In the hustle and noise of modern life, many of us struggle to maintain presence during salah (prayer). It’s easy to let our minds wander or to go through the motions without truly connecting with the Divine. However, the core of salah is to stand in the presence of Allah Most High, to have khushu’—that humble awareness and connection to the Creator. Without it, prayer becomes a mechanical act rather than an ascension to the Divine.
As my friend and brother Jonathan Abdus-Samad and I discussed in our recent conversation, there is immense value in incorporating mindfulness and meditation into our spiritual practices to enhance the quality of our prayers. Here are some reflections on the importance of presence and the role mindfulness and meditation can play in transforming salah.
The Power of Presence in Salah
The concept of presence (khushu’) in prayer is not just about focusing on the words we say or the physical movements we perform. It is about truly being aware of standing before Allah, experiencing His majesty, and recognizing our complete reliance on Him. As the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
The prayer of the believer is their mi’raj (ascension into the Divine Presence).
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Al-Tabarani in Al-Mu’jam Al-Awsat)
For the believer, prayer is not merely an obligation—it is an opportunity to ascend spiritually, to be in direct conversation, connection and communion with Allah Almighty. Everything in our lives, whether purification, charity, or even acts of kindness, serves as preparation for that sacred moment of salah.
Yet, as Jonathan pointed out, the struggle to maintain presence is real. From his background in Buddhism, he knew about meditative practices that emphasize being in the moment, but it was in Islam that he found the key missing piece—direct connection with the Divine. He described how, before Islam, his spiritual practice often felt like an intellectual exercise, lacking that deep emotional surrender to a loving and compassionate Creator.
How Meditation and Mindfulness Enhance Prayer
Meditation and mindfulness teach us to notice when our attention strays and to gently bring it back to the present. This is a crucial skill for anyone who has ever found their mind wandering during salah. Through regular meditation, we develop the ability to be present—not only during prayer but in all moments of life. As Jonathan reflected:
What meditation does is that it develops your capacity for presence. When you cultivate this presence, you start to notice divine peace and calm in your prayer.
Jonathan Abdu-Samad Nadeau
Whether through sitting meditation, moving meditation like qigong, or even mindful breathing before prayer, meditation helps fine-tune our hearts and minds to be more open to the divine presence. This capacity for presence then enhances our ability to experience khushu’ in salah. In Jonathan’s experience, meditation trained him to notice what was happening internally during prayer and helped him cultivate sensitivity to the sacred movements and postures.
Salah: The Perfect Spiritual Practice
Salah is more than a ritual—it is a practice designed and revealed by Allah Almighty Himself to help us realign our souls with His Divine Presence. Every movement in salah, from ruku’ (bowing) to sujood (prostration), has a profound effect on our spiritual state. As we discussed, even doctors recommend these postures for therapeutic benefits, such as calming anxiety or improving circulation. But the movements of salah are far more than physical therapy; they are revealed postures that affect our spiritual and psychological state, bringing us closer to inner peace.
Jonathan shared an interesting insight from his experience with qigong and tai chi, noting how certain physical postures influence one’s state of mind. This is also true of salah—the physical postures in prayer are designed to aid in surrendering ourselves to Allah, both physically and spiritually.
The Prophet ﷺ, through his own example, taught us that salah can serve as a form of divine rest, especially when we are physically or mentally exhausted. Salah, in its perfected form, offers the peace and stillness that many seek in life but cannot find.
Nature, Presence, and the Divine Connection
One of the most profound experiences we discussed was the way that presence and mindfulness can connect us to the world around us and, more importantly, to Allah Almighty. Jonathan shared his childhood experiences of spending time in nature, feeling an almost mystical connection to the natural world. As he explained, when we truly become present, we notice how nature itself reflects the divine order and tranquility we seek.
This sense of connection, cultivated through mindfulness, often leads to moments of profound stillness, where we can sense the Divine Presence permeating everything around us. The Prophet ﷺ even taught that the very rocks and trees are engaged in dhikr (remembrance of Allah). When we become attuned to this presence, we experience an overwhelming sense of peace and calm that reminds us of our true place in the universe—as humble servants of the Almighty.
True Surrender: The Essence of Prayer
At the heart of salah is the act of surrender. As Jonathan so beautifully put it, surrendering to Allah is not just an intellectual or physical act—it is a deep emotional release. It is the easiest and most natural way to let go of the ego because we trust in Allah’s love and mercy, much like a child trusts in the loving arms of a parent. This trust and surrender allow us to reconnect with our innate, childlike relationship with the Divine.
In our conversation, we also reflected on the Hadith Qudsi in which Allah Almighty says:
Allah Almighty has said, “When I love My servant, I become the hearing with which they hear, the seeing with which they see, the hand with which they strike, and the foot with which they walk…”
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Hadith Qudsi)
This hadith emphasizes the profound state of connection a servant can reach through worship and love of God. When we surrender ourselves fully in prayer, Allah guides our actions, speech, and senses, transforming us into vessels for His divine will.
The Path to Presence
Mindfulness, meditation, and presence are not ends in themselves—they are tools that help us enhance our connection with our Lord and Creator through salah. By cultivating presence, we open our hearts and minds to the divine peace and power that flow through every moment of our prayer and our lives. As Jonathan reminded us:
Ultimately, the goal is not the peace or the tranquility that comes with meditation—it’s to be with Allah. And once you have that connection, everything else follows.
Jonathan Abdus-Samad Nadeau
May Allah grant us the ability to perform our prayers with love, presence and sincerity, and may He bless us with the peace and joy that come from truly standing before Him.
Allahumma ameen.
To your divine and eternal success.
