Are We Truly Praying?

Purification Beyond Wudu: Preparing the Whole Self for Salah

Prayer (ṣalāh) in Islam is the most essential act of worship after the testimony of faith.” Allah said: Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.”— Qur’an 2:222

Wudu (ablution) is the gateway to our daily prayer. It is the initial purification, a physical act with spiritual weight. But while wudu cleans the body, true connection with Allah through salah (prayer) requires more than physical cleanliness. It requires the purification of the body, the heart, the limbs, and the mind.

Salah is described by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as "the pillar of Islam". He ﷺ also said:“The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound.”— Tirmidhi

So how do we ensure that our salah is "sound"? It begins with purifying not just our bodies — but our whole selves.

The prayer (Salat) is not just a set of physical movements or uttered words — it is a holistic act of worship that requires the body, mind, and soul to be in harmony. If one of those components is compromised, the spirit and quality of the prayer is also diminished.

🧼 1. The Purification of the Body: Wudu as the First Step

Wudu is a form of submission, cleansing the face, arms, wiping the head, and washing the feet, each motion symbolic of preparing to stand before our Creator.

The spiritual cleansing power of wudu (ablution). It was narrated by Uthman ibn ‘Affan (may Allah be pleased with him). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When a Muslim or a believer washes his face (in wudu), every sin which he committed with his eyes is washed away from his face with the water — or with the last drop of water. When he washes his hands, every sin which he committed with his hands is washed away from his hands with the water — or with the last drop of water. And when he washes his feet, every sin which his feet committed by walking towards sin is washed away with the water — or with the last drop of water — until he emerges pure from sins." (Sahih Muslim 244)

But wudu is only the beginning. It prepares us externally. Now we must move inward.

❤️ 2. The Purification of the Heart: The Inner Core of Faith

Prayer (ṣalāh) is the spiritual heartbeat of a believer. It is the daily meeting with our Creator, a sacred ritual that forms the core of Islam. Yet, while the external performance of prayer is important—proper postures, ablution, and recitation—there is an internal component that is even more critical: the state of the heart. A heart plagued with spiritual diseases can undermine the very essence of prayer, leaving it hollow, ineffective, and perhaps even rejected.

Understanding the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart

In Islam, the "diseases of the heart" are not physical ailments but rather spiritual deficiencies that corrode one’s sincerity, humility, and connection with Allah. These diseases are often subtle, yet their impact is profound. Among them are:

Riyā’ – showing off, especially in worship
Kibr – arrogance and self-importance
Hasad – envy of others’ blessings
Ghaflah – heedlessness and forgetfulness of Allah
Hubb al-dunyā – excessive love of the world
Nifāq – hypocrisy in words or deeds
Sū’ aẓ-ẓann – harboring bad thoughts about others
Qaswat al-qalb – hardness of the heart

These diseases act as spiritual toxins that block the light (nūr) of Allah from reaching the soul.

How a Diseased Heart Impacts Prayer

Loss of Khushū‘ (Humility and Focus): One of the essential fruits of prayer is the development of khushū‘—a state of humble presence before Allah. However, when the heart is distracted by pride, grudges, or worldly desires, khushū‘ is lost. The Qur’an tells us:“Successful indeed are the believers, those who humble themselves in their prayers.” (Surah Al-Mu’minun 23:1–2)
Without a humble heart, prayer becomes a series of physical movements devoid of soul.
Insincerity (Riyā’): Perhaps the most dangerous disease is riyā’, praying not for Allah but for people to see and admire. The Qur’an warns:
“Woe to those who pray, but are heedless of their prayer—those who make a show [of their deeds].”(Surah Al-Ma‘un 107:4–6)
Sincerity (ikhlāṣ) is the foundation of any accepted act of worship. A heart tainted with riyā’ pollutes the prayer at its core.
No Lasting Effect or Transformation: Prayer is meant to purify the soul and reform the character. Allah says:“Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing…” (Surah Al-‘Ankabūt 29:45). But when the heart is already corrupted, prayer becomes a task rather than a transformative experience. The person continues in sinful habits despite their prayers, reflecting a lack of internal purification.
Disconnection from Allah: The word “ṣalāh” comes from “ṣila,” meaning connection. Yet a heart filled with pride, hatred, or heedlessness breaks that connection. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Truly, in the body there is a piece of flesh which, if it is sound, the whole body is sound; and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Truly, it is the heart.”(Bukhari & Muslim). A pure heart serves as a clear mirror to reflect the light of divine mercy. A sick heart, on the other hand, becomes clouded and unresponsive.
Hypocrisy and Heedlessness: A person may perform prayer outwardly, yet in reality, be spiritually dead on the inside. Allah describes the hypocrites:
“When they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, only to be seen by people, and they do not remember Allah but a little.”(Surah An-Nisā’ 4:142). Such prayer offers no benefit to the soul—it is a performance, not a meeting with the Divine.

