In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
“[Prophet], recite what has been revealed to you of the Scripture; keep up the prayer: prayer restrains outrageous and unacceptable behaviour. Remembering God is greater: God knows everything you are doing.” (Qur’an 29:45)
Reflection
In this verse, Allah teaches us the antidote to negative behaviour and sins—our five daily prayers. Life gets extremely busy, but our prayers force us to withdraw from chasing the worldly life, even if only for a few minutes, and reorient ourselves back to what truly matters.
For example, if you are about to engage in dodgy business or do something displeasing to Allah, and the call for prayer comes in, that brings with it a perfect reminder to choose what’s right. On the other hand, if you have just committed a sin, the call to prayer is a reminder that Allah is always there and He sees you, which should spur you into repentance.
Nothing will bring us greater success in this life and the hereafter than striving to prioritise what truly matters: worshipping Allah. The process spiritual development should be a regular practice, for it is through consistency we will begin to reap the fruits of our labour.
Call to Action
Which of these can we begin to do today to nurture our relationship with Allah? Set your intention and choose one to focus on this week.
Reciting the Qur’an
Habits are formed through consistent action. Reciting the Qur’an regularly might seem like a daunting mission to embark on. It might be tempting to read it all in one go. However, the only way to maintain consistency and to not be put off by lofty aspirations is to start small.
Allocate at least five minutes each day to reciting the Qur'an, if it's simply one verse. To go further, read the translation of your selected verse or portion and throughout your day, ponder on how it relates to your life and in what ways you can apply the knowledge gained.
Keeping up the prayer
Do you struggle to pray on time? This week, track your prayers and strive to establish them at their prescribed times. If you miss a prayer, be swift at making it up, but make note of the events which prevented you from being able to pray on time. In what ways can you improve your situation?
When we delay our prayer, there is a tendency to rush through it causing us to miss out on the benefit of the one-to-one communication with Allah. Some tips to aid praying on time:
- If possible, plan your day around the prayer times. It helps to reduces the chance of making excuses when prayer time reaches
- Invest in a portable prayer mat for when you’re on the go. It makes it easier to pray wherever you find yourself.
- While at work, endeavour to try your breaks close to prayer times
- Strive to always have wudhu, as this makes it easier to pray when the time comes in
Constant remembrance of Allah
Dhikr can be done anywhere and at any time. Let your tongue be moist with the remembrance of Allah in various forms such as Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, Subhan Allah, or even through seeking forgiveness from Him.
If you commute to work, you can have a playlist filled with Qur’an recitation, dhikr or salawat of the Prophet, peace be upon him. Choose this instead of reaching for the radio knob to listen to music. Let every minute of your day count as an act of worship.
May Allah accept our deeds as acts of worship, may He forgive us for our shortcomings and grant us ease in our affairs. Ameen.
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