Summary of Letter:

 باسمه تعالى

Respected Mufti Saheb
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

How does one develop concentration in Salaah?

Summary of Reply:

 باسمه تعالى

Respected Brother/Sister
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

One should consider the directive of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) that “worship Allah Ta’ala as if you can see him.” One should strive to achieve this condition. Concentration and devotion will be achieved to the extent that this thought will dominate the mind.

[Upon this answer the questioner remarked: “It is not within our control to make this thought dominant over the mind!” Hazrath responded in the following words:]

In order to achieve this condition, you must pluck the courage (and strive to achieve it). Is plucking the courage also not within your control? When a person wants to do something, he never says “it is not possible for me to do it.” Instead he says “I can do it.” Consider that if your father or some elder informs you that he will arrive by train at midnight and wants you to receive him at the station. Despite it being very late at night and being severely cold, you will immediately prepare to go to the station. You will wear warm clothing to overcome the cold. If you do not have transport, you will make arrangements for the same. If there is a fear of oversleeping, you will set the alarm in order to wake up and reach the station on time. In short, whatever difficulties there may be, you will make every effort to overcome them.

On the contrary, if you do not want to go, your immediate response will be: “How can I go at such late hour? I do not even have a car!” You would then make a hundred excuses to avoid going.

Therefore if one truly wishes to acquire something, one will have to pluck the courage and make an effort. One should be prepared to push aside any obstacle that comes in the way. Otherwise if one is not really interested in achieving something, the smallest obstacle will make one give up. (Malfoozaat)