Healing the Heart to Revive the Prayer

Just as the body needs healing from disease, the heart too requires purification. This is a process that involves:

Sincere repentance (tawbah) from sins
Regular remembrance (dhikr) of Allah
Recitation of the Qur’an with reflection
Avoiding arrogance, envy, and grudges
Making du‘ā’ for a sound heart

The Qur’an beautifully describes the reward of a pure heart:“The Day when neither wealth nor children will benefit [anyone], except one who comes to Allah with a sound heart (qalbun salīm).” (Surah Ash-Shu‘arā’ 26:88–89)

A sound heart gives birth to a sincere, focused, and accepted prayer. It becomes a true source of peace, guidance, and elevation. The Prophet ﷺ warned:“In the body there is a piece of flesh. If it is sound, the whole body is sound. If it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. That piece is the heart.”— Bukhari & Muslim

🖐️ 3. The Purification of the Limbs: Actions Speak

The sins of the limbs — such as the eyes, tongue, hands, feet, and ears, can deeply affect the spiritual state of the worshipper and thus the acceptance of their prayer. Even if the body is clean, if our hands steal, our feet walk toward harm, and our tongues spread lies, how can we stand pure before Allah? “Verily, the hearing, the sight, and the heart, all of those will be questioned [on the Day of Judgment].”— Qur’an 17:36

While many may perform the outward form of ṣalāh, only a select few truly fulfill its inner requirements, one of which is distancing oneself from continuous sin, particularly with the limbs Allah has given us as a trust.

The Eyes and the Gaze

The eyes are a door to the heart. When a believer allows their gaze to wander toward what is forbidden — whether with lust, envy, or arrogance — the heart becomes stained. Allah commands in the Qur’an: “Tell the believing men and women to lower their gaze…” (Surah An-Nur 24:30) A gaze that violates Allah’s boundaries hardens the heart and distracts it in prayer. Even if the body is standing in front of the qiblah, the mind may still be consumed with what the eyes previously absorbed. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “It has been decreed for the son of Adam his share of zina (adultery), and he will inevitably commit it. The zina of the eyes is looking; the zina of the ears is listening; the zina of the tongue is speaking; the zina of the hand is touching; the zina of the feet is walking [toward it]; and the heart desires and wishes, and the private parts confirm that or deny it." — Bukhārī & Muslim

The Ears and What They Hear

Just as the eyes can lead the heart astray, the ears can be gates to spiritual harm. Listening to gossip, backbiting, music that encourages immorality, or falsehood pollutes the soul and makes it difficult to concentrate and be sincere in prayer. When the ears are used for disobedience, they echo distractions during the very moments we are meant to be connected to Allah. Allah said: "Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart – about all those [one] will be questioned." Surah Al-Isra (17:36)

The Tongue and Speech

The tongue is one of the most dangerous limbs. A single word can earn Allah’s wrath or His mercy. Lying, backbiting, insulting others, and foul language all diminish the light of the heart and strip the soul of the sincerity needed for prayer. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned that a person may say a word without considering its consequences and fall into Hell for it. How then can such speech not affect our worship? The Prophet ﷺ said:“Indeed, a man may speak a word that pleases Allah, not thinking much of it, but Allah will raise him by it to degrees. And indeed, a man may speak a word that angers Allah, not thinking much of it, but he will fall into Hell because of it.” — Bukhari & Muslim

The Hands and Actions

The hands are often involved in our daily dealings. If we use them to steal, hit unjustly, cheat, or engage in any haram, we train them in disobedience. These very hands that are lifted in supplication and placed humbly in prayer become witnesses against us when misused. A prayer from a hand that causes harm to others lacks the purity of intention and humility required for full acceptance. The Prophet ﷺ said:“A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands other Muslims are safe.”— Bukhari & Muslim

