Learned this (secretly) from a friend

To start with, this post has no other intention but only to share what might be good for its reader :)

Happy Ramadhan. Praises Be To God for once again allowing us to be in this most blessful month of the year. We surely won't waste this month doing nothing, and hopefully all of our deeds will be rewarded with the best rewards here and the hereafter.

Hmm. How should I start this... I guess some of us had undergone different childhood and upbringings. As for me, things were not as easily available as where I'm now. (Alhamdulilah) but there are things that I felt that needed to be changed. coz as people prosper, we become more eligible to be responsible for others, in this case, the needy. But, let's just don't go there yet.

This is probably part of skill. yes, not just simply somehing that is Ordered. but probably innate within you that you probably didnt realize that you're capable of. or should i say, you are not that incapable. meaning, there is Rizq Promised, Written, before your existence, and therefore, you're probably would want to try to break your mindset that you're left with nothing. As the saying goes, the more you give the more you recieve, and that thing that you give (sincerely) will Clean yourself off things that do not belong to you. But yet, somehow the past, the upbringings, somewhat sipped through and carried over to your adulthood, that is somewhat uneasy to let go.

So, let's get into this. . . As kids some of us probably had experienced this : Given some coins (or a note) of small change, then we put it into the donation box distributed prior/after the congregation prayers. and the same thing for the next friday, or other times during lebaran(s). Some of us probably still experience this up to today, that is to give exclusively only small change for donation. I still did about few years ago though. Until one day during my stay in M'sia I saw a friend who gave an amount that was abit startling to me, knowing his economic situation at that time. I noticed that he put a big note (of RM10 or about Rp30.000) into the box, whilst he himself was in a rather uneasy end-of-the-month situation. This happened few times, in several occarions before Friday prayers.

For me, it wasn't that easy to let go such amount at first, considering I may not be able to buy other things if I regularly donate my own money that much -or that I'm just not used to it-  But, somewhat I'm poised to try. Starting off with whatever coins, be it 5, 10 or 50 cents. I later got used to simply grabbed whatever coins in my pocket without counting.  Then, the weeks after, I gradually increased it with whatever coins and small notes in my pocket. Meaning, if there's RM 1 note, I'll give it together with the coins. RM 1 was considered valuable amount at that time, especially at the end of the month, as you could still buy decent food by adding only 20 cents (Roti Canai kosong = RM 1.20).  Some months after, things started to feel different, it became very easy to give 'just like that'. I got less hesitant to put in any amount, even the bigger notes.

It wasn't just about getting myself used to it though. There was another thing that i learned from the experience . Back then, I would usually went out on the weekends, having dinner outside, going to the malls, hang out with friends or just simply go to the nearest mall (Sunway Pyramid) to do grocery shopping. During this 'self-training' session, I felt that, the urge to go out had never been that high if I donated on Friday, regardless the amount. In other events there usually wont be any spendings on unnecesary things whenever I go out. Somewhat it prevented me from purchasing other stuffs (other than what originally planned to) which I normally took during grocery shopping before.

On the days when I didnt give out though - either I forgot or managed to came up with "excuses" to not to give- I started noticing that there would be something on the weekend that would make me awfully regretful, such as buying extra pack of potato chips that would then got me sore throat, carbonated drinks which then got me gastric, new CDs that I listened only once (I copied it to my laptop afyerwards), magazines which I looked instead of read, stupid self motivational books, or other goods that appealed to the eye, but were not really necessary or not doing any good for your mind and health, if you know what i mean. It's either that or someone would ask me to go out  to places that I eventually felt not taking any benefit from, other than, making me broke (including paying double charge for a midnight cab ride to return home). But then usually, it would be gone if i made it up the next day.

Later on, these experiences somehow made me think, or should I say, it came to my realization, that probably both events had somewhat cause-and-effect relationship as it kept repeating several times. Not sure how to comprehend this, but probably you want to try it yourself and see. and then tell me. I would say, this has something to do with the promised Rizq bestowed upon us as we were born. that regardless how much we give, it'll return in better ways,  unexpected ways, or it'll purify ours from things that are not beneficial for us. But I dont know. God Knows. God is Great.

Rabbi zidni 'ilma(n) war zuqni fahma(n).

Again, this has no other means intended, but only to share what I thought would be good for whoever reads it.

Found this on WikiHOW.

