ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Soaring to the Only Beloved Part 4: Hurdles on the Way To Attention in Prayer And their Removal The to-and-fro movement that we undertake to drive off the distractions of our minds all our life will never make us progress. It rather manifests stagnation and stillness. On the contrary, if we were to uproot the causes of distraction, we would easily be able to soar towards the proximity of Allah.

Causes of Distraction Scholars of ethics and gnosis mention in their books two fundamental categories of elements that can distract one's attention in prayer: The External Elements The Internal Elements The External Elements These are external elements that divert the attention of the worshipper- (musalli). They mainly concern his sight and hearing perceptions.

Places where a conversation is going on, or the television happens to be switched on, for example, would quickly distract the attention of one who is easily vulnerable to such stimuli. Praying on a beautifully decorated velvet prayer mat or an open place where people tend to pass by can also serve as a source of diversion of attention for some.

For this very reason some scholars of ethics advise people whose attention is easily diverted by auditories and visibilities to seek seclusion in a dark place when praying. In his commentary to al-Kafi , Sadru'l Muta'allihin informs us of what the wayfarers to Allah's proximity practiced after having sought forgiveness from Allah.

One of these, he says, is al-khalwa (seclusion), which of course does not imply, as some may tend to surmise, the total abandonment of the society for the sake of worship. He says: وفائدتها دفع الشواغل وضبط السمع والبصر, فانهما دهليزا القلب يدخل منهما اليه من الشواغل و المفاسد والوساوس ما يزعجه ويغيره عما هو عليه من قصده, فلا بد من ضبطها, وليس يمكن ذلك الا بالخلوة في مكان مظلم...

The benefit of seclusion is that it frees oneself from preoccupations and enables one to control his hearing and sight. For verily these two are the vestibules of the heart; it is through them that things like distractions, evil thoughts and Satanic insinuations that disturb the human being and divert him from his intention, enter the heart. Hence they must be bridled; and that cannot be realized save by means of seclusion in a dark place...[^1] Seclusion is recommended in supererogatory prayers.