This book focuses on an Islamic perspective of self-development, but I am sure anyone can get something useful out of here. "In the Early Hours is a collection of inspirational advice by a dear and beloved teacher, Ustadh Khurram Murad on the subject of spiritual and self-development. In it he sets out the goal of the Believer - the single-minded desire to seek the good pleasure of God. He then outlines the methods and instruments which must be used in the attainment of that ultimate goal."
I would compare this book a bit to Yasmin Mogahed's Reclaim Your Heart in the sense that they are a categorized collection of writing to improve on different parts of life and provide interesting info./ a different outlook. Basically, they are both self-help books, but In the Early Hours takes it further, as you will see. I love how In the Early Hours divides the info. into important chapters, provides numerous authentic hadith and Quranic verses with references, has silky pages on the inside, and defines many Arabic words that people might not know, forgot, or has multiple meanings. Like any self- help book, I think this book is easy to read if you give it a break after each chapter or so to digest the material and think about what you read.
Overall, I give this book 5/5 stars! I highly recommend In the Early Hours to self-help readers or anyone who is interested to give this book a try. If you don't mind ebooks, you can download this book from online @ http://www.kalamullah.com/books.html. Scroll down and you should find it closer towards the bottom. For a hard copy, try Amazon.
GEMS/ Notes
There is a lot to get out of this book! I tried to condense the info. without repeating the whole book while still taking note of what I felt was important and worth going back to.
Chapter 1- The Process of Self Development
The path to God is only illuminated when a person recognizes the central place of God in his life and strives to develop his self accordingly. The Messenger of God said: "If someone wants to know what position he enjoys in the eyes of God, he has only to look at what place he gives to God (in his heart and life)" (Hakim).
The term nearest in meaning to self-development in the Quranic vocabulary is tazkiya. Tazkiya means purification and refers to the cleansing of the human self from all that is unwholesome, undesirable and unwelcome. It also refers to the nurturing and strengthening of all the qualities within the human self that are essential for growth and development, for blossoming and flowering.
The Goal in Life
The Quran states that true success is only reserved for those who seek to purify themselves: Successful indeed is the one who purifies his whole self [ash-Shams 91:9].
For the Believer, the most coveted goal in life is to seek the good pleasure of Allah and Janna or Paradise. Our Creator has set this goal for us: And surely Paradise - it is the goal [an-Naziat 79: 41]; Indeed the Next abode - it is truly the life! [al-Ankabut 29: 64].
The alternative to attaining Paradise in the Hereafter is to be placed in Jahannam or Hellfire and to receive its punishments. The Quran states: But in the life to come: [it is either] severe suffering, or God's forgiveness and His goodly acceptance [al-Hadid 57: 20]. What is it that makes a person deserving of such a suffering? The answer is to be found in the second part of the same verse: for the life of this world is nothing but an enjoyment of self-delusion [al-Hadid 57: 20]. Jahannam therefore, is for those who seek as their ultimate goal in life, not the pleasure of Allah or Paradise, but the enjoyment of worldly gains.
The 1st Step to Paradise
- Concentrate single-mindedly on Paradise.
Embark on this new journey by refreshing your wudu (ablution) and offering two rakas (units) of Salat or Prayer reminding yourself of all the punishment of Hellfire you have just resolved to avoid at all costs and all the rewards of Paradise that you will strive to achieve. Remind yourself also of the important stations and landmarks on the journey; imagine death as near; imagine the moment when the Angel of Death will declare, `your time is over, now you must follow me'; imagine that moment when you will be made to stand in the presence of Allah, Most High, so that the final judgment of life may be passed on you and imagine the consequences of that judgment. When you have completed the two rakas then resolve once more that all efforts will be directed towards achieving Paradise, beseech Allah and pray with humility: O Allah, I ask for Your mercy and whatever brings me closer to it, in word and deed.
Your Mission
What Allah requires of you, in Quranic vocabulary, is for you to be a mumin and mujahid. A mumin is one who is true and firm in his faith in God. A mujahid is one who strives his utmost, with all the means at his disposal, to gain God's pleasure.
