The question discusses the struggle to maintain a spiritual connection during acts of worship, such as night prayers and visiting Ashura, which have become habitual and lack spirituality.
[AR_ID:924]
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1 Answer
Peace be upon you.
First, we ask Allah to grant you the ability to continue performing recommended acts of worship.
The feeling of spiritual emptiness you are experiencing is a result of not sensing the spirituality in prayer and other recommended acts. This awareness of the state of the soul and its focus on Allah is a blessing from Allah. Therefore, the first step to remedy this issue is to thank Allah for this blessing. The first step in treating a problem is to recognize and acknowledge it, which can only be achieved through observation and scrutiny.
What you have mentioned is a common issue in worship; if a person does not pay attention to their worship, it quickly turns into a habit and becomes devoid of spirit.
It has been narrated from Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him): "Do not look at the length of a man's bowing and prostration, for that is something he has become accustomed to. If he were to leave it, he would feel uneasy. Rather, look at the sincerity of his speech and the fulfillment of his trust."
Thus, a believer should focus on several factors that help in achieving a heartfelt presence in acts of worship:
First Factor: Seek guidance from Allah and intercede through Muhammad and his family (peace be upon them) to grant you success in all good: {… And my success is only by Allah. Upon Him I have relied, and to Him I return.} (Surah Hud 88).
Second Factor: Abandon sins and transgressions, as they create darkness that prevents the heart from turning to Allah.
Third Factor: Allocate specific times for worship during the day and night, training oneself to focus on worship and refrain from engaging in any other activities during that time.
Fourth Factor: Make the heart aware of the importance of worship and remind it periodically, for when the heart realizes the significance of presence and worship, it will be attentive and settled.
Fifth Factor: The presence of the heart in prayer is a result of (bringing it forth), which depends on the person's control over their heart and its distractions. This can only be achieved through struggle, perseverance, and not losing hope. Achieving a heartfelt presence in worship requires training and practice. Initially, the heart may not be present even for the opening Takbir, but with the servant's insistence on bringing their heart in obedience to their Lord, the heart may become present to that extent. With persistence, the heart's presence will increase to include Surah Al-Fatiha, and gradually, the entire prayer will be performed with a present heart, until the heart is always in continuous presence before Allah and never forgets it for the blink of an eye.
Recommendation from His Eminence Sayyid Adel Al-Alawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding this matter (in essence):
Try to maintain your state of worship, in terms of performing recommended acts and prayers, for you will achieve a heartfelt presence, God willing. You are currently in a battle against the devil, who wants to rob you of this state and lead you away through a cunning method: he will distract you from worship in the name of worship! He will whisper to you that Allah only accepts from the pious, and you are not among them, so why worship Allah? Is it to show off?
Be cautious of this relentless enemy, for he uses the commanding self to lead us to misery and take us out of Allah's guardianship, so that we may, God forbid, enter the guardianship of the devil and his party. Remain steadfast in your current state and you will receive more guidance, God willing.
May you be successful in all good.
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