د. معاذ صفوت

May Allah grant us all success.

Here is an English translation for this article made by one of my dear brothers may Allah reward him:

My Honorable Fellow Imams,

The season is noble, sins are many, concealment is a great blessing, and standing before Allah is a test. The truly successful one is the one whom Allah grants success.

My dear Imam, here are some words of advice I share with you, hoping that I may also benefit from them:

• Allah is Majestic, and no creation can fully grasp His greatness. When you enter the prayer niche, be mindful of His grandeur and majesty. Recognize the honor He has given you in leading people to Him, the privilege of reciting His words, and the weighty responsibility He has entrusted to you. Let creation—whether few or many—seem insignificant in your eyes, and remove from your heart any preoccupation with their opinions.
• Humble yourself before the Book of Allah. Do not place reliance on your expertise or experience, for all of that is mere illusion. How many times has Allah shown you your weakness in the very thing you thought you had mastered? Recognize His grace, do not attribute it to yourself, lest you fall.
• Review your memorization and the portion you will recite at night with calmness before the prayer. Do not rush through your recitation. The preparation for prayer should be at nearly the same pace as the prayer itself, to align the speed of your mind with the speed of your tongue. This synchronization reduces errors caused by the mismatch between mental processing and verbal articulation.
• Arrive at your mosque at least ten minutes before the prayer. Isolate yourself from people and distractions, giving your mind a chance to rest and relax. This will have a positive impact on your prayer and provide comfort to those praying behind you.
• Gather your heart unto Allah before the prayer. Acknowledge your sins, confess them, and speak to your Lord. Say: “O Allah, benefit me and my congregation with Your noble words. Do not let my sins be a barrier between Your servants and Your Book. I absolve myself of my own power and strength and entrust myself to Yours.” Recognize that your position, honor, and leadership among the people exist solely by virtue of the Book of Allah. Seek His subtle kindness, and by it understand your standing before Him.
• Avoid drinks that cause throat dryness, as their effects vary from person to person. Stay away from them throughout the month. Do not busy yourself searching for drinks that supposedly enhance vocal clarity—clarity is a natural gift and blessing. Instead, focus on avoiding what harms your voice, such as certain foods, excessive emotional strain, shouting, and lack of sleep.
• Wear loose and comfortable clothing. Avoid new garments or anything that disrupts your ease in prayer.
• Be patient with your congregation, especially in the early days of the month. Lighten the burden on them without compromising your plan to complete the recitation. Then, proceed with confidence and trust in Allah, ignoring those who discourage you, for no mosque is free of them.
• Fortify yourself through supplication and remembrance. Anyone in a position of leadership is susceptible to envy and the evil eye. Spiritual protection requires focusing your heart on Allah, adhering strictly to the prescribed supplications without alteration, and placing full trust in Him. Delay the Iqamah by two minutes if needed to complete your supplications.
• Appoint someone to correct you in prayer, and do not neglect this matter if possible. If you make a mistake, do not become angry. Put in the effort to review without falling into excess or obsessive worry. Know that mistakes in prayer can arise from many causes, not all within your control. These include insufficient review, rushing through revision, changes in the environment, nerves, the Imam’s sins, and even the congregation’s sins and faulty intentions!
• Ask Allah for acceptance, and close your heart’s ears to people’s praise. You know your own sins better than anyone. Do not be deceived by the excessive praise of the ignorant.

تذكير

https://youtu.be/7YEpOwi3KZw?si=cZnDl2VZgl8CoQL3