A Muslim by name

As I hurriedly lifted my arms; I was caught by a sudden gush of realization.

I had already completed the first part and was about to hit the second part with full force when my conscience screamed -“you my friend are a Muslim only by name”.

The words were loud and clear and my eyes remained dry- as if bearing witness to the truth in those lines-while I apprehended the situation. I recalled as I had entered my room and was worried about getting things done before my baby would start crying and in that haste I realized how I had still not prayed. So I quickly grabbed a prayer mat, wrapped a stole around my head as quickly as I could and began the race.  Only to recognize a few moments later the grave mistake I had been making.

“Oh Allah I am ashamed that I think of salat as a burden; as a “task” to do on my to-do list.”

I suddenly started remembering its importance, its beauty, its grandeur. While all other commandments had been revealed in this world, this had been presented in the skies. While all commandments had been sent down as such, this had been sent as a beautiful gift. Yet look at the way we treat it. My Lord Who is the Caretaker of all the affairs of the universe invites us-small people with small lives and small problems-yet we take it for granted. With each Allah-o-Akbar of the azaan we are reminded that our problems, our tasks, and our matters are all small and that Allah is greater than all our preoccupations and yet we pay no heed.

Our Lord invites us in the most beautiful manner and He asks us to empty our hearts and minds when we step forward to converse with Him.

So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. (7) And to your Lord direct [your] longing. (8)

Our prayers were supposed to be our mairaj but look at what we have done to it. If we ever have to present or talk in front of a few people then we make sure that we are well prepared for it. And yet we hardly ever prepare for our salahs. When was the last time any of us sat down wondering which surah we would recite in our next salah? When was the last time we shook in fear as to whether we will be able to pray and give the prayer its due right?

When the time for prayer came, Hazrat ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) would be visibly shaken, and the color of his face would change. It was said to him, “What is the matter with you?” He said, “By Allah, there has come the time of the [Trust]:

…إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الاٌّمَانَةَ عَلَى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ وَالْجِبَالِ فَأبَيْنَ أَن يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا الإِنْسَـنُ

Truly, We did offer the Amanah to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it. But man bore it…”  Al Qur’an 33:72

Hatim (RA) said; “I carry out what I am commanded; I walk with the fear of Allah in my heart; I start with the (correct) intention; I magnify and glorify Allah; I recite at a slow and measured pace, thinking about the meaning; I bow with Khushoo’; I prostrate with humility; I sit and recite the complete tashahhud; I say Salam with the (correct) intention; I finish with sincerity towards Allah; and I come back fearing that (my prayer) has not been accepted from me, so I continue to strive until I die.”

Hazrat Hudhayfah (RA) said, "The first thing you will lose of your religion will be Khushoo' and the last thing you will lose of your religion will be the prayer, and it is well possible that there is no good in a person who prays, and soon will come a time when you shall enter a large Masjid and not see a single person with Khushoo'."

A wonderful advice one of our teachers gave us was that try to never start a salah directly but instead take a few minutes-as many as you think you can easily give-to come into the mode of salah. Sit down, relax, wonder about the after-life, ponder upon the blessings of Allah Ta’ala or His aayaat or whatever you feel will enable you to have more khushoo. Leave behind all your worries and thoughts knowing that you are about to bow down to the Being Who will take care of all your affairs and then whole-heartedly enter your salah.

May Allah Ta’ala guide us all to pray in the manner which is most pleasing to Him and may He forgive us for all of our shortcomings. Ameen.