Focusing on the words being recited in Salaah

Q: I have read that during namaz one should focus on the words being recited. But if one does not know the meaning of those words, how is it possible to "focus" on those words? Should we imagine that we are actually "seeing" those words written somewhere, similar to focusing on text written in a book.

A: You should focus in the manner that a new haafiz focuses on his recital.

وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ ﴿٤٥﴾ الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَاقُو رَبِّهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ ﴿البقرة: ٤٥﴾

حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا لِلَّـهِ قَانِتِينَ ﴿البقرة: ٢٣٨﴾

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)