You cannot expect to change all at once. This is against the laws of nature. The Prophet was always aware of this when he was dealing with his Companions. Whenever someone embraced Islam, the Prophet would not ask that person to do everything immediately. Instead, he would teach and expect that person to start fulfilling his obligations only as much as he could bear at a time. This gradual process of change is also clearly reflected in the manner in which the Quran was revealed over a period of 23 years. In all your efforts towards becoming a better Believer, you must bear in mind this principle of gradualism, otherwise you may try to attain the impossible, and when you do not achieve it, you may become frustrated.
Prerequisites of Tazkiya
1. Personal Responsibility
You must accept that tazkiya is a highly personal process and that it demands taking personal responsibility for carrying it forward. You can only see the results of tazkiya through your own realization, your own personal efforts and your own exertions. No one else can perform tazkiya for you. No organization, no leader and no teacher can replace your own responsibility. God says: And no bearer of burdens shall be made to bear another's burden; and if one weighed down by his load calls upon [another] to help bear carry it nothing thereof may be carried [by that other], even if it be one's near of kin [al-Fatir 35:18].
- Acquire a sound knowledge of Islam through a dedicated study of the Quran and Sunna. You must then translate your knowledge into practice.
- Seek the company of those who are also striving to please Allah. They will encourage you towards righteousness and correct you when you deviate from the true Path. Your company also includes your mental and psychological company- the ideas you entertain, the ambitions you nurture, the sensitivities and sensibilities you develop and the books you read. All of these represent a form of company because they are your companions in solitude.
2. Genuine Effort
Have a deep desire to make a genuine effort to fulfill your obligations as a Muslim: “But as for those who strive hard in Our cause - We shall most certainly guide them onto paths that lead unto Us: for, behold God is indeed with the doers of good” [al-Ankabut 29: 69].
With desire, of course, come actions. But know that it is not solely the results of your endeavors that count; what matters most is that you made your best effort. This is a very important point to appreciate because without genuine effort nothing can happen. Those who think that Prayer alone can work miracles are not living in a realistic world. Prayers are part of the effort, but Prayers are not the whole answer. If you pray, `Allah! Guide me and make me good', it is not going to bring you any benefit unless you are also determined to become good and make an effort towards becoming good. Once you have done the latter two things, then, of course, Prayer will be a source of baraka or Divine grace that will further inspire and strengthen your efforts.
There will never be a point when you will be able to say that you are now a perfect person or that you have achieved your full potential. If at any point you feel so, then be sure that is the starting point of your downfall.
3. Sustaining Willpower
In Quranic terminology this is called irada. Irada is basic to all our efforts. Without willing to do something you cannot do anything.
Irada is very different from desire. You always hear people reflecting upon unfulfilled aspirations. One of the main reasons why aspirations and dreams remain unfulfilled is that they are no more than desires which faded to assume the status of irada.
4. Reliance on Allah
...is borne from the Believer's intimate knowledge and understanding that Allah is ever ready to assist those who strive and struggle in His way, depending upon Allah and knowing that He is there to help you, protect you and shower His mercies upon you, and from knowing that Allah in His infinite mercy has equipped you with all that you require to undertake the tasks set before you.
You must never allow yourself to believe or feel that Allah has treated you unfairly or that He has placed upon you a burden you cannot shoulder for on "no soul does Allah place a burden greater than it can bear" [al-Baqara 2:286].
Likewise, hope is central to your efforts and your success. You must sincerely hope and believe that everything you do to earn the pleasure of Allah will lead you to fulfillment. A superiority complex negates the task of self-development. An inferiority complex is derived from a lack of confidence in Allah and oneself. You should never allow yourself to believe that you cannot fulfill your obligations nor should you despair of the mercy of Allah. Confidence, hope and determination are all important ingredients for your success.
