Hawzah News Agency – What should we do to stay attentive towards God and prevent getting distracted while praying? Ayatollah Vahid Khorasani answers this question as follows:

Few of the things which are recommended to preserve concentration in prayers are:

First: Perform ablution with concentration and presence of heart. It is reported from Imam Ridha (A.S) that ablution causes purification and cleansing of the heart.

Second: Ponder over the greatness of Salaat and the traditions reported about it.

Third: Pray like someone who will not have another opportunity to pray and is bidding it farewell.

Fourth: When facing the Qiblah, one must try to forget and empty his heart of the world, whatever is in it, the creatures and everything they are busy with.

Fifth: Attention should be paid to Prayer's meanings and it should be offered with calmness and tranquility.

Sixth: One must know that since the moment he enters into prayers, till the time he finishes it, he faces God, while He watches him .And an angel stands above him, and says: “O’ the one offering prayers! If you had known who is watching you and whom you are imploring, you would have never turned away from Him, and would have never left your place.”

Seventh: One must know that during prayers, divine mercy casts its shadow above his head and it extends to the edges of the skies and divine angels surround him.

Eighth: Do not perform acts which are makrooh in Namaz rather perform acts which increase its virtue (Or superiority) such as wearing an agate (aqeeq) ring, putting on neat clothes and scent, brushing tooth and combing hair.