❖ The Importance of Focus, Reverence, and Simplicity in Salah ❖
✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
When a person prays with the awareness that he is standing before "Aḥkam al-Ḥākimīn" (the Most Just of Judges), he will naturally perform Salah with complete attention and concentration. Such a person will not move unnecessarily, shift his weight from one foot to another, play with his beard, scratch without cause, adjust his garment, or fidget with his head covering.
Allah Almighty commands:
وَقُومُوا لِلّٰہِ قَانِتِیْنَ
“And stand before Allah with devotion.”
[Al-Baqarah: 238]
This verse highlights the importance of standing humbly and reverently in Salah.
The Prophet ﷺ taught that anything that distracts a person in Salah should be removed to maintain humility and attentiveness.
Narrated by ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها):
The Prophet ﷺ once prayed in a cloak that had patterns. He then said:
“Take this cloak to Abū Jahm and bring me his plain cloak instead. Its patterns distracted me in prayer.”
[Bukhari: 373; Muslim: 655]
She also narrated:
A curtain with images was hung in the house. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Remove this curtain, for its pictures come before me during the prayer.”
[Bukhari: 473]
Narrated by ʿUthmān ibn Abī Ṭalḥah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“There should be nothing facing the qiblah in the house that can distract a person during Salah.”
[Abū Dāwūd: 2023]
These narrations indicate that the Prophet ﷺ kept his eyes open during Salah, and closing the eyes deliberately is not supported as a means of achieving focus.
These narrations emphasize the necessity of complete focus and humility in Salah, and anything that disrupts this should be removed.
Sadly, in our times, mobile phones with musical tones disturb the peace of the mosques, even in the Kaʿbah, ruining not just one’s own focus, but also that of others.
Moreover, decorating mosques with intricate designs on mihrābs, walls, carpets, and prayer mats contradicts the original spirit of masjids, which should be spaces of serenity and simplicity.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“I have not been commanded to decorate mosques.”
[Abū Dāwūd: 448; Ibn Ḥibbān authenticated it]
Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما) said:
“You will surely decorate your mosques just as the Jews and Christians did.”
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“Among the signs of the Hour is that people will take pride in their mosques.”
[Abū Dāwūd: 449; Ibn Khuzaymah: 3/182 (2231) – authenticated]
The Permanent Committee for Fatwa (Saudi Arabia) issued a ruling:
◈ Prayer mats should not contain Qur’anic verses, images of animals, birds, or living beings.
◈ Having Qur’anic text on mats is disrespectful to the Qur’an.
◈ Images of living creatures are prohibited.
◈ Images of the Ḥaramayn or other mosques should not be on mats, as they distract from the humility in Salah.
[Fatāwā Islāmiyyah, p. 33]
Eyes should remain lowered and focused, as lifting the gaze or looking around contradicts the reverence due before Allah in Salah.
ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) reports:
She asked the Prophet ﷺ about looking around during prayer. He said:
“Looking around during Salah is a portion snatched by Shayṭān from a person’s prayer.”
[Bukhari: 751]
Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) narrates:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“What is wrong with people who raise their eyes towards the sky during prayer?”
Then he warned sternly:
“Let them stop, or their eyes will be snatched away.”
[Bukhari: 750]
✔ Reverence in Salah requires physical stillness and mental presence.
✔ Avoid distractions like decorated clothing, patterned prayer mats, and mobiles.
✔ Mosques should be simple, not adorned with elaborate decoration.
✔ Looking around is discouraged, and eyes should remain focused.
✔ Images and Qur’anic texts on prayer mats are impermissible, as they affect focus and disrespect sacred words.
✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
Bodily Stillness and Inner Focus During Salah
When a person prays with the awareness that he is standing before "Aḥkam al-Ḥākimīn" (the Most Just of Judges), he will naturally perform Salah with complete attention and concentration. Such a person will not move unnecessarily, shift his weight from one foot to another, play with his beard, scratch without cause, adjust his garment, or fidget with his head covering.
Allah Almighty commands:
وَقُومُوا لِلّٰہِ قَانِتِیْنَ
“And stand before Allah with devotion.”
[Al-Baqarah: 238]
This verse highlights the importance of standing humbly and reverently in Salah.Avoid Distractions in Prayer: Decorated Garments and Prayer Mats
The Prophet ﷺ taught that anything that distracts a person in Salah should be removed to maintain humility and attentiveness.
Narrated by ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها):
The Prophet ﷺ once prayed in a cloak that had patterns. He then said:
“Take this cloak to Abū Jahm and bring me his plain cloak instead. Its patterns distracted me in prayer.”
[Bukhari: 373; Muslim: 655]
She also narrated:
A curtain with images was hung in the house. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Remove this curtain, for its pictures come before me during the prayer.”
[Bukhari: 473]
Narrated by ʿUthmān ibn Abī Ṭalḥah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“There should be nothing facing the qiblah in the house that can distract a person during Salah.”
[Abū Dāwūd: 2023]
These narrations indicate that the Prophet ﷺ kept his eyes open during Salah, and closing the eyes deliberately is not supported as a means of achieving focus.Simplicity and Stillness: The True Spirit of Mosques
These narrations emphasize the necessity of complete focus and humility in Salah, and anything that disrupts this should be removed.
Sadly, in our times, mobile phones with musical tones disturb the peace of the mosques, even in the Kaʿbah, ruining not just one’s own focus, but also that of others.Moreover, decorating mosques with intricate designs on mihrābs, walls, carpets, and prayer mats contradicts the original spirit of masjids, which should be spaces of serenity and simplicity.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“I have not been commanded to decorate mosques.”
[Abū Dāwūd: 448; Ibn Ḥibbān authenticated it]
Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما) said:
“You will surely decorate your mosques just as the Jews and Christians did.”
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“Among the signs of the Hour is that people will take pride in their mosques.”
[Abū Dāwūd: 449; Ibn Khuzaymah: 3/182 (2231) – authenticated]
Prayer Mats with Images and Qur’anic Text: Disapproved
The Permanent Committee for Fatwa (Saudi Arabia) issued a ruling:
◈ Prayer mats should not contain Qur’anic verses, images of animals, birds, or living beings.
◈ Having Qur’anic text on mats is disrespectful to the Qur’an.
◈ Images of living creatures are prohibited.
◈ Images of the Ḥaramayn or other mosques should not be on mats, as they distract from the humility in Salah.
[Fatāwā Islāmiyyah, p. 33]
Prohibition of Looking Around During Salah
Eyes should remain lowered and focused, as lifting the gaze or looking around contradicts the reverence due before Allah in Salah.
ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) reports:
She asked the Prophet ﷺ about looking around during prayer. He said:
“Looking around during Salah is a portion snatched by Shayṭān from a person’s prayer.”
[Bukhari: 751]
Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) narrates:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“What is wrong with people who raise their eyes towards the sky during prayer?”
Then he warned sternly:
“Let them stop, or their eyes will be snatched away.”
[Bukhari: 750]
Summary of Key Points:
✔ Reverence in Salah requires physical stillness and mental presence.
✔ Avoid distractions like decorated clothing, patterned prayer mats, and mobiles.
✔ Mosques should be simple, not adorned with elaborate decoration.
✔ Looking around is discouraged, and eyes should remain focused.
✔ Images and Qur’anic texts on prayer mats are impermissible, as they affect focus and disrespect sacred words.
