Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai, known for his deep spiritual insight and scholarly work, once received a request from a young student who was troubled by his inability to focus during prayer. The young man confessed that although he prayed regularly, his mind would wander, and he felt as though he was merely going through the motions. He longed for a more profound connection with God but felt he was failing.
Seeing the young man’s earnestness, Allamah invited him to sit. He listened patiently as the student poured out his concerns, and then he offered him a simple but profound piece of advice. “Imagine,” Allamah said, “that you are meeting a beloved friend. If you truly yearn for that person’s presence, wouldn’t you make every effort to focus, to honour that time together?” The student nodded, grasping the concept but unsure how to apply it.
Allamah continued, “Begin with small steps. Before each prayer, take a few moments to remind yourself of who you are about to meet. Approach each prayer as though it were your last- one final chance to be with God.” He paused, letting the words sink in. “And during each prayer, when your mind starts to wander, gently bring it back, as though you were drawing a stray child home.”
Encouraged, the young man followed Allamah’s advice. Over time, he noticed his connection with God deepening. Prayer became less of a task and more of an intimate conversation. He began to find peace in his worship, feeling the presence of the Divine in a way he hadn’t before. But more than that, he felt a calmness, a purpose, that began to influence every part of his life.
Sometime later, the student returned to Allamah with tears in his eyes, thanking him for the advice. Allamah smiled and, with characteristic humility, replied, “The transformation was always within you. You only needed to turn towards it.”
