It seems that we as a society have forgotten some important values,
and are generally becoming more immature as a result. There doesn’t seem
to be a differentiation between manliness and egocentric chauvinist
behavior in a lot of people’s minds, which is truly sad. You have people
saying things like 30 is the new 20, and grown men acting like entitled
spoiled children. The truth is that once you’ve stepped into your
mid-20s you should have gained enough life experience to be able to
behave like a mature adult.
The thing is, few young people –
I am easily distracted. This trait was a hindrance throughout my
academic studies, but no doubt the area in which it is most detrimental
is my worship. My daily prayers are plagued by thoughts that creep into
my consciousness and silently grip my mind and heart, steering them away
from Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He). Be it the
pattern on my prayer mat or a task I have to do, there is always
something diverting me from the most important moments of my day.
I write this as a reminder to myself, on attempting to rescue my salah
(ritual prayers), a most exquisite and sublime gift from Allah (swt). A
nourishment, rejuvenation and refocusing for our souls, and the first
thing we will be asked about on the Day of Judgement. These windows of
tranquillity have the potential to adorn our days and sustain, protect
and fill our hearts amidst the transient whirlwind that is this world.
We hear of people finishing one salah only to look forward to
the next one, so why does prayer feel so heavy, ritualised and
burdensome for so many of us? With each rising sun we witness comes a
new God-given opportunity to reform our existence, to attain that
contentment that every soul in this world is yearning. Don’t let another
golden moment slip by. I pray He allows us to rescue our salah and fall in love with it until we enter Jannah (eternal Paradise).
The first step to take is to correct our mindset. A simple
realignment of perspective is all it takes. You are not in control of
anything. Your job, your happiness, your health, your family, your
movements—you are not even in control of the simplest of bodily
functions. He is. The beating of your heart, how people behave towards
you, what you achieve—everything is from Him. He knows what is in your
past and what is in your future. All honour, respect and sustenance are
from Him. You are deaf, dumb and blind without Him and His provision and
guidance. Everything around you is temporary, flawed and changing, but
your soul is eternal, and does not belong here. One day it will all
crumble and perish; only He will remain. Turn yourself away from the
world and towards Him, close your eyes to the creation and open your
heart to the Creator. He has ordered us to prostrate to Him as a mercy
only to us; each prayer is an opportunity to be forgiven.
Abu Dharr radi Allahu `anhu (may God be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ
said: “Allah faces the slave while he is in the salah and keeps
facing him as long as he does not turn. If [the slave] turns, [Allah]
turns away from him.” – Abu Dawud [Saheeh Hadith]
Reflect on the sheer weight of this hadith. The Lord of the
Worlds, who is aware of and sustaining every cell in every human, animal
and bacteria, from the beginning of time to the end, is facing YOU.
Listening to you, waiting for you to call, looking to forgive and to
grant you more. You have His full attention until YOU lose focus.
The light in your life is proportional to the light that Allah (swt)
bestows on you. You will only be content and at peace if He illuminates
your existence. Your circumstances may appear perfect, but you will be
restless and unhappy if He withholds His light. Once we truly comprehend
this principle and realise we are nothing, while He is everything, insha’Allah (God willing) we can worship like we were made to.
Doing the following may help increase khushu` (a state of humility and reverence):
- Remember death. Imagine the angel of death ready to take your soul. Pray like it is your last.
- Picture yourself standing before Allah (swt), and know that He is facing you, hearing and seeing you.
- Understand what you are saying by understand the Arabic and studying the tafseer (exegesis) of whatever you recite.
- Speak and move at a measured pace. Try to recite melodiously.
- Pray on time, and make the sincere intention to never miss a prayer.
- Minimise internal distractions by building your connection with Him
throughout the day and taking a few moments before each prayer to regain
perspective.
- Minimise external distractions by finding a suitable setting when possible.
- Make du`a’ (supplication) in your own language while in sujood (prostration) and after each salah. What better time to beg Allah (swt) for what you are in need of?
Make the intention right now to rescue your salah and unlock
the treasures of tranquillity, nearness and purpose. Embellish your
path with prayer, and know that you will thank yourself on the Last Day,
when there will be no doubt that a mere two rak`ahs (units) of prayer are worth more than the entire world and all it contains.
The Lord of the Heavens and the Earth awaits you.
“Come to prayer; come to success.” – Adhan (call to prayer)