The Feet and Where They Take Us

The feet symbolize intention in action. They can walk us toward the masjid or toward gatherings of sin. The places we choose to go affect the state of our hearts and our nearness to Allah. If our daily habits involve frequenting locations of disobedience, it becomes harder to stand sincerely before Allah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Do you know who the bankrupt is from my nation?" They said: "The bankrupt among us is the one who has no money or goods." He said: “The bankrupt from my nation is the one who will come on the Day of Judgment with prayer, fasting, and zakat, but he will come having insulted this one, falsely accused that one, consumed the wealth of this one, shed the blood of that one, and beaten this one. So his good deeds will be distributed to those he wronged. If his good deeds run out before justice is fulfilled, their sins will be transferred onto him, and then he will be thrown into the Hellfire."

— Sahih Muslim (2581)

The Role of Wudu in Purifying the Limbs

Islam beautifully ties the physical to the spiritual. In a narration from Sahih Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ said: "When a Muslim washes his face in wudu, every sin his eyes committed is washed away with the water, or with the last drop of water. When he washes his hands, every sin his hands committed is washed away with the water, or with the last drop of water. When he washes his feet, every sin his feet walked to is washed away with the water, or with the last drop of water. Until he emerges pure from sin." — Muslim

Wudu is not just a ritual cleansing, it is a spiritual one. Before standing in prayer, the believer is given the chance to wash away minor sins from each limb, as a sign of both hope and humility. Given this opportunity, every prayer should serve as a moment of encouragement for repentance and a reaffirmation of sincere tawbah.

Alignment between inner sincerity and outer action

For prayer to be accepted and impactful, our limbs must align with the spirit of worship. A believer cannot persist in sins of the eyes, tongue, hands, and feet while expecting full acceptance of their prayer. Allah is Most Merciful, but He also loves those who strive for sincerity. As the Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, in the body is a piece of flesh. If it is sound, the whole body is sound. If it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Truly, it is the heart.” — Bukhari & Muslim. Allah says: “Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing..." (Surah Al-‘Ankabūt 29:45). If sin remains, the prayer may not be fulfilling its purpose.

🧠 4. The Purification of the Mind: Silence, Sincerity, and Reflection

The mind, if polluted with mockery, doubts, constant distractions, or sinful thoughts, drags our hearts away from khushu’ (humble focus) in prayer.

Allah said: “O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule another people; perhaps they may be better than them…”— Qur’an 49:11

The Prophet ﷺ warned against mockery, arrogance, and sarcasm — diseases of the mind that show in our attitude. He ﷺ said: “A person utters a word without thinking about its consequences, and because of it, he will fall into the Hellfire farther than the distance between the east and west.”— Bukhari & Muslim

The brain is a powerful gift from Allah, and like all gifts, it can be used for good or misused in ways that lead to sin. Islam recognizes that thoughts, intentions, and cognitive choices can lead to serious spiritual consequences. Here are some sins that humans may commit using their minds or intellect:

🧠 1. Mockery and Ridiculing Others

Sin: Using the mind to create mockery, sarcasm, or belittlement of others — even mentally. Allah says: “O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people..." (Surah Al-Hujurat 49:11)

🧠 2. Arrogance and Pride (Kibr)

Sin: Intellectual pride or the belief that one is superior due to knowledge or intellect. The messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “He will not enter Paradise who has even a speck of arrogance in his heart." — Muslim

🧠 3. Entertaining Evil Thoughts (Continuously)

Sin: Dwelling on evil intentions or thoughts, even if not acted upon (when they become plans or desires). Allah says: “And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah..." (Surah Al-A'raf 7:200)

🧠 4. Hypocrisy (Nifaq)

Sin: Using the mind to deceive — pretending to be righteous while harboring ill intentions. Allah says: “They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves..." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:9)

🧠 5. Spreading False Ideas / Misguidance

Sin: Using intellect to invent, promote, or spread false ideologies or innovations (bid‘ah) that contradicts the Quran and Sunna. The messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever calls to misguidance will bear the sin of those who follow him..." — Muslim

🧠 6. Doubting Allah Without Seeking Truth

Sin: Persisting in baseless doubts (waswas), especially about Allah’s attributes, commands, or the unseen, without seeking knowledge.
Allah says: ”But man desires to continue in sin. He asks, 'When is the Day of Resurrection?' (Surah Al-Qiyamah 75:5–6)

🧠 7. Plotting Harm

Sin: Using strategic thinking to harm others unjustly (jealousy, revenge, etc.).
Allah says: “They plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners." (Surah Al-Anfal 8:30)

🌙 Conclusion: Salah is Not Just an Act — It’s a State

We often treat wudu as the only "cleanliness" we need before standing for prayer. But Allah, in His wisdom, calls us to a comprehensive purification — one that polishes every layer of our being.

