in inner conversation during them, will have his past sins forgiven.”

Likewise, an authentic report records that he said:

“Whoever performs ablution thoroughly, then prays two units, devoting himself to them with both face and heart, will have his past sins forgiven.”

There have always been people who pray in this manner. Saʿd ibn Muʿādh, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“There are three situations in which, if I were in all my circumstances as I am in them, I would truly be the man I should be: when praying, I think of nothing other than the prayer; when I hear a statement from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, no doubt enters my heart that it is the truth; and when attending a funeral, I think of nothing other than what the deceased says and what is said to him.”

Maslamah ibn Bashshār was praying in the mosque when part of it collapsed. The people sprang up, but he remained unaware as he prayed. Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with him, was prostrating when a catapult projectile carried away part of his garment, yet he did not raise his head from prayer.

They asked ʿĀmir ibn Abd al-Qays, “Do you think about anything during prayer?”

He replied, “Is there anything dearer to me than prayer that I should occupy my thoughts with it?”

They said, “We do think about other things during prayer.”

He asked, “Paradise, its maidens, and the like?”

They replied, “No, our families and our wealth.”

He said, “I would rather be pierced by spears!”

There are many similar examples.

Two things help one achieve this: a strong motivating force and diminished distractions.

As for the first, it consists in the servant striving to understand what he says and does, and to reflect upon