Salaam Minara Family,
You’re in the middle of a great party. Conversation is gripping, happy endorphins have kicked in and you’re just having a cracking time!
And then it’s time to read ‘Asr.
In fact, ‘Asr time started about an hour ago and the window to pray is closing. All the happy endorphins - while still very much there - are just a little mingled with a teeny tiny niggly gremlin. 👹 You know you have to pray. Some part of you WANTS to pray too. But man, getting up and finding a spot to pray feels laborious. Besides, you have to make wudhu.
The clock becomes your staring partner as you both face each other down determinedly, not budging, both at an impasse.
But the ticking in your heart is becoming stronger.
tick, tick, tick
You have two options. What to do?
Option One: Let the clock win, ignore the ticking in your heart, plough through your conversation until you really can’t read ‘Asr anymore. You’ll deal with your conscience later.
Option Two: Embrace the ticking in your heart, get up, make wudu, find a spot to pray and feel the shine of your sacrifice [using this word lightly!] inspire your heart.
If we’re honest with ourselves, we know exactly which one is the best option. One serves us short-term while the other is a long-term gain 🏆. We’re all out here for the long ride!
So which one are you picking friend?
Pssst. Sharing a little story if you stick around to the very end!
Prayer Tip of the Week
Forming any kind of habit is challenging. Sticking to it, is the icing on the cake. Do you struggle with consistency too?
Perhaps it’s praying at the designated time? Is there a salah that you struggle to pray just because you’re not at home then?
You are not alone. The variables look a little different yes, but the essence of our struggle is the same.
Our smallest actions are our greatest wins! This hadith embodies the ease of our religion – no good deed should be overwhelming and with consistency, the believer’s energy, enthusiasm and reward is perpetuated.
Actionable Steps
Apply the psychology behind habit-formation to our prayers.
Insight: What is your long-term gain? Why is this outcome so desirable to you? How will mastering this make you feel? How will missing it make you feel? Identify this because your desired outcome will light your tunnel when the going gets tough.
Plan: Focus on one target. Example: goal is to read five daily prayers. Presently, you pray one. Choose a salah that is the second easiest for you. This salah needn’t be perfect; the fact that you are praying it is a win. Work out how you’ll get there. If you’re aiming for consistent Fajr, identify what obstructs you. Then problem-solve. You might move your alarm far away from your bed so that you have to get up to turn it off. Now you can pray your Fajr as physically leaving the bed was the hardest part. Problem solved!
Anticipate the lows: You will feel uninspired. Sometimes, you will not want to pray. Sometimes, concentrating will be hard. By expecting the natural phenomenon of quitting after starting something new, you can prepare. Maybe an accountability partner – somebody who encourages and challenges you?
Honour yourself: It’s easy to punish ourselves when we don’t commit to a task, so we end up demotivated. This results in more inaction. Forgiveness helps us recover from set-backs and resume our journeys.
Seek guidance: Allah sees you and Allah guides you. The whole world could work collectively to obstruct your path but with Allah’s Will, you will succeed. Seeking forgiveness will open unexpected doors and your process will magically accommodate you.
Story Corner
The following account titled ‘Makeup and Salah’ has been reprinted by the permission of the author who runs the educational institute: Arabic with Mariam.
Especially during the wedding season, we all spend so much time making our makeup perfect or paying to get it done. This wedding I treated myself to (having my makeup applied).
As soon as I got home though, I needed to use the bathroom! I had prayed mu Duhr, but now ‘Asr? The wedding wouldn’t be over until after Maghrib. What would I do?
I thought I’d figure something out. As end of ‘Asr time was fast approaching, I struggled a little. I tried to think of a way I could get away with washing off this makeup. I (had) paid to get it done and also I felt good wearing it. How awkward would I look with a bare face? And I hadn’t taken any of my makeup along with me? But I knew that (making) qadha of salah on purpose is sinful – allowing the time to pass and saying I’ll pray later would make me sinful. I also knew makeup isn’t a valid excuse to (miss) salah.
The message of this verse came to me: “That which is by you will perish and that which is by Allah is permanent.” [Surah Nahl 16:79]
In that moment I realised that what I was worried about is how people will perceive me. But this is temporary; even if I didn’t look good, they would forget. But what is by Allah is permanent!
I got up, washed it off and prayed my ‘Asr.
I prayed on the grass by the lake with a breeze coming by and honestly I felt the permanence; this is what really mattered. My soul felt deep contentment.
All praise to Allah for guiding me to this.
The best part was when I went back to the bathroom, this lovely girl offered me to borrow some of her makeup to reapply!
Be still our beating hearts. 💓 We love this story so much. Perhaps you have a story to tell too? Please do share in the comments, or by responding to this email or over on our Instagram, and help us inspire our little community.
With prayers and duas,
The Minara Team