You must be wary, however, of the kind of self-confidence that causes a person to proclaim himself self-sufficient. For the Muslim, self-confidence is wholly dependent upon the trust one places in Allah; it is not an arrogant proclamation of complete independence from Allah. Allah alone is self-Sufficient. All else is reliant upon Him for existence.
5. The Best Use of Time
Time is not money or gold; it is life and it is limited. You must begin to appreciate every moment of your life and always strive to make the best use of it. With all the demands of worldly life on your time, you will yet need to find time for self-development and maximize its potential. The better route towards self-development is, of course, to integrate all your efforts into a structured daily life.
Remember also that `the deeds most loved by Allah [are those] done regularly, even if they are few' (Bukhari, Muslim). While you must always strive to make the best use of your time, you must always aim for excellence in everything you undertake, whether at school, at home, at work or at play. Indeed, the Prophet has said, "Verily Allah has prescribed ihsan (proficiency and excellence) in all things" (Muslim).
6. All-embracing Process
Islam does not subscribe to the type of asceticism where we purify our hearts and yet remain immersed in political, economic or social corruption. Tazkiya must encompass our entire life - the privacy of our thoughts as well as their social manifestations in our daily life. Everything must be in conformity with Allah's will.
This will of God also requires you to seek and maintain a delicate balance between the various obligations that demand your attention; between your obligations to Allah, your obligations towards others and your obligations towards yourself. The Prophet advised us against extremism of any kind. It is reported that he said to Abdullah ibn Amr: ‘Have I heard right that you fast every day and stand in prayer all night?' Abdullah replied, `Yes, O Messenger of God.' The Prophet said, `Do not do that. Fast, as well as eat and drink. Stand in prayer, as well as sleep. For your body has a right upon you, your eyes have a right upon you, your wife has a right upon you, and your guest has a right upon you" (Bukhari, Muslim).
As you struggle to make headway on the path to God, always remember that you have an excellent example before you. This is the example of the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace. For your spiritual development, however, the most beautiful example is that of the Prophet. Allah says in the Quran: "You have, indeed, in the Messenger of God an excellent exemplar, whoever places his hopes in God and the Final Days and who remembers Allah much" [al-Ahzab 33: 21].
Chapter 2: A Life of Remembrance
The Significance of Dhikr
And men who remember God much and women who remember - God has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward [al-Ahzab 33: 35]. Indeed, with regard to dhikr, the Quran concludes: And the remembrance of Allah is the greatest deed without doubt [al-Ankabut 29:45].
It is dhikr that purifies your qalb or heart and makes it sound. And you can only attain salvation and true success by having a pure and sound heart. [It will be a Day) when neither wealth nor children shall profit [and when] only he [will be saved] who comes before God with a sound heart [free of evil] [ash-Shuara 26:88-89].
This point is more elaborately made in a hadith in which the Prophet says: “Listen [to me] carefully. There is a lump of flesh in the body - if it is set right and made good, the entire body becomes good and healthy; but if it becomes diseased, the entire body becomes diseased. Remember well - it is the Heart (Bukhari).
The Meaning of Dhikr
Dhikr must not only be felt by the heart and uttered with the tongue, but must also affect and effect amal salih, or good deeds. Significantly, Ibn al-Qayyim suggests that dhikr encompasses any and every particular moment when you are thinking, saying or doing things which Allah likes: Hence, if your conversation is filled with the words of God, this is dhikr and if all your actions are in accordance with His will, this is dhikr. Indeed Allah commends that we remember Him while standing, sitting and even while reclining.
We may thus conclude, that attending to your personal needs, earning a livelihood and spending on your family are all forms of dhikr. But of course, they can only be dhikr if, alongside with the relevant adhkar or supplications in the heart and on the tongue, they are done in obedience to Allah, for His pleasure, to attain Janna. Otherwise, as the Quran warns us, far from being dhikr, they may have the opposite effect: “Let not your worldly possessions and your children make you neglectful of Allah's remembrance. But spend in the way of Allah [al-Munafiqun 63:9-10].
