Why we don't find pleasure in our prayers!!! Shaikh Ibn al-U | Ilm4all

Why we don't find pleasure in our prayers!!!

Shaikh Ibn al-Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:
❝Therefore, “al-Hamd”, it is describing the One who is being Praised (Allaah) with Perfection, along with Love, Veneration, and Reverence (for Him). This is known as “al-Hamd”, and when these descriptions are repeated, then it is known as “al-Thanaa” (الثناء). So, based on this, al-Thanaa’ means to repeatedly attribute Perfection to the One who is being Praised (Allaah). The evidence for this difference between al-Hamd and al-Thanaa’ is what is mentioned in the authentic Hadeeth of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه (regarding Surah al-Faatihah) that the Prophet ﷺ had said: ❝Allaah تعالى said: {I have divided the Salaah between Myself and My slaves into two halves. Half of it is for Me, and half of it for My slave, and My slave shall receive what he asks for. When My slave says: {All praise is due to Allaah, the Lord of the universe.} Allaah تبارك وتعالى says: {My slave has praised Me.} When he says: {The Compassionate, the Most Merciful}. So, He تعالى says: {My slave has lauded Me.} When he says: {Owner of the Day of Reckoning}. Allaah تعالى says: {My slave has glorified Me.}❞

Imagine, O my brother! Allaah عز وجل is addressing you (and conversing with you) while you are offering the Salaah, He is listening to you from above the seven Heavens and He is responding to you. When you say: {All praise is due to Allaah, the Lord of the universe.}, Allaah تعالى says: {My slave has praised Me}. And when you say: {The Compassionate, the Most Merciful}. Allaah تعالى says: {My slave has lauded Me}. And when you say: {Owner of the Day of Reckoning}. Allaah تعالى says: {My slave has glorified Me.} And glorification means (to declare Allaah to be free of all imperfections and everything that is falsely attributed to Him and that does not suit His Majesty (such as attributing to Him a son, or trinity etc.)). Do we even realize this while we are offering the Salaah?! We only complain to Allaah (about our situation)! Most of us, and most of the time, we do not realize this! We recite Surah al-Faatihah only because it is one of the pillars of Salaah, and that the Salaah is not correct without it, but we do not realize the great meaning (behind it), that we are conversing with Allaah سبحانه وتعالى. When you say: {All praise is due to Allaah, the Lord of the universe.}, Allaah تعالى from above the Heavens says: {My slave has praised Me}. Whoever realizes this will find great joy in offering the Salaah, and his heart will be illuminated by it, and when he completes his Salaah, he will come out with a heart different from the heart with which he entered the Salaah.❞

[Majmoo al-Fataawa of Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen (16/84-85)]