3 reasons why we get sidetracked in our prayers and their remedy

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

1) The first reason is the Waswas (whisper) of the Shaitaan called Khanzab:

Narrated `Uthmaan ibn Abul `Aas: `Uthman came to Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and said: Allaah's Messenger, the Satan intervenes between me and my prayer and my reciting of the Qur’aan and he confounds me. Thereupon Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “That is (the doing of the Satan) who is known as Khanzab, and when you perceive its effect, seek refuge with Allaah from it and spit three times to your left.” I did that and Allaah dispelled that from me.

[Saheeh Muslim (4090), Musnad Ahmad (17548)]

Every person has been assigned a companion from the Jinn, the Jinn runs in the human body like the running of the blood, read more about the World of Jinn from here:

http://ilm4all.blogspot.com/2010/08/world-of-jinn.html

2) The second reason is the trial in the Deen and making this world our greatest concern:

The moment we start praying all the worldly things come to our mind: “planning for the next day?”, “what are going to eat for dinner tonight?”, “what are going to wear for the party?”; and if the person is really overwhelmed with office work, he will start tackling the problems within his prayers. This is all the signs of the worldly affairs overpowering us and our lives and which leads to lack of Taqwa (God-consciousness) and Khushoo` in prayer.

In one of the supplications, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to beseech Allaah saying:

وَلاَ تَجْعَلْ مُصِيبَتَنَا فِي دِينِنَا وَلاَ تَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا أَكْبَرَ هَمِّنَا وَلاَ مَبْلَغَ عِلْمِنَا

wa laa taj`al muṣeebatanaa fee deeninaa, wa laa taj`alid-dunyaa akbara hamminaa wa laa mablagha `ilminaa

“(O Allaah) …do not make our affliction in our religion, and do not make this world our greatest concern, nor the ultimate limit of our knowledge.”

[Sunan al-Tirmidhee (3502) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

3) The third reason is being weary and drowsy:

All the days hard work makes the body tired; so if a person is drowsy then he should delay his NIGHT prayers. Since praying the night prayers (Taraaweeh, Qiyaam, Tahajjud) behind the Imaam is not obligatory, a person who is tired should sleep a little and then pray whenever he is refreshed:

`Aaishah رضي الله عنها said: Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "If anyone of you feels drowsy while praying he should go to bed (sleep) till his slumber is over because in praying while drowsy one does not know whether one is asking for forgiveness or for a bad thing for oneself."

[Saheehain]