Ustazah Maryam Amir, an American scholar shared this story about a woman who approached her after a conference in the US.
She said “I was so happy when I admitted and told you that I didn’t pray at all.”
Two years ago, she said this to Ustazah Maryam. That was one of the best decisions she made, coming clean about her not praying at all. Since she made it open she feels like all her burden is lifted off her shoulders.
Wait, what? Admitting that she has stopped praying to The Creator actually makes her happier?
Ustazah Maryam, upon hearing the statement of admission, actually came up with a plan that they both would agree to follow. That plan was what made her happier.
She would be focusing on performing one specific prayer per day. She has to maintain not missing that one prayer per day for a few months and later she would add another prayer daily. This continues until she was all ready to complete the 5 times a day prayers.
Is this okay?
The question of whether or not the prayers that she missed would be questioned by Allah, is between her and Allah. Surely Muslims aren’t supposed to miss their 5 times a day prayers. But the focus here was not to lose your way to Allah altogether.
It’s okay if in order for you to be close to Allah and become a better Muslim, that you start with one prayer a day. Be consistent with it and improve yourself so that you would be among those who not just never misses their 5 times a day prayer, but also those who never miss their voluntary prayers, masha Allah.
Make it a routine that you can’t live without. Let the prayer become your skin that you can’t leave behind.
If you’re too lazy or living a hectic life or too tired, and salah or prayer has become a routine like a skin that you can’t peel off from your own body, then any condition won’t be an issue for you to perform the 5 times a day prayers.
إِنِّي أَنَا الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ
Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas’ud:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) made me read the verse “Indeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength.” Sahih (Al-Albani)
Never fail to make du’a to Allah to give us strength in continuing to be the best Muslim. May Allah give us strength to follow His path.
This article is based on a sharing from Ustazah Maryam Amir’s Instagram.
Ustazah Maryam Amir is a Master holder in Education from UCLA, Bachelor’s in Child and Adolescent Development from San Jose State University, and Bachelor’s in Islamic Studies from Al Azhar University. She was awarded the Student of the Year title by former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and holds a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She’s also one of the teachers in Hikmah Institute.