The Methods of Dhikr
1. Sustained Awareness of Allah
- Say to yourself: I am in Allah's presence; He is watching me. If you are alone, He is the second and that if you are two, He is the third. He is with you wherever you are [al-Mujadala 58:7]. He is nearer to you than your-jugular vein. [Qaf 50: 16-18.] He is watching everything that you do and hearing everything that you say. He is ever present and His knowledge is all encompassing.
- Say to yourself: Everything I have has been given to me by Allah. All that there is - surrounding you, on you and in you - comes from Allah alone. There is none that creates or gives anything but Allah [an-Nahl 16:78; Ya Sin 36:33-35]. Therefore, reflect upon all the baraka or blessing that He has created you with and be thankful to Him.
If you appear to be short of things to be thankful for, recall the hadith of the Prophet: `There are 360 joints in the body and for each joint you must give a sadaqa [thanks or charity] each day' (Bukhari). You must give a sadaqa for each one of them because without any one of them you will be incomplete and handicapped.
- Say to yourself: Nothing in this world can happen without His permission. Everything lies in the hands of Allah. No harm can befall you and no benefit can reach you except as Allah ordains. “If God should touch you with misfortune, none can remove it but He, and if He should touch you with good fortune, He has power over all things. He alone holds sway over His creatures; He is the All-wise, the All-aware” [al-Anam 6: 17-18].
- Say to yourself: I am going to return to Allah one day and that day could be today. You do not know when you will leave this world. It is important that you are always conscious of this uncertainty, to the extent that it motivates you to spend every moment of your remaining life seriously, considering it as a gift from Allah and spending the resources He has blessed you with - time, ability and energy - as He has advised.
2. Specific Methods of Dhikr
Allah, in His Wisdom and Mercy, has taught us some very specific mechanisms of dhikr. These include: the formal ibada-Salat, Sawm, Zakat and Hajj; tilawa of the Quran, dua, istighfar and tawba, seeking the company of the righteous and dawa.
3. Methods of Individual Dhikr
The foremost of the specific methods pertaining to individual dhikr include the fard or obligatory ibada. Allah has said in a hadith qudsi: "My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved by Me than what I have made obligatory" (Bukhari).
For each specific fard ibada, there is an additional nafl or superogatory equivalent. These are as follows:
- Sunna Salat - these include the additional Prayers before and after the five obligatory ones, but just as importantly the Tahajjud Prayer.
- Sunna Fasts - as recommended by the Prophet and to be practiced on Mondays and Thursdays of each week, the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth day of each lunar calendar month, and other recommended days in the Islamic year.
- Sadaqa fi Sabilillah - the giving of voluntary charity, however much and whenever one can afford, for the pleasure of Allah. - Umra - performance of the voluntary short pilgrimage.
A. Salat
Salat is the foremost form of ibada that Allah Himself has prescribed for us. "Out of all the ways through which My servant gets closer to Me, Salat is the dearest to Me" (Bukhari). If after regular observance of Prayer your heart remains unmoved, your morals remain corrupt and your conduct remains unaffected, we may question the usefulness and efficacy of your Prayer.
Remember, though, Salat is an obligation. Whether your heart is attentive or not, it must be performed. You cannot give up Prayer because to you it appears useless. Don't give up the obligation but try to infuse it with the purpose it seeks to serve - remembrance of Allah.
The ability to concentrate in Prayer may be improved by undertaking adequate psychological, mental and physical preparation before the Prayer and by utilizing certain techniques whilst performing the Prayer. Below we discuss some of them.
i. Psychological and Mental Preparation
- The planning of your daily activities should revolve around the five daily Salat [al-Ma'arij 70:22-23]. Do not plan everything else and then try to fit Prayer into your busy schedule.
- Ensure that you are conversant with all the rules and regulations governing your Prayer. Research in depth the Quranic verses and ahadith relating to the virtues of Salat.
- Be punctual with your Prayer [an-Nisa 4:103]. Get into the habit of praying at the earliest hour. Do not procrastinate. The Prophet said, `the deed most loved by Allah is Prayer performed on time' (Muslim).
