Some Common Mistakes Muslims Do While Offering Salah

Salah is one of the most important pillars of Islam it needs to be performed very carefully and perfectly. Salah is made obligatory on Muslims by Allah Almighty. Muslims have to pray five times a day and it is important that Muslims do their best to perform it perfectly as it will be questioned on the day of Resurrection. Salah is a ritual prayer having some recommended conditions and one must perform Salah while fulfilling those conditions. Many times we perform Salah as a practice or a part of habit only but tend to forget the basic essence of Salah and make many mistakes during Prayer.

Common Mistakes Muslims Do While Offering Salah

While offering Salah many of us (Muslims) do not realize the mistakes we do in offering Salah. So, below we will discuss some common mistakes Muslims do while offering Salah:

• Delaying the Salah Intentionally: Most of the time we delay Salah due to some reasons but it should not happen. Salah should be the first priority above all other matters. Delaying Salah is one of the most common mistakes made by us. Most of us think offering Salah is the last thing that we have to do due to worldly affairs. Many people delay Zuhr and Asar prayer till night time due to their workload. For those people, Allah Almighty says in Noble Quran: “Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salah (i.e. Asr Prayers)” (Quran, 2:238)
• Rushing while offering Salah: Salah should be performed slowly and peacefully. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said that we need to offer Salah in such a way that it offers peace in every part of it. Rukoo or Sujood must be performed peacefully. The Prophet (SAW) said: “He who does not complete his Rukoo and sujood, his prayer is void”. (Abu Dawood)
• Moving around excessively: Excessive and regular movement invalidates our prayer. Such movements distract from one’s prayer and will reduce one’s concentration from prayer. In Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says: “Certainly the believers have succeeded those who during their prayers are humbly submissive.” (Quran, 23:1-2)
• Gazing during the Prayer: One’s eyes should always focus at the place of sujood.  A Muslim should not be looking around here and there with his eyes. This goes against concentration in Salah. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) warned that those who look up during prayer must avoid doing so. In hadith Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “How is it that some people raise their eyes towards the sky during Salah (the prayer)?” He stressed (this point) and added, “People must refrain from raising their eyes towards heaven in Salah (prayer), or else their sights will certainly be snatched away.” (Sahih Bukhari)
• Fast Recitation of Holy Quran during Prayer: Salah is a way of communication to Almighty Allah. It should be done correctly not in a fast-forwarding speed. One must pause and take breaks while reciting Holy Quran during Salah. Do not recite the Surah’s so fast that the verse gets associate. There is a hadith based on this issue: “The Prophet (SAW) used to pause after each verse of Surah al-Fatiha.” (Abu Dawood)
• Moving before Imam during congregational prayers: Beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said Muslims need to follow the Imam in prayer. But this is one of the common mistakes that Muslims do during congregational prayer. A hadith stated that: “The imam is there to be followed” (Muslim)
• Not performing Prayers during illness: Salah is obligatory and must be performed in any condition. If a person is sick and cannot perform ablution due to his illness then he may perform tayammum (Dry Ablution). If he cannot stand in Salah, he may perform Salah while lying down or sitting as well.
• Performing Sujood improperly: One of the most common mistakes observed in Prayers is to perform Sujood by resting only the tip of head on the floor. The Prophet (SAW) said: “I am commanded to prostrate on seven bones the forehead and the nose, the two hands [palms], the two knees, and the two feet.”(Muslim)
• Crossing in front of a person who is offering Salah: Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Were the one who crosses in front of a praying person to know the consequences of doing so, he would have waited for forty better than to cross in front of him” (Bukhari). So we should avoid crossing in front of a person who is offering Salah.

The above mentioned were a few of the major mistakes which Muslims commit while offering Salah because of lack of knowledge. By reading this post, Muslims can know the mistakes they commit and avoid them to make sure that Salah is offered in a proper manner. May Allah Almighty guide us all to perform our Salah correctly so when on the day of Resurrection we are questioned about our prayers, we may succeed! Ameen