The realization that seventy years of exile have passed without the complete redemption and the rebuilding of the Temple leaves Daniel with a deep sense of concern. He worries that the sins of the nation might be responsible for delaying their freedom. Driven by this fear, he decides to turn to God to understand whether the appointed time has not yet arrived or if the people's wrongdoings are actively preventing their salvation. His goal is to awaken God's mercy and repair the situation through repentance and good deeds [מצודת דוד, יוסף אבן יחיא].
To initiate this process, Daniel directs his complete focus toward God. This shift represents his deep inner intention [ביאור שטיינזלץ], while also involving the practical act of physically turning his face southwest toward the city of Jerusalem [אבן עזרא]. He approaches God with the clear recognition that He alone is the true Creator [אבן עזרא]. Although God's presence fills the entire earth, Daniel speaks to Him intimately as his personal master [יוסף אבן יחיא].
Rather than immediately speaking his requests, Daniel engages in a unique process of seeking the ability to pray. Because he is stepping into the role of a representative for the entire nation, he requires careful preparation. Before speaking aloud, he prays silently in his heart [אבן עזרא], asking God to provide him with the correct words and to place them in His mouth so his prayer will be fitting [מלבי״ם, אלשיך]. He deliberately addresses God using the specific divine name associated with lordship, as this name represents the opening of the mouth and the gateway through which prayers are accepted [אלשיך].
To complete his preparation, Daniel embraces a state of sorrow and profound humility [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. He engages in a specific sequence of actions: fasting, wearing sackcloth, and putting on ashes. This order is highly intentional, showing a process of submission that moves from the inside out. He begins with fasting, which is an internal affliction of both the body and the soul. Next, he wears sackcloth, a rough garment hidden directly on the skin underneath his regular clothing. Finally, he applies ashes, a purely external symbol visible to everyone. Through this progression, Daniel shows that genuine submission before God must first originate within the mind and heart before it is ever displayed on the outside [אלשיך].