- Pray as much of your fard Salat in jama'a or congregation as is possible [al-Baqara 2: 43].
- Avoid praying in a state in which you are mentally and physically fatigued [an-Nisa 4: 43].
- Rid your mind of all evil thoughts and ideas [al-Maun 107: 4-6].
- Keep your mind free of worldly worries and engagements.
- Plan what ayat / duas you are going to recite.
- If you do not understand Arabic learn the meaning of what you recite in your Prayer.
- Remind yourself that engaging in Prayer offers you an opportunity to release yourself from the pressures and tensions of this world. The Prophet has said that in Prayer was placed the comfort of his eyes. Therefore cherish the opportunity to remove the shackles and burdens of this world from your shoulders [al-Baqara 2:45].
- Use your Prayer to remain focused on your mission in life to bring your entire being to serve only Allah.
-Use your Prayer as a source of strength, inspiration and enthusiasm for your life and activities.
ii. Physical Preparation
- Fulfill all your personal needs before you commence your Prayer, for example, thirst, hunger and calls of nature.
- Pray in a pure physical state. Perform your wudu with care and perfection [al-Maida 5:6].
- Although the whole earth is a masjid or a place of worship, choose a place that is clean.
- Pray in an environment free of noise and one where there is no distraction.
- Adorn yourself with clean and respectable clothes for Allah has said: O Children of Adam, wear your best clothes at every place of worship [al-Araf 7:31].
iii. Performing Your Prayer
- Assess your mental readiness for Prayer before its commencement, during the various postures with its attendant recitations, after each raka and ultimately at the end- Try to make improvements at each stage
- Pray with humility both in your mental state and in your physical manner. Pray with hope and awe, asking Allah for His mercy and forgiveness.
- Remind yourself continually that you are talking to the most important `Being' in your life - your Creator and Sustainer. He is in front of you. You are facing Him and you are involved in a dialogue with Him [al-Alaq 96: 19].
- Commence your Prayer by seeking Allah's help and protection from the influences of Shaytan [an-Nahl 16:98].
- Lower your gaze while praying and do not allow the physical environment to distract you. Anas related that the Prophet said: `My dear son, be sure to avoid being distracted during Prayer, for, to become distracted while praying is a disaster' (Tabarani).
- Use a variety of Quranic verses and duas in your Prayer to achieve greater concentration and awareness.
- Adopt a whispering technique in your recitation. This will increase your ability to remain focused on what you are saying [al-Isra 17:110].
- As you recite the Quran, translate it into your own language so that your attention is held. As you concentrate upon the meaning and implications of the words, insha Allah, all thoughts of worldly ideas will disappear.
- On each occasion that you recite the Sifat or attributes of Allah in ruku and sajda, consider how indebted you are and how grateful you should be to Allah and express your true emotions.
- Utilize the occasion of sajda to make additional dua to Allah. The Prophet said: ' A servant is nearest to his Lord when he is in sajda, so increase your supplication when in sajda' (Muslim).
- Make your Prayer of moderate duration so that you do not become physically and mentally tired but be aware that while in Prayer you must take your time praying.
- Give due regard to the proper performance of all the physical postures.
- Pray as if it is your last Prayer. The Messenger of God said: `When you stand up to pray, perform your prayer as if it were your last, do not say anything you will have to make excuses for tomorrow, and resolve to place no hope in what is in the hands of men' (Ahmad).
Salat must be as the Quran states: Surely, Salat prevents indecency and evil [al-Ankabut 29:45].
Note that there is punishment for a Prayer not performed satisfactorily. It will be a witness against you rather than a witness for you on the Day of Judgment. However, the reward for a Prayer well performed is immeasurable. The Prophet said: `If a man performs two rakas of Salat without the distraction of any worldly thought, all his previous sins will be forgiven' (Bukhari).
iv. Tahajjud Salat
Even though it is not obligatory, try to establish Tahajjud Salat as part of your nightly activities. The Prophet said: `The best Prayer after the fard Prayer is the night Prayer" (Muslim).
