Got distractions in Salaah? Then Do this

by Asma bint Shameem

When you get too distracted in Salaah and can’t seem to focus no matter how hard you try, then don’t worry.

There is a solution Alhamdulillaah.

‘Uthmaan ibn Abi’l-‘Aas al-Thaqafi radhi Allaahu anhu complained about the same thing to the Prophet ﷺ.

He said:

"The Shaytaan comes between me and my Salaah and causes me problems with my recitation."

So the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:

"That is a Shaytaan called Khanzab, so if you feel his presence, seek refuge in Allaah and spit drily (spittle) to your left three times."

He (Uthmaan radhi Allaahu anhu) said:

"I applied this advice and Allaah has rid me of him."

(Saheeh Muslim 2203)

Alhamdulillaah, what a beautiful Deen!

It has a solution for every situation and every problem.

🍃 Ibn al-Qayyim said:

“If a person seeks refuge with Allaah from the accursed Shaytaan and spits dryly to his left, that does not matter and does not interrupt his prayer; rather this makes the prayer more complete and more perfect.”

(Zaad al-Ma‘aad, 3/602)

🍃 Shaykh Ibn Baz said:

“There is nothing wrong with turning during the prayer to seek refuge with Allaah from the accursed Shaytaan when experiencing his whispers. In fact it is mustahabb in the case of urgent need, by turning the head only, because the Prophet ﷺ instructed ‘Uthmaan ibn Abi’l-‘Aas al-Thaqafi radhi Allaahu anhu to do that when he complained to him of what he was experiencing of the whispers of the Shaytaan. He told him to spit dryly to his left three times and to seek refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan. He did that and Allaah healed him of that."

(Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baz, 11/130)

So the next time you can’t concentrate in your Salaah, do the following:

1. Say Aoodhu billaahi min ash-Shaytaanir-Rajeem.

2. Turn your head to the left and spit DRILY three times.

3. Continue with your prayer.

4. You can repeat this several times as needed and in ANY position in the Salaah.

🔺How do you spit drily?

Spitting dryly is not “actually spitting”; rather it is blowing with a little saliva.

So blow air out of your mouth in a manner that the minutest drops of saliva also come out with it.

🔺What if I’m praying in congregation?

🍃 Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“If a person is praying in congregation, what should he do? How can he spit dryly to his left three times? We say: It is sufficient to seek refuge with Allaah from the accursed Shaytaan without spitting dryly, so as to avoid bothering people around you."

(Fatawa Noor ‘ala al-Darb, 185/45)

And Allaah knows best.