Solat

INTEVIEW dated April 15^th, 2010  

ADNAN OKTAR: "Those who are reverent in their salat" they perform their salat devoutly and sincerely.  Reverence means; there are some types of men who perform their prayers as if they have lost themselves, they close their eyes and so. They act as if they are in ecstasy. That is not what is meant by reverence. What is actually meant by reverence is, to give one's attention completely to their prayers, but nevertheless one's attention might get distracted while performing his prayers, so one should not give in to apprehension.  I mean human brain does not have a controllable structure. They say for instance; "I got distracted". Let it be. Salad is salad, nothing happens, you can collect your attention once more and you can go on. 

PRESENTER: Should one start over in such times? Or can we continue from where we left? 

ADNAN OKTAR: For instance, let us assume that while we were in bow position or when we start performing our prayers in standing position, suddenly one's mind goes to his workplace. That doesn't disrupt prayers. But it would be better if he reads the verse he was saying once more. He should do so. For instance while he was reading the Surah that will be read after the Surat Al-Fatiha, is that understood? So that he would be aware of what he is doing. I mean that wouldn't be done with one's mind distracted.  But if during the prayers from start to end, if he is not aware of what he is doing, then of course he should perform that prayer once more. That is because it would be a sort of drunkenness. Right? This is because in one verse Allah says "do not approach the prayer when you are drunk". That is if he used alcohol. Why? That is because he is not conscious. That is the same with sleeplessness and exhaustion for instance, I mean if one's mind is completely closed, then it would be best to repeat that prayers.  I mean after collecting oneself a little, Insha'Allah.