(Mustadarak al-Wasa’il...

(Mustadarak al-Wasa’il, Chapter 2, Tradition 9) You promise to recite 5 SUBHANALLAH each time you have a significant distraction and you entertain the distracting thought for a few seconds. This debt has to be repeated as many times you get distracted and whenever you can pay the debt. All debts are to be paid ONLY in the state of Ruku’ (bending) or Sajdah (prostration).

For example, while reciting Surah al-Hamd, you get significantly distracted twice, then on your next Ruku’, you will pay your debt of 10 SUBHANALLAH first and then continue with the recitation normally assigned for Ruku’. If the distracting thought happens to occur whilst in Tashahhud or Salaam, then you will pay your debt as soon as you complete your Prayer. Caution The above debt and SUBHANALLAH forms part of your prayer and you should have that intention before and during your practice prayer.

The debt should be paid ONLY in the state of bending (Ruku’) or prostration (Sajdah), the additions will otherwise make you Prayer NULL and VOID, even though your practice Prayer is lapsed and not a compulsory Prayer. In any case, you have 4 Ruku’ (bending) and 8 Sujood (prostration) in the four unit Prayer to pay the debts you owe.

Do not concentrate on how many times you get significantly distracted as you will be aware of this fact when it happens, and you will pay your debt in your next Ruku’ or Sajdah. You will generalize this activity throughout your 4-unit Prayer. After you complete your act of worship, you will recall how many times you had to repeat the 5 SUBHANALLAH and how many debts you had to pay. Now you promise to recite 5 ASTAGHFIRULLAHA RABBI WA ATUBU ILAYH for every debt.

If you had paid 10 debts during your Prayer that means you recite 50 ASTAGHFIRULLAHA RABBI WA ATUBU ILAYH as soon as you complete your Prayer. You will now record in your chart the number of times you had to pay the debt during your Prayer, 5 or 10, may be 3. This is the end of the WORKOUT. Caution The above exercise is ONLY a workout to increase your concentration and plays no role in your daily obligatory Prayer.

Also, this workout is to be practiced passively during the Prayer and only active after your Prayer - meaning that if you concentrate too much on the debt, then you might distract yourself from the major objective. Category Three: Self-Assessment As soon as you complete your workout, the four units Prayer, you will rate the following in your personal chart – concentration, energy and motivation.