. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "There is no male Muslim who, when the time for an obligatory Salah comes, performs ablution well, focuses with proper humility in his Salah and bows properly, but it will be an expiation for the sins that were committed before it so long as he did not commit any major sin, and that applies for all time."

Our condition with Salah was summed up by the words of Sheikh Abu Al `Abbas Al Sabty, who was buried in Morocco (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul):

How many people you see performing Salah but their only benefit is seeing the niche, going down, and raising. You see their bodies standing on the mat but they think about taking and paying in markets.

Causes for lack of Submissiveness in Salah:

1- Loving other than Allah and attaching the heart with others.

2- Lack of understanding to the greatness of Allah or fearing Him.

3- Busyness with the world and its pleasures.

4- Ignorance with the rulings of Salah.

Causes of submissiveness in Salah:

1- Learning the rulings of Salah.

2- Readiness for Salah with good ablution.

3- Going to Salah with reverence and tranquility.

4- Attentiveness of the heart and glorifying the Lord.

5- By the first Takbir, cast the world and its features behind your back and focus on Salah.

6- Look at the place of prostration and do not look right or left.

7- Reflect on the Glorious Qur'an which you recite in Salah. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying: Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "I have divided Salah (the prayer) in half between Myself and My Slave, and My Slave shall have that which he asks for. When the Slave says: 'Al Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil- `Alamin (All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the `Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)),' Allah says: 'My Slave has praised Me.' When he says: 'Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim (The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful),' Allah says: 'My Slave has extolled Me.' When he says: 'Maliki Yawmid-Din (Master of the Day of Judg ment), Allah says: My Slave has glorified Me. And sometimes He would say: My Slave entrusted (his affairs) to Me. And when he (the worshipper) says: Iyyaka Na`budu Wa Iyyaka Nasta`in (You alone do we worship and of You alone do we ask for help), He (Allah) says: This is between Me and My Slave, and My Slave shall receive what he asks for. Then, when he (the worshipper) says: Ihdina As-Siratal Mustaqim (Guide us to the Straight Path), Siratalladhina An`amta `Alayhim (the path of those to whom You have been Gracious not of those who have incurred Your displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray, He (Allah) says: This is for My Slave, and My Slave shall receive what he asks for." In another narration:"I have divided Salah (the prayer) in half between Myself and My Slave, half for him and half for Me." [Reported by Muslim and the four Compilers of the Sunnah].

8- Speak with Allah during prostration and say to Him all your needs.

All the time, we are busy with our world and desires, so why we engage ourselves with the world when we come to Salah; this is shame?

O Allah, guide us to mention You properly, thank You as should, and worship You as due.