First Goodbye, then Hello

Reading Time: 4 minutes

So many things have lead up to this point and you’re at the precipice of that most intense meeting with Allah. Your conversation is about to begin so you say ‘Allah Akbar’ – Takbeerat Al-Ihram – which means Allah is Greater. 

Ihram comes from the root word “حرم” which means sanctuary. Ihram means you’re disengaging the world. 

So, as soon as you say takbeerat al ihram, you’re leaving your stresses and worries, and entering into this sanctuary. You’re saying so long world, I have more important things to focus on right now. Even your hands are throwing the world behind you, so push the world behind you with your heart.

Allahu Akbar …

Are you honest when you say it? Or are you lying? What are you really thinking about? 

The devil is going to come and try to remind you of everything you can think of, to distract you. Seek refuge in Allah from Shaitan. Only when he is gone can you start focusing on your prayers. Now you’re standing before Allah and you need to make your introduction. 

When you start your prayer choose an opening supplication based on how you’re feeling that day, and how you want to connect with Allah:

You can choose this one if you’re in a state where you’re feeling the greatness of Allah, and would like to start by praising Him:

You can choose this one if you’re feeling the heaviness of your sins, and would like to start by erasing those sins, so you can begin a new clean page with Allah:

اللهم باعد بينى وبين خطاياي كما باعدت بين المشرق والمغرب. اللهم نقني من الخطايا كما ينقى الثوب الأبيض من الدنس. اللهم اغسلنى من خطاياي بالماء والثلج والبرد

“O Allah! Set me apart from my sins (faults) as the East and West are set apart from each other and clean me from sins as a white garment is cleaned of dirt (after thorough washing). O Allah! Wash off my sins with water, snow and hail.”

You can choose this lengthy one, if you are feel there is so much to say and are know there is an abundance of time for this meeting:

وجهت وجهى للذى فطر السموات والأرض حنيفاً مسلماً وما أنا من المشركين. إن صلاتى ونسكى ومحياي ومماتى لله رب العالمين. لا شريك له وبذلك أُمرت وأنا من المسلمين. اللهم أنت الملك لا إله إلا أنت، أنت ربى وأنا عبدك (أمتك) ظلمت نفسى واعترفت بذنبى فاغفر لى ذنوبى جميعاً إنه لا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت. واهدنى لأحسن الأخلاق، لا يهدى لأحسنها إلا أنت واصرف عني سيئها، لا يصرف سيئها إلا أنت. لبيك وسعديك والخير كله فى يديك والشر ليس إليك، أنا بك وإليك، تباركت وتعاليت أستغفرك وأتوب إليك.

I have directed my face towards the One who has created the heavens and the earth, as a Hanif, and I am not of the idolaters. Indeed, my Salat, my sacrifice, my living, my dying, is for Allah, the Lord of all that exists, without partner, and with this have I been ordered and I am of the Muslims. O Allah, You are the King, there is none worthy of worship except You. You are My Lord, and I am Your slave, I have wronged myself and I admit to my sin, so forgive me all my sins, verily, there is none who forgives sins but You, and guide me to the best of manners, none guides to the best of them except You, and turn away from me the evil of them, none can turn away from me the evil of them, none can turn away from me the evil of them except You. Here I am in obedience to You, and in aiding Your cause, and the good, all of it is in Your Hands, and the evil is not attributed to You, I am reliant upon You and ever-turning towards You, Blessed are You and Exalted are You I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to you

Remember that Allah is looking at you now until you look away from Him (with your eyes or your heart). Lower your gaze out of love for Allah and out of humility as well. Your conversation with Allah has begun and now you need to be all in. Everything has led up to this.