The Prophet has said: Keep up qiyam al-layl. It was the way of the virtuous who came before you, it draws you nearer to your Lord, atones for your sins, forbids you from evil and protects the body from sickness (Tirmidhi).
When a man wakes up his wife at night and they pray two rakas (units) together, they are written down among the men and women who remember Allah (Abu Dawud).
B. Saum
Every good deed of a man is granted manifold increase, ten to seven hundred times. But Allah says: Fasting is an exception; it is exclusively for Me, and I will give reward for it as much as I wish (Bukhari, Muslim).
i. Fulfilling Allah's Wishes
While fasting, the most basic physical needs - food, water and sleep - are readily and joyfully sacrificed. Hunger and thirst are no longer harmful; Allah's displeasure is harmful. Physical pleasures no longer hold any lure; Allah's rewards do.
ii. Willpower
Fasting strengthens our willpower. The Prophet has said: 'Sawm is a shield [or a screen or a shelter from the Hell-fire]' (Bukhari). The regime of dawn-to-sunset abstinence from food, drink and sex, for the sake of Allah alone, internalizes the lesson that we must never enter, acquire or even touch that which does not belong to us under the law of Allah.
iii. Protection from Shaytan
Fasting enables us to protect ourselves from the evil influences of Shaytan. While fasting: `Eyes should refrain from seeing evil, ears from hearing evil, tongues from speaking evil and hearts from reflecting evil' (Bukhari).
C. Tilawa of the Quran
There are thousands of pages of tafsir or Quranic exegesis to read. But we must know that the real test of benefiting from the Quran lies somewhere else. The Quran says that when people really listen to it, their faith must increase: "Believers are those who, when God is mentioned, feel a tremor in their heart, and whenever His Messages are conveyed to them their faith is strengthened" [Al-Anfal 8: 2].
As you read it, also try to live by what it invites you to. If it does not have any impact upon your actions and if you do not observe what it enjoins and avoid what it prohibits, then you are not getting anywhere near the Quran. In fact, one who reads the Quran and does not try to act upon it may be more likely to be cursed and punished by Allah. The Prophet said: Many of the hypocrites in my Umma will be from among the reciters (Ahmad).
i. The Method of Tilawa
Tilawa or recitation is an act in which your whole person - soul, heart, mind, tongue and body - should participate. There are a few obligations regarding recitation of the Quran which you should keep in mind.
- Read the Quran every day; in fact do not consider a day complete without it. It is better to read regularly, even if it be a small portion, than to read large sections, but only occasionally.
- Every day you must also find time to memorize as much of the Quran as you can. You can start with small Suras and short passages and then move on to longer portions.
- Read as much of the Quran in Prayer as you can, especially during the night, after the Isha, before the Fajr and in the Fajr, as nothing is more effective in making you attuned to the Quran and ensuring you absorb it than reading it in the night or in the morning. Indeed, the early hours of the morning is a particularly blessed time to recite the Quran: Indeed, the recitation of the Quran at dawn is ever witnessed. [al-Isra 17:78]
- Read the Quran in a good voice, as we have been told: `Beautify the Quran with your voices' (Abu Dawud); but also remember that the real beauty is the beauty that comes with the fear of Allah in the heart: `His recitation and voice are the most beautiful so that when you hear him, you think he fears Allah' (Darimi).
- Read the Quran with concentration and understanding. The Prophet told Ibn Umar not to finish reading the Quran in less than a week He also said that one who finishes it in less than three days does not understand any of it. One companion said that he preferred to read a short Sura like al-Qaria with proper understanding than to hastily finish long ones like al-Baqara and Al-Imran.
ii. Your Constant Companion
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, has said, `I am leaving you with two murshids.' The term murshid refers to the one who guides to the right path. The first is the talking murshid, the Quran, mid the second is the silent murshid, mawt or death.
D. Dua
The Prophet has exhorted us: `Allah is angry with him who does not ask [anything] from Him' (Tirmidhi).
