Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
I have been having trouble with making the most of my daily prayers... what do you suggest?
Abu Nu`aym relates in Hilyat al-Awliya [8.74], with his chain of transmission to Rabah ibn al-Harawi:
Isam ibn Yusuf passed by Hatim al-Asamm -- one of the great early masters of the spiritual path -- while he was speaking to a gathering. Isam said, "O Hatim! Do you pray well?" Hatim replied, "Yes."
Isam asked him, "How do you pray?"
Hatim responded,
I fulfill the Divine Command;
I walk with reverent awe;
I enter the prayer with intention;
I give the opening takbir with magnification of Allah;
I recite the Qur''an in a distinct and measured recitation, with reflection;
I bow with reverence;
I prostrate with humility;
I sit for the tashahhud completely;
I give salams according to the proper way and sunna.
Then I consign the prayer to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) with sincerity. And I return to myself in fear, fearing that the prayer will not be accepted of me. I hold fast to this way with resolve, until death."
Isam said, "You can teach, for you indeed pray well."
And Allah alone gives success.
Translated by Faraz Rabbani
MMVIII © Faraz Rabbani and SunniPath.
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