I hope whoever wrote it won't mind if I copied n pasted it here. Hope this post will benefit whoever read it.

 

HOW TO CONCENTRATE ON SALAT
Click the link above to view this article on its original page.

Before the Prayer

1. 1
   Identify the factors that distracts you in prayers, then try to eliminate them. For example, if you are always distracted by the noise outside of your house, go to the nearest mosque instead of praying in your own home.
2. 2
   Learn the meaning of prayer. Try to find out what the exact meaning of the words that you are reciting. Think the meaning as you recite the verses. This will definitely keep your mind on your prayer. What you are saying won't just be a bunch of Arabic words anymore; it'll have meaning to it.
3. 3
   Try your best to pray together with other Muslims. In Islam, this is known as jama'ah.You will ultimately feel a sense of togetherness. You might also want to have your prayer done at your local mosque. There would normally be some brothers of Muslims in the mosque. Offer to shake your hands to them or even start a new conversation with them.
4. 4
   Learn to perform your prayer according to the sunnah of our blessed prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
5. 5
   Give your mind a break for a few minutes. Take a time out from this world and relax. Capture calmness in your mind. Prepare the mind by thinking about your salat.
6. 6
   Relieve yourself from your mental stresses.
7. 7
   Put on good clothing.
8. 8
   Plan what Surahs and Du'ahs you are going to recite.
9. 9
   Intend that you are praying to Allah Almighty and only for His sake. Focus on the nature of the prayer you are making. The clearer you are in your intention, the better your attention and concentration will be.

During the Prayer

1. 1
   Instill discipline in yourself. Stand upright with a softened heart. Think of your prayer as your last prayer, as how one hadeeth says. Believe that Allah is by your side. Be as quiet and still as possible and try not to fidget. Keep your eyes open and look down straight to where your head will be when you prostrate (sudjood)
2. 2
   Don't pray hastily. Perform every part of your prayer with care and in a relaxed manner, as what one hadeeth would say, "Hastiness is from satan."
3. 3
   Remember that you are meeting with nobody but Allah!
4. 4
   Pay attention to the recitation.
5. 5
   Adopt your own way of reciting softly without disturbing others.
6. 6
   Bring the mind back when ever you feel that it's lost. Recite Ata'uz (Refuge to Allah from Satan):
   
   A'udhubillahiminash shaitaan nirrajim.

After The Prayer

1. 1
   Do not rush away after the prayer. Sit for a while for evaluation, Dhikr and Du'ah. Evaluate whether the prayer has softened your heart.
2. 2
   Implore Allah earnestly to accept your prayers. Recite:
   
   Allahumma a 'inni 'ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husn 'ibadatika
   "O Allah, help me in remembering You, in thanking You and in worshipping You in the best way."
   
   
3. 3
   Recite Dhikr as prescribed by the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)
   • Allahumma antas salamu wa minkas salamu wa ilaika yarji'us salam. Haiyina Rabbana bis salami tabarakta ya dhal dhalaali wal ikram
   • Subhanallah "Exalted is Allah" (33 times), Alhamdullilah "Praise to God" (33 times),Allahu Akbar "God is the Greatest" (33 times)
4. 4
   Seek refuge from hell fire, especially after Fajr and Maghrib,
5. 5
   Say your peace to the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him),
6. 6
   Du'ah as you need.

Outside the Prayer

1. 1
   Don’t treat prayer as an isolated act of worship, but part of your lifestyle. Keep in mind that your life in general has an effect on prayer (and vice versa).
2. 2
   Keep your lifestyle pure and clean. Eating non-halal food, earning unlawful income, and committing sins take away the joy and concentration in prayer.
3. 3
   Begin to schedule your work according to prayers. Let your employers or boss know that you need a few minutes break for prayers and a longer break on Friday noon (for Muslim brothers). Avoid night shift duty, if possible.
4. 4
   Try to go to bed early so that you do not miss your morning prayer.
5. 5
   Too much engagement in worldly affairs hinders the mind to be attentive inside the prayers.
   • ...surely by Allah's remembrance are the hearts set at rest. (Quran 18: 28)
   • Avoid activities that divert your attention (e.g. too much gossip, TV, music etc), as mentioned in Surah Al-Mu’minun.

I claim no rights to the above writings. The original article can be found here
I just hoped re-posting this would benefit to whoever read it, just as it did to me. :)