Prayers said while eating, drinking, sleeping, entering and leaving home must be memorized and utilized, for they remind us of Allah and His Omniscience.
The Prophet Muhammad taught us in one hadith: "After performing the dawn [Subh] Prayer, before you utter another word, say: O Allah, save me from Hell-fire [Allahumma ajirni min an-nar], seven times. If you die that day, Allah will decree that you be saved from Hell-fire. After performing the sunset [Maghrib] Prayer, before you utter another word, say: O Allah, save me from Hell-fire, seven times. If you die that night, Allah will decree that you be saved from Hell-fire" (Abu Dawud).
For each of the seven times, reflect on one of the stages from the Quran of the Akhira: the time of death; the sojourn and questioning by the angel in the grave; the time of rising and standing before Allah; the time of giving an account of all that has been done and seeing our actions displayed before us; and the passage over the Sirat or Bridge, then entering either Paradise or Hell.
Finally, it is important for us to observe the etiquette of dua so that we may derive maximum benefit from them. These have been beautifully summarized by Imam al-Nawawi, where he lists ten prime conditions and dispositions that we should observe:
1. Seek out the blessed times of Prayer: The Day of the Standing on the plain of Arafat [during Hajj]; the month of fasting [Ramadan]; Fridays [days of congregational prayers]; and during the night [especially the last third of it].
2. Seek out the blessed moments for Prayer when the heart is receptive and tender: immediately after the five daily prescribed Prayers; between the call to Prayer (adhan) and the final call to Prayer (iqama); when breaking fast; while on the field of battle; when rainfall occurs; and when bowing down [sujud] in Prayer, for the Prophet said, `The worshipper is closest to his Lord while bowing down so pray much then' (Muslim).
3. Face the direction of Makka and raise the hands [with palms spread upward] to the level of the shoulders.
4. Voice supplications in a moderate tone that is neither too loud nor too soft.
5. Prayers need not be said in a forced rhymed prose [an often natural form in Arabic].
6. Implore God with humility and reverence.
7. Be fervent in Prayer and optimistic of the answer. Sufyan ibn Uyayna stated: What a person knows of himself should never stop him from supplicating to God for He answered the most evil creatures, Iblis [Shaytan], when he said, `Give me respite until the Day they are resurrected. God said, “You are of the respired ones” [al-Araf 7: 14].
8. Repeat requests, preferably three times, and don't be impatient or despondent in waiting for an answer.
9. Begin supplication with the mention of God [His Names, praises and attributes] before asking of Him, and entreat God to send His blessings and peace upon the Prophet.
10. Strive for inner purity with repentance and sincere devotion.
E. Istighfar and tawba
Istighfar is seeking forgiveness while tawba is taming away from our faults and returning to Allah, to His Path. When Allah desires good for a Believer, He gives him awareness of his faults.
Whenever we are faced with a dilemma or uncertainty in our daily life we have been exhorted by the Prophet to observe the following guidelines: Seek a verdict from your heart Virtue is that which your soul and heart feel satisfied with. Sin is that which troubles the soul and about which the heart is uneasy and confused, even though people may give their legal opinions in its favor. (Muslim.)
Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, once saw a Bedouin repeating words of repentance in a great hurry. `This is fake repentance', remarked Ali ibn Abi Talib. The Bedouin asked, `What is true repentance?' Ali ibn Abi Talib explained that there are six elements in an act of true repentance:
- You should regret what has happened.
- You should discharge the duty which you have neglected.
- You should restore the right that you have misappropriated.
- You should apologize to the one whom you have caused injury.
- You should resolve not to repeat the act.
- You should dedicate yourself entirely to the service of Allah so that you may experience the rigors of obedience as you may have relished the pleasure of transgression.
