In the Qu’ran it says, “And I have chosen you, so listen to that which is inspired to you. Verily, I am Allah! There is none worthy of worship but I, so worship Me and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance. " We pray only to worship Allah and to remember him. [3] X Research source It’s mentioned in a Hadith that “The first matter that the slave [a Muslim] will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad. “[4] X Research source
You may want to set alarms on your phone, tablet, or computer so you can get a notification about prayer. There are many smart phone apps available to set alarms according to your location. If you can’t set an alarm, try writing the times of each prayer on pieces of paper and placing them around the house where you’ll see them such as on the fridge, on your calendar, etc. If you find it hard to stick to an alarm, you might find it helpful for a Muslim friend or family member to remind you when prayer time is near. However, do remember you are responsible for your own prayers, so avoid depending on them too much. [5] X Research source
Maintain a clean and tidy area at home dedicated for prayer, where all the family can pray.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The most important of all matters is Islam, its spinal cord is prayer and the highest rank is Jihad for the sake of Allah. ”[8] X Research source www. islamweb. net/en/article/201331/the-virtues-and-rewards-of-prayer-in-islam Prayer also wipes off any bad sins. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Tell me, if there’s an overflowing river in front of the house and you bathe into it five times a day, will there remain any dirt on you? They [the companions of the Prophet] said, ‘No dirt will remain on him’. He then said: “That is the example of the five daily obligatory prayers by which Allah erases sins. ”[9] X Research source Allah has commanded Muslims to pray because it is good for them, rather than Allah actually needing their prayer.
Allah should never be far away from your thoughts. Every action throughout each day should be undertaken with seeking the pleasure of Allah in mind. If you are able, allow some time after each salat for quiet remembrance of Allah.
[14:40] “My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication. " [66:8] “Our Lord! Perfect our light for us and forgive us our sins, for verily You have power over all things. " [7:126] “Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and constancy, and make us die as those who have surrendered themselves unto You. " [3:8] “Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate from the truth after You have guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Your grace. Verily You are the Giver of bounties without measure. "
Prayer lies at the heart of the daily routine of the Muslim. Allah has created us to worship Him and so prayer must be prioritized above all worldly matters. Try to develop a deep focus when praying so that all other matters are far from your mind and your are devoting 100% of your concentration to your conversation with Allah.
Understand that Allah is the All-Forgiving (Al-Ghafoor). If you do end up missing your prayer, delaying it for no valid reason then repent to Him, ask Him to make it easier for you, promise not to repeat the mistake and ask Him to save you. [14] X Research source Be mindful that if a Muslim is heedless in his/her prayer then Allah will hold them to account on the Day of Judgement. Allah has created and sustains all humans and asks for very little in return so Muslims have a duty to do their best to worship Him in the way that He has prescribed. Spend spare moments throughout each day thinking about the afterlife. Allah has created hellfire for those who disobey Him, so use this to motivate yourself to obey Allah and be the best Muslim you can be.
All forms of motivation and encouragement are helpful to keep up the habit and stay regular with your prayers, but above all should be the desire to please Allah and attain Jannah (heaven). Muslim children are taught to pray from the age of 7 and may be disciplined for not saying their 5 daily prayers from the age of 10 by gently reminding them that Jahannam (hellfire) is the destiny for those who do not pray.
Look into the many additional optional prayers that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prayed regularly, that can help strengthen your connection with Allah.
