This topic is fascinating, and it helps us evaluate our prayer to elevate to the next step.
Every person goes throw different stages regarding their salat. Some steps may take longer than others, depending on the person's will, diligence, and sincerity. Some people stuck in one stage, not knowing how to elevate their salat to the next step. Once you are aware of all the stages, it will be easier for you to move forward.
1. The Burden Stage:
You grab yourself and force it to pray all five prayers on time, then you miss one of the prayers. While intending to make it up, shaitan whispers to you: "it's ok, you have missed it, so don't pray the rest of your Salawat today; instead, you can have a fresh start tomorrow when you don't miss any salat on time." Do NOT listen to this whisper. Remember that salat is the first deed that we will be held accountable for, and it's the covenant between Allah and us.
2. The Dissembler Stage:
In this stage, you like to take pride in your salat even if it's not perfect yet. You want to read aloud despite all pronunciation or tajweed mistakes. The same visitor will come again to suggest to you to stop praying until you clean your heart from hypocrisy because your salat is not accepted with showing off. Again, do NOT listen to that and continue doing your salat because this is only a stage that will bring you up to the next step. Remember the verse that urges us to maintain our salat between the divorce verses in Surat Al-Baqara. Allah is turning our attention to that salat is the solution to all disputes. It's the reason for a peaceful life. {Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout} 2:238
3. The Drop of Obligation Stage:
In this stage, you pray on time, but you do all prayers at a fast pace. You don't fulfill the pillar of tranquility at ruku', qiyam, or sujud. The whisperer will invest in this once more. He will tell you: "your salat will not be accepted if you do it at a fast pace." Please do NOT listen to him. Instead, improve the quality of your salat.
4. The Habitual Stage:
In this stage, you maintain your five prayers on time with tranquility but not necessarily with the present heart and you read exact short suras over and over. People are stuck in this stage, and they don't advance further.
5. The Supplication Stage:
The entire Dunia opens up for you when you stand in between the hands of Allah. Your prayer in this stage will be perfect regarding its wudu, reverence, pillars, obligations, and sunnan. You maintain Sunna prayer beside Fardh.
6. The Comfort Stage:
"comfort us with it, O Bilal" when you say Allah Akbar of takbeeratul ihram, you leave behind you all Dunia affairs. When you say the beginning dua, you are connected with Allah. When you start reading Al-Fatiha, your prayer is divided between you and Allah, as He Almighty said in HQ:
Allah Amighty had said: "I have divided prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves, and My servant shall have what he has asked for. When the servant says: Al-hamdu lillahi rabbi l-alamin, Allah Amighty says: My servant has praised Me. And when he says: Ar-Rahmani r-Rahim, Allah Amighty says: My servant has extolled Me, and when he says: Maliki yawmi d-din, Allah says: My servant has glorified Me - and on one occasion He said: My servant has submitted to My power. And when he says: Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta in, He says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for. And when he says: Ihdina s-sirata l- mustaqim, siratal ladhina an amta alayhim ghayril-maghdubi alayhim wa la d-dallin (7), He says: This is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for." {Muslim]
In this stage, you maintain Fardh, Sunna, and Nawafel.
7. In the Company of Allah Stage:
You reached the security, certainty, complete tawwakul, and perfection of ibada. In this stage, you reach to Ihasn level when you worship Allah as if you see Him; if you don't see Him, you know He sees you
{and prostrate yourself and draw nearer} 96:19
{and worship your Rabb until the certainty of death comes upon you} 15:99
Rabi'ah bin Ka'b RA said: I used to spend my night in the company of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and used to put up water for his ablutions. One day he said to me, "Ask something of me." I said: "I request for your companionship in Jannah." He inquired, "Is there anything else?" I said, "That is all." He said, "Then help me in your request by multiplying your prostrations" [Muslim]
©
Umayyad Mosque, Damascus, Syria