There is no special time to seek the forgiveness of Allah. But perhaps one of the best occasions is the early hours of each day. The significance of this early part of each day has also been explained by the Prophet as follows: Our Lord descends every night to the nearest Heaven when only the last third of the night remains, and says: `Is anyone praying that I may answer him? Is anyone seeking forgiveness that I may forgive him? Is anyone asking that I may give to him?' And this continues until dawn (Tirmidhi).
Start each day by taking an account of yourself: seek forgiveness for the wrongs you have done and make the intention not to repeat these mistakes. In this way you shall become free from these sins. Every day you may commit a sin, but if every day you come sincerely to Allah, then every day He will forgive you. Such is His love and blessings for us.
While seeking the forgiveness of Allah, you must place your full trust and confidence in Allah for He always listens and answers the Prayers of His servants. In one hadith qudsi, Allah has reassured us: Son of Adam, so long as you keep calling upon Me and hoping for good from Me, I shall forgive you whatever you have done, and I do not mind. Son of Adam, were your sins to rise as high as the sky, and were you to ask Me for forgiveness, I would forgive you. Son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins as large as would fill the earth, and meet Me having ascribed no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness as great as your sins (Tirmidhi).
4. Methods of Collective Dhikr
A. Seeking the company of the righteous
The Prophet is reported to have said: If a group of people sit together remembering Allah, the angels will circle them, mercy will shroud them, peace will descend onto them and Allah will remember them among those with Him (Muslim).
Dhikr in a group may help teach those who do not know the desired adhkar and bring hearts together and strengthen their noble ties.
You must be careful with the selection of friends, for your companionship can and must be a form of dhikr. The Messenger of God said: `The best friend is the one who makes you remember Allah when you see him.' Also: 'Whosoever Allah wishes good for, He will grant him a righteous friend who will remind him if he forgets and aid him if he remembers'. And the Quran says: Bind yourself with those who call upon Allah morning and evening. [al-Kahf 18: 27-28.]
B. Witnessing Unto Mankind
Invite others to the path of Allah, the same path that you have found. The Quran advises: Make it [the truth] known to mankind, and do not conceal it! [Al Imran 3: 187] Help one another to righteousness and taqwa and do not help one another to sin and transgression. [al-Maida 5:2] Encourage one another in the truth, and encourage one another in patience [al-Asr 103: 3.] Remind [others of the truth] in the event that this admonition profits. The reminder will be received by he who stands in awe [of God]. [al-Ala 87: 9-10.]
Organizing Your Dhikr
Set aside some periods each day to devote yourself completely to these tasks and do not allow anything to interfere with them. Spending even a small amount of time each day will bring within you a feeling of closeness to Allah and familiarity with His Din or way of life.
You should begin each day with some dhikr after Salat al-Fajr and make the intention that your whole day will be spent in serving Allah. Follow up the dhikr with a dua seeking provisions for the day.
After the dhikr and dua spend some time reciting, memorizing and studying passages from the Quran for indeed the reading [of the Quran] at Fajr as witnessed. [al-Isra 17:78] If it is not possible to perform this task just after your Fajr Prayer then you may do it later, but you should make an effort to ensure that no day passes by without at least some reading and study of the Quran. Allocate some time also to study from a comprehensive syllabus which covers all the major aspects of Islam including Quran and hadith sciences, Sharia or Islamic law, Fiqh or Islamic jurisprudence, Sira or the life history of the Prophet Muhammad and Islamic history.Perhaps the best way to learn about Islam is to learn from those who have more knowledge than you. You should therefore strive to attend Islamic study circle sessions, camps and courses whenever you can. At the same time, as much as you learn and improve your understanding of Islam, do not forget your obligations towards your family and those around you. Set aside a period also to teach them about Islam.
As night falls just after the Salat al-Maghrib, it is again recommended to make dhikr, seeking protection for the coming night. And then to complete the day, just before retiring, reflect on what you have accomplished - where you have succeeded and where you have failed. As for your successes thank Allah that He has enabled you to do whatever you may have accomplished. For your failures, you must ask for His forgiveness with humility and sincerity. Close the day with Prayers for help and guidance to overcome your weaknesses and to develop your strengths.
