Salaam Minara Family,
Where in the world are you friend? [Let us know in the comments or drop us an email by hitting reply 😊]
If you’re anywhere in Europe, US, or its antipodes - New Zealand and some Australian states - clocks will be going back one hour for the daylight saving time, firmly cementing the imminent arrival of Winter.
For some of us, this means running around like headless chickens, pecking our way through as many tasks as possible and racing against time to read Dhuhr, ‘Asr and Maghreb in their designated times. In the UK, we have 4 hours to pray three salah! 🤯
So time management really becomes a thing.
But there is great wisdom in these timings because the world never exists solely in just one static climate - and we aren’t talking about climate change here!
Allah al-Hakeem designed this constant of varying states, varying conditions, and varying environments. One wisdom is that it inspires a believer to worship Allah at certain times over others. If life was just an interminable, monotonous process, it would not drive us to connect with our Creator in the different stages of our lives.
So yes, while it does become more challenging to prioritise the daytime salah in winter, on the flip slide, it is much easier to read ‘Isha or - because Fajr is much later - even an opportunity to enjoy the night prayer of Tahajjud, subhan Allah 🙂!
winter: a believer’s spring
And in the moments you struggle but persevere anyway, the sweetness upon completion and the subsequent reward will be far more profound and potent.
Read on for Minara’s tips to ensure salaah in the winter months doesn’t feel like a juggling act, particularly for our fellow Northern Hemisphere-ans?! We hope they are of benefit to you ❣️
Prayer Tip of the Week:
“And whosoever is mindful of Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him [from every difficulty].”
The earth IS a place of prostration. Minara polled ‘the strangest places you’ve prayed’ on Instagram and you said: parking lots, ocean, empty classrooms, service stations, changing rooms, work cleaning closets - also hands up if you’ve ever prayed in the mini space of an airplane kitchen?! So where ever you find yourself, mall, school, work, motorway - know there is always a spot patiently waiting for you to pray.🌍
If wudhu becomes a struggle, then you could delay your Dhuhr slightly closer to ‘Asr and then make wudhu so that both Dhuhr and ‘Asr can be read with one wudhu. Please wait for ‘Asr time to commence though before you read ‘Asr.
Wudhu - an act of worship
In extenuating circumstances, Dhuhr and ‘Asr can be prayed in one time as well as Maghreb and ‘Esha. This concession has been granted to alleviate hardship but the circumstance must be one in which it is impossible to pray at the time. Think surgeons performing major operations!
In public bathrooms, washing your feet could potentially feel embarrassing. That’s ok. Consider wearing leather socks [khuffain] particularly when you are travelling or have longer days at work. This would mean you do not have to wash your feet but merely make masah [wipe] over the socks. You would also be reviving a wonderful sunnah of the Prophet [peace be upon him]. 🧦
Set salah notifications so that they are scheduled into your day. The alarms will ensure you don’t forget you have to pray and if you’re a stickler for ticking off things in your diary [guilty!] then the satisfaction of a fulfilled practice will keep you inspired.
Planning your day around salah, also involves planning for salah. So carry a prayer mat and body covering if needed. There are also many mobile apps and websites that help you identify the qiblah which is great.
Could you have an honest conversation at work so they can give you five-ten minutes for each prayer? Most companies have inclusive policies and are more understanding than you might expect. Reading around on the internet has encouragingly revealed how supportive and kind your bosses can be. Practically, Dhuhr could be offered during lunch, ‘Asr as a quick ‘tea break’ and Maghreb at the close of working day. So really, you aren’t asking for much time at all.
And finally, what can we do without Allah’s help? Read the following supplication whenever you can as an expression of your longing to pray and see the doors of ease open wide for you in sha Allah.
Call on Allah for ease
Salah gives us a mental respite from the hustle and bustle of our day. Dedicating a small portion of your day to salah can only boost your productivity. Wait - in fact, salah timings have actually already been scheduled for us. So doesn’t it just make sense to slot in all our other daily tasks in and around Dhuhr, ‘Asr and Maghreb? What a great timeframe Allah has already designed for our convenience alhamdulillah!
The reality really is easier done than said!
Make salah you priority. Allah will take care of you. Promise. 💌
‘All the Crazy Spots I’ve prayed’
We’ll leave you with the chorus from Dawud Wharnsby Ali’s fun and classic nasheed ‘The Crazy Spots I’ve Prayed’!
“All the earth is a place of prostration
Every field and meadow, mountain, park, city, farm plantation
Every roadside, seaside, hillside, walkway
Any place clean and green can be a place to pray
When I think of every path, where I’ve ever trot
I laugh at all the crazy spots I stopped to worship God'.
Definitely worth a listen! 🔊
With warm wishes for a productive and prayer-filled November,
The Minara Team
