Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As-salaam Alaikum!

Before I start, I would like to thank the people who made this site and are operating it because you are doing a great job by helping others. And I hope that I will be helped too.

From the past many months, for some reason I have become very slow in my prayers. I have noticed that when I pray my namaz with many people with me, I am not able to keep up with them.I have become so concious of my words in prayer that I tend to repeat them.
Is praying slow very bad? Is this what we call `Khalal` in urdu? If so, how can i overcome this?

I have started feeling very guilty whether I`m praying properly or not. I wonder later in life, if i go to Hajj or Umrah, what will i do because over ther we have to pray fast and perfectly. PLEASE HELP

Sister-in-need 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Prayer slow

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Is praying slow very bad? Is this what we call `Khalal` in urdu? If so, how can i overcome this? I have started feeling very guilty whether I`m praying properly or not.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.673 Narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah Al Ansari

Once a man was driving two Nadihas (camels used for agricultural purposes) and night had fallen. He found Mu'adh praying so he made his camel kneel and joined Mu'adh in the prayer. Muadh recited Surah Al-Baqara or Surat An-Nisa (a long Surah), (so) the man left the prayer and went away. When he came to know that Mu'adh had criticized him, he went to the Prophet (saws), and complained against Mu'adh. The Prophet (saws) said thrice, "O Mu'adh ! Are you putting the people to trial? It would have been better if you had recited "Sabbih Isma Rabbika-l-a-la (Surah 87), Wash-Shamsi wadu-haha (Surah 91), or Wal-laili Idha yaghsha (Surah 92), when the old, the weak and the needy pray behind you."

As long as one is not the imam and leading the believers in congregation, there is absolutely no harm in praying as slowly and calmly as one wishes! In fact, praying slowly, calmly, and pondering over the recitation of the Quran and the supplications one makes in one’s prayer is a virtue one should sincerely strive for!

It is reported that the voluntary prayers which the Messenger of Allah (saws) prayed alone were so long, that his prostrations alone would last as long as it would take one to recite fifty verses of the Quran! In another authentic tradition it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah (saws) would stand in his individual prayers for so long that his blessed feet would be swollen!

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.108 Narrated by Aisha

Allah's Messenger (saws) used to pray eleven Rakat at night and that was his night prayer, and each of his prostrations lasted for a period enough for one of you to recite fifty verses before he (saws) raised his head!

Sahih Muslim Hadith 6774 Narrated by Aisha

When Allah's Messenger (saws) occupied himself in prayer, he observed such a (long) qiyam (posture of standing in prayer) that his feet were swollen. Aisha said: “O Allah's Messenger (saws) you do this (in spite of the fact) that your earlier and later sins have been pardoned for you?” Thereupon, he (saws) said: “O Aisha, should I not prove myself to be a thanksgiving servant (of Allah)?”

Thus my beloved Sister, as long as you are praying individually, regardless of whether your prayers are obligatory or voluntary, you may pray as slowly and as calmly as you wish….for such a prayer is indeed loved by Allah Subhanah.

What is in fact absolutely despised is that one prays so fast that one does not perfectly fulfill the rites of posture and recitation in one’s prayers! So hated is this ‘speedy’ prayer, that the Messenger of Allah (saws) told the person who prayed fast is that he must repeat his prayer as he (in fact) has not prayed at all!

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.268 Narrated by Abu Huraira

A man entered the mosque while Allah's Messenger (saws) was sitting in one side of the mosque. The man prayed, came, and greeted the Prophet (saws) . Allah's Messenger (saws) said to him, "Wa 'Alaikas Salam (returned his greeting). Go back and pray as you have not prayed!" The man returned, repeated his prayer, came back and greeted the Prophet (saws). The Prophet (saws) again said, "Wa alaika-s-Salam (returned his greeting). Go back and pray again as you have not prayed!" The man said at the second or third time, "O Allah's Messenger (saws) Kindly teach me how to pray." The Prophet (saws) said, "When you stand for prayer, perform ablution properly and then face the Qibla and say Takbir (Allahu-Akbar), and then recite what you know from the Qur'an, and then bow with calmness till you feel at ease then rise from bowing, till you stand straight, and then prostrate calmly (and remain in prostration) till you feel at ease, and then raise (your head) and sit with calmness till you feel at ease and then prostrate with calmness (and remain in prostration) till you feel at ease, and then raise (your head) and sit with calmness till you feel at ease in the sitting position, and do likewise in whole of your prayer."

Your Question: I have started feeling very guilty whether I`m praying properly or not.

My dear and beloved Sister in Islam, instead of feeling guilty at the slowness and calmness of your prayers, you should feel joy and satisfaction at the condition of your prayers. Rest assured that for every second you stand in prayer, you are in fact in audience and in the worship of your Majestic Lord; and the long time that you have ‘spent’ in your prayers will earn you a generous recompense and reward from your Lord Most Gracious, Most Benevolent.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan