The Divine Clock

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Today's world demands constant attention and effort, leaving little time for self-reflection and peace.

But to follow the path, we can cultivate the discipline of consistency, especially in our prayer practice.

The first thing we will be accountable for on the day of judgment will be our prayer. It is our route to establishing a close relationship with Allah.

Consistency, when joined with prayer, forms the foundation. Mirroring the Prophet’s teachings, ‘pray on time’, should be our daily mantra. Often, we become engrossed in supplementary deeds, voluntary Sunnah prayers, or other rites, overlooking our fundamental duty—the five daily prayers to be performed on time.

Why does punctuality in prayer matter so much?

It signifies our dedication and longing for Allah.

When we prioritize our daily prayers, it reveals that Allah is the heart of our existence. Our entire day, routine, thoughts, and aspirations start revolving around Him, shaping our lives. A punctual prayer, complete in all facets, is the most beautiful expression of our Divine love.

If we look into our day, we will notice that at the end of it all, we pray the same five prayers.

The mindset with which we approach those prayers makes all the difference.

As Allah mentions in the Quran about the hypocrites, they get up to pray reluctantly and lazily.

This reluctance can gradually lead someone to miss prayers altogether, causing them to falter spiritually.

Praying isn’t just about physical discipline to perform the salats at the right time; it is also about spiritual discipline.

Immersing ourselves entirely in prayer, banishing all our distractions, and longing only for Allah’s grace shows our true devotion.

The ability to manifest physical and internal discipline during prayers reflects the purity of our faith and can lead us to true success and peace.

Allah understands the demands of our daily lives, whether they be career, school, or travel, which might occasionally infringe upon our prayer time.

However, in the normalcy of our lives, we should prioritize prayer, performing it early within the time window.

Omar Ibn Alkhatab emphasized that delaying the prayer beyond its permissible time, enough as a habit, may naturally lead to entirely missing prayers. Finally, it is a regression that we all want to avoid. Every time we step away from our prayer, even if it is just in our minds, we should ask ourselves, are we turning away from something more worth it than Allah?

If we can commit to our five daily prayers, performed on time with due respect to their sacredness, it would be worthwhile in Allah’s sight. Let our prayers be our ticket to a place in paradise.

Practicing consistent and punctual prayers can be a challenge, but it strengthens our faith, refines our character, and brings us closer to Allah.

It is a journey, and in every step we take towards Allah, he takes ten steps towards us.

May Allah guide us on His path, forgive our shortcomings, and make us amongst those who long for Him. Ameen.