When we stand for salah, we bring with us:

A clean body
A soft and sound heart
Righteous limbs
A focused, humble mind

Only then can we taste the sweetness of sila — the connection with our Lord.

As we refine our wudu, let us also renew our hearts. Let our hands and feet testify to our sincerity. Let our minds be still in remembrance. And let our prayers rise — not just from the lips, but from every purified part of us.

Allah says: “Successful indeed are the believers: those who offer their prayers with humility and concentration (khushu’).” (Qur’an 23:1–2)

May Allah purify our bodies and our souls, and accept our prayers with mercy and love.

Read this Hadith Qudsi carefully, that addresses the conditions for the acceptance of salah (prayer) and the spiritual fruits of purification. It’s reported from Allah ﷻ speaking directly, through the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Here's the full hadith:

قال الله تعالى في الحديث القدسي: "ليس كل مصلٍّ يُصلي، إنما أقبل الصلاة ممن تواضع بها لعظمتي، ولم يستطل على خلقي، ولم يبت مُصرًّا على معصيتي، وقطع نهاره في ذكري، ورحم المسكين وابن السبيل والأرملة، ورحم المصاب. ذلك نوره كنور الشمس، أكلؤه بعزتي، وأستحفظه بملائكتي، أجعل له في الظلمة نورًا، وفي الجهالة حلمًا، ومثله في خلقي كمثل الفردوس في الجنة." (رواه أبو نعيم في الحلية وغيره)

Allah Almighty said: "Not every person who prays is truly performing the prayer. I only accept the prayer of the one who humbles himself before My Majesty, who does not seek superiority over My creation, who does not persist in sin during the night, and who spends his day in My remembrance. He is kind to the poor, the traveler, the widow, and shows mercy to the afflicted. His light shines like the sun. I protect him with My Glory, and I entrust him to My angels. I make for him a light in the darkness, and grant him wisdom amidst ignorance. His likeness among My creation is like the Garden of Paradise in Jannah."

🌿 hadith captures the essence of inner purification, that true prayer is not just physical movements, but a manifestation of a pure heart, humble character, and compassionate soul.

The Fruits, Benefits and Outcomes of True Prayer and Sincere Purification:

🌟 1. “His light shines like the sun”

The person who prays with sincerity and humility has a guiding light in life, just like the sun gives clarity and direction to everything it touches. Spiritual clarity, moral vision, and presence. Both inwardly and outwardly. Others benefit from their character, just as everything benefits from sunlight.

🛡 2. “I protect him with My Glory”

Allah personally grants this person divine protection from evil, harm, and misguidance. A shield from spiritual and worldly dangers. This is a special closeness to Allah, where He defends the person through His power and mercy.

👼 3. “I entrust him to My angels”

The angels are appointed to watch over him, guide him, protect him, and perhaps even pray for him. Constant divine oversight, unseen helpers from the unseen world who encourage and assist him toward righteousness.

💡 4. “I make for him a light in the darkness”

When life is hard, confusing, or full of trials, this person is granted guidance and calmness, like a lantern in the dark. Wisdom, patience, and clarity in tough times — this light is both intellectual and emotional, and it's divine in origin.

🧠 5. “And grant him wisdom amidst ignorance”

Even if surrounded by foolishness, chaos, or wrongdoing, this person is grounded in deep understanding and good judgment. Sound thinking, emotional intelligence, insight, and balanced behavior. He is calm when others are anxious and wise when others are lost.

🏡 6. “His likeness among My creation is like the Garden of Paradise in Jannah”

Just as Paradise is full of beauty, peace, and nourishment, so is this person — to everyone around them. The purified believer becomes a source of peace, beauty, inspiration, and serenity in society. Others feel safe, loved, and spiritually uplifted by them.

🌱 These are not just spiritual “rewards,” but transformations of the soul that manifest in daily behavior, relationships, and inner peace. True salah with sincere purification makes you:

A light in your family and community
A soul protected by Allah Himself
A heart guarded by angels
A mind illuminated in confusion
A fortunate destiny in the Hereafter.