Allah says in the Qur’an that prayer prevents evil, yet we see people who pray regularly, still do evil deeds.

Why is that?

It is important to understand the salaah, because salaah is supposed to remind us of Allah, as He said in the Qur’an:

“Establish prayer to remember me”[1]

In addition, salaah is supposed to train us spiritually to control what we say and what we do. Allah says, regarding salaah:

“Indeed, Salah prohibits immorality and wrongdoing”[2]

These are the words of Allah, but if salaah is not preventing that, then it means that we are not making the salaah as prescribed. Salaah should be done properly not only internally but externally also.

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “Pray as you have seen me pray”[3]

Unfortunately, it is now common to see people making the prayer with flowing movements and without pausing and reflection; for example, getting up from the first sujood (prostration) and going down into the next sujood before even straightening the back. All the movements are so fast that one may only wonder how fast the recitation is. Salaah is both, external and internal.

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “When you get up to pray, recite takbir, and then recite whatever you conveniently can from the Qur'an, then bow down and remain quietly in that position, then raise yourself and stand erect; then prostrate yourself and remain quietly in that attitude; then raise yourself and sit quietly; and do that throughout all your prayers.”[4]

This hadith highlights that when we complete our ruku’ (bowing), we should stand and stop. However, many people, as soon as they come out of ruku’, they go down into sujood immediately without pausing.

When you rise from the ruku’, you say “Sami Allahu liman Hamidah,” (Allah hears the one who praises Him) and Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) used to also make dua, “Rabbana Wa lakal Hamd, Hamdan kaseeran Mubarak an tayyiban.” (Our Lord, all praise is due only to you, praise which is abundant, excellent and blessed) [5]

How can these supplications be said when one does not even pause? You are supposed to stand back up until all your bones settle there and then go into sujood. After each movement, we should pause and stop. That is the way of prayer of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and if we truly follow his way of salaah internally and externally, it will have that effect of preventing and protecting us from the evil deeds and wrongdoings.

References:

[1] Surah at-Taha, 20:14

[2] Surah al-Ankabut 29:45

[3] Sahih al-Bukhari: Hadith 631

[4] Sahih Muslim, Book 4, Hadith 47

[5] Fatah ul Bari: 2/284