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The Secret To Stop Dreading Your Prayers When You Feel Exhausted, Lazy or Depressed
Summary of the book Asrar Al Salah (Inner Dimensions of the Prayer) by Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah رحمه الله.
Bint Azizi
March 16, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Brief Summary
Asrar Al Salah by Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah رحمه الله offers insights for cultivating inner peace with the salah. It illustrates the power of salah, providing a refreshing perspective on the blessing of the five daily prayers.
Who Should Read The Book?
Anyone who currently feels that salah is a burden instead of a blessing
Those who are longing for khushu' (inner attentiveness) in salah
People interested in learning the deep meaning behind the five daily prayers
Table of Contents
What Is The Book About?
Asrar Al Salah shows us the importance of the five daily prayers for giving us inner calm in a chaotic world. It offers a thought provoking explanation of the salah that encourages self-reflection, prompting readers to re-evaluate their prayers and find tranquillity in servitude towards Allah.
Favourite Quote From The Book
Salah is without any doubt, the domain of tranquillity for devotees, the enjoyment of the souls of monotheists, the garden of the worshippers, the essence of enjoyment of the humble ones, the test of the sincere ones, and the scale measuring the mettle of those embarking on the right path.
Summary Of Key Ideas
Salah Is A Gift From Your Lord
We all have hearts that can become heedless, hardened, inclined, or indifferent toward sin. This is natural because, in this dunya, we are constantly exposed to external temptations and tested with innate desires that we must strive against.
Out of His Mercy and Kindness, Allah has gifted this Ummah the five daily prayers—a means to help us endure the trials of this dunya and keep our hearts spiritually alive and healthy.
The Two Types of People When It Comes To Salah
There are major differences between the People of Salah and the rest of us when it comes to praying.
As you read the comparison below, ask yourself: Am I currently among the People of Salah or the People of Heedlessness?
People of Salah | People of Heedlessness | |
|---|---|---|
Filled with devotion for Allah | The focus of your heart | Filled with thoughts on worldly affairs |
A relief from the hardships of life | Reason for praying | A duty to get over with |
Feel troubled when prayer is about to end | Attitude towards praying | Feel burdened every time they have to pray |
Calm and tranquil in both soul and body | Manner of praying | Rushed, lacking tranquillity and calmness |
Remembrance and love of Allah | Source of comfort | The pleasures of this world |
Nearness to Allah and all the blessings that come with it | Benefit(s) of praying | Limited to briefly keeping you away from indulging in worldly life |
Allah elevates your rank such that you receive a special rank with Allah and He will reward you for the performance of your prayer | Prayer and your akhirah | Allah can choose to either forgive your sins because of your prayer (depending on how much servitude you manage to demonstrate while praying) or punish you for the deficiency in your prayer |
What We Could Get From Salah If We Take It Seriously
There is a direct relationship between your level of focus in salah and Allah's attention on you.
When you learn to establish and perform the salah in the best manner, Allah, in turn, gives you His full attention—the greatest fruit of salah. Along with this, He blesses you with:
Love from other people
Increased provision (rizq) in this life
Healing from the effects of minor sins
A heart that radiates light and strength
Protection from desires and temptations
Honour, dignity, His Mercy and nearness to Him
Salah as your light and reward on the Day of Judgment
Becoming a reason for the Angels and other creations of Allah to feel very happy
Help to perfect your servitude to Him by bringing your hearts and bodies together into servitude
But the opposite is also true — when you are unmindful of Allah in your salah, He turns away from you. This leaves you with a prayer that is empty of its true benefits.
If You Want Khushu’, Look After Your Heart
The quality of your salah is deeply tied to the state of your heart.
True khushu’ begins in the heart and reflects in your body during prayer. When your heart is humble and submissive, it will be mirrored in your physical actions. In contrast, hypocritical khushu’ involves submissive actions but a heart filled with arrogance and worldly desires.
Here are the signs that your heart will have true khushu’ for the sake of Allah:
You love and feel shy towards Allah for all the blessings He still gives you despite your sins
You genuinely feel content and at peace when you remember Allah
You recognise Allah’s magnificence and feel a sense of humility
Your heart and soul are sober from lusts and worldly desires
You feel broken when you disobey Him
You have discipline and self-control
You can nurture your heart to embody these signs by filling it with love for Allah, knowledge about Allah, remembrance of Allah, supplications and invocations, and Tawheed (belief in the Oneness of Allah).