Ramdan: Day 3 - Prayer

One of the most difficult and rewarding things that is offered to us by Islam is salat, or prayer. The five daily prayers are a time to reflect, to come closer to God and to pause from overly scheduled lives to remember that we have nothing to fear or worry about in this life because our only true account is with Allah. But instead of treating prayer like these things, we treat it like an inconvenience that we want to hurry through. During prayer we think of to dos we have to check off our lists, of something that is bothering us at work or of someone we are angry with- really, we think of everything but Allah. We are so sick with  the disease of obsession with this dunya that we spit out the prescription we have been given for that very disease.

In the Quran, Allah tells us, "And establish regular prayer. Truly, prayer is a shield from indecency and sin..." (29:45)

Prayer is offered to us both as a way to renew ourselves throughout the day and also as a protection from our own nafs or from the temptations of this dunya. If we are establishing regular, sincere prayer then how can we allow ourselves to be caught in sins? If we are aware that we are going to meet our Lord and supplicate to him, then will we go wearing the clothes of a liar, a deceiver or a cheat?

The Prophet said: 'If one of you had a stream running at his door and he bathed in it five times every day, do you think any dirt would be left on him?' His companions answered, "No dirt at all would be left on him!' He said, 'That is what the five (daily) prayers are like, with which Allah washes away your sins. (Bukhari)

We have an opportunity each day, every few hours to renew ourselves and attain purity.

The Prophet said: 'The first deed that a person will be called to account for on the Day of Judgment will be his prayers. If they are in order he will be successful and prosper, but if they are not he will be ruined and lost.'

It seems that this hadith can apply to our life right now as well. When we are diligent in our prayers, then Allah opens the doors of his mercy and blessings on us.

May Allah make us love Salat, to allow us to pray with focus and sincerity. Ameen.