[Namaz with Jamat series] Getting ready to join the saff

Bismillah irRahman irRahim

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Photo taken form - Google

This is the first post in the series Alhamdulillah and according to me the most important one.

Since the time I started offering namaz in the mosque with jamat, I have observed a lot of people joining the saff hurriedly. People join the saff without being prepared for it and then they start preparing for it after joining the saff. To give you an example, people join the saff and then keep on wiping the water from their hands and face (they are wet because of Wudu), then they fold or unfold their sleeves, then they switch off or turn their mobiles on silent mode, then they wear the head cap and it goes on and on. Finally, after they are done with everything, they will join the prayer.

So what is the problem with this?

There are plenty of problems -

When someone does it beside me, it disturbs my concentration in the prayer and I also get irritated with his constant movements
If they take more time then the one who joins after them, they are breaking the saff for that time.
Because they are getting ready for the prayer in the saff, they are taking more space than required and it leave empty space in the saff. This is a grave mistake. "Make your rows solid and close together, and keep your necks in line. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad! I can see the shaitan entering through the gaps in the rows as if they are small sheep.” (Sunan an-Nasa'i 815)

How do we correct this?

I think this is more of a common sense. We should be prepared to join the prayer before joining the saff. Here are few things to take care of before joining the saff -

Wipe off the water after Wudu
Turn off your cell phones or put them on silent mode (I would recommend doing this the moment you enter the mosque)
Make sure your dress is all good otherwise you will keep on adjusting it in the salah
Wear your head cap
Take out anything from your pockets that hurts/disturbs you in the prayer and keep it below your hankerchief at the prayer place (putting it above the handkerchief may disturb others)
Get in the mindset that you should do the least activity once you have joined the saff

InshaAllah by doing this, you will not only improve your prayer but also help improve other’s prayers. Let me know if I have missed out on anything and I will update it inshaAllah.

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