Is It Necessary to Repel the devil khanzab?
Absolutely. Every Muslim is obliged to repel the accursed devil khanzab in order to attain khushu‘ – true devotion and concentration in salah.
Is it necessary to have solemnity (khushu‘)?
Certainly. Khushu‘ is the calmness of the heart, deep focus, sincere surrender, and full internalization of worship towards ALLAH Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala.
Is internalization necessary?
Absolutely. Internalization is the process of being deeply inspired by understanding, allowing the meaning to settle within the heart and be felt fully in the body, the soul, and the mind.
ALLAH SWT says:
“Indeed, successful is the one who purifies it (the soul), and indeed, failed is the one who corrupts it.”
(QS. 91:9–10)
The Prophet Muhammad SAW said:
“Verily, in the body there is a piece of flesh. If it is good, then the whole body will be good; and if it is corrupt, then the whole body will be corrupt. Verily, that piece is the heart.”
Hadith Bukhari and Muslim
Is it necessary to understand the meaning of each word in Surah Al-Fatihah?
Absolutely.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:
“There is no valid prayer for the one who does not recite Umm al-Kitab (Al-Fatihah).”
Hadith Bukhari and Muslim
Since Surah Al-Fatihah is a pillar of salah, it is obligatory to recite it in Arabic. However, it is also essential – even obligatory – for Muslims to understand its meaning in their mother tongue, in order to achieve khushu‘ (solemnity and devotion). Without understanding, salah risks becoming a mere ritual performed out of habit, instead of an extraordinary act filled with spiritual depth.
Why in the mother tongue? Because a single word can have multiple meanings, and misunderstanding can be spiritually harmful. For example, the English word heart can mean jantung (organ) or hati (feeling) in Indonesian. In Indonesian, the word hati itself has two meanings: perasaan (feelings) or liver (organ). Similarly, Arabic has many musytarak (homonyms) – words with the same form but different meanings.
Therefore, it is crucial to memorize and internalize the meaning of Al-Fatihah in one’s native language, so that every word penetrates the heart and mind, inspiring true humility and reflection.
For example, the phrase “Alhamdulillaahi rabbil ‘aalamiin” means “All praise is due to ALLAH, Lord of the worlds.” When this is understood in one’s mother tongue, the worshipper can envision ALLAH’s greatness as the Creator of the universe – something further illustrated today by real images and videos of the vast cosmos. This fosters true humility, making one realize how small we are before Him.
Conversely, if someone recites Al-Fatihah in Arabic without understanding its meaning, internalization is lost, khushu‘ is diminished, and the accursed devil khanzab can more easily distract the heart during salah.
If you have not yet understood the meaning of Surah Al-Fatihah, you can explore its translations in Indonesian, English, and many other languages. Educative content can be viewed in Ahad PRTE’s main menu, such as the Salah Reading Guide, or the links below can help you study according to your mother tongue:
Is it easy to multitask to attain solemnity (khushu‘)?
It is certainly easier for those who fully understand and dedicate themselves. However, for many, multitasking while trying to maintain reverence in salah can be challenging.
In salah, there are already three simultaneous tasks:
- Reciting Surah Al-Fatihah in Arabic.
- Contemplating its meaning in one’s mother tongue within the heart.
- Keeping track of the number of rak’ah.
For new converts (see the Salah Reading Guide in Ahad PRTE), this becomes even more demanding, as they must also focus on learning and performing the physical movements – making it four tasks at once.
This is why many Muslims commonly lose track of their rak’ah — especially during the 3rd or 4th rak’ah of Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha, or during Maghrib, when it should be 3 but often mistakenly becomes 4.
To prevent this, Ahad PRTE is designed with a clear indicator: a color change from orange to green, marking the completion of each obligatory or sunnah salah. This ensures focus, calmness, and confidence in every salah.