Title

1. Is it permissible to use eye drops while fasting? 2. How to gain concentration in Salaah? 3. Can you provide a document with Surahs to read every day?

Question

Assalamwalaikum,

1. Is it permissible to use eye drops while fasting?

2. If one is having difficulty concentrating in Salah, what should they do?

3. Can you please provide a document, website, or something of a similar sort regarding what Surahs we should read for each day of the week. 

Jazakallahu Khairan

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

1. It is permissible for one to use eye drops while fasting.[1]

2. Salaah is an integral part of Islam. It is one of the most important acts of worship for a Muslim.

There is a famous English saying “Practise makes a man perfect”. The example of the Nafs is that of a dog, when it is trained by the master to abstain from consuming the hunted animal, it obediently follows the order of the master and abstains from consuming the hunted animal. Similarly, we can also train the Nafs. That only comes with effort and sacrifice.

One should train oneself to concentrate in Salaah to the best of one’s ability. One should focus on the words that one recites in Salaah. This is the prescription that Hadhrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) has given for attaining concentration in Salaah.

One should thwart all evil thoughts to the best of one’s ability. It is very possible that one who finds is difficult to attain concentration in Salaah, is affected by the actions of the Shaytaan.

In order to increase concentration in salāh one should remember only one thing, that nothing should be recited without any intention, rather every word that you recite should have a consideration and intent behind it.

For example after saying “Allahu Akbar” when you stand, then think in your mind that I am now saying “Subhānak Allahumma”, then think and pay attention that I am now saying “Wa bihamdika”. Keep concentrating that now you are uttering “Wa tabārak asmuka”. Just like this keep focusing independently on every word that you recite and then say “Alhamdu lillah” and pay attention to the wordings.

Do the same when you recite your sūrah as well. When you go into Rukū῾ focus that you are saying “Subhāna Rabīy al-῾Adhīm”. Hence, whatever you utter from your mouth, do it with attention. Do this method throughout the salāh.

Inshā’Allah through this your thoughts will not waver, and then within days it will become easy to concentrate and you will feel inclined towards salāh and will also start to taste the sweetness of salāh. (Hayāt al Abrār Pg. 237)

3. You may obtain the following books for easy reference:

1. Manzil

2. Key to the treasures of Jannah

3. Al-Hizb al-A’zam

4. What to read every night

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mawlana Ismail Desai,
Student Darul Iftaa
Durban, South Africa

Checked and Concurred by,
Mufti Faisal bin Abdul Hameed,
Montréal, Canada