Salaam Minara Family,
Ok, so little activity for you: look at a photo in your phone, or maybe some artwork displayed near where you are. You could even just look at this very screen!
Masjidun Nabawi
At first glance what do you see?
You see one unified picture.
But zoom in far enough, and what do you find? Pixels. Thousands - sometimes millions - of tiny, coloured squares. On their own, a single pixel might seem insignificant. But together, they compose breathtaking landscapes, evocative portraits, and moving scenes. Without each pixel, there is no picture. Each one matters.
The bigger picture is only ever possible because of countless small parts that come together.
We are a people somewhat obsessed by only the bigger picture or the final result if you will. Our eyes often lock onto the end goal with such intensity that we miss the richness of the process.
The truth is though that the deeper shifts and the real results are not contained within the big finale. It’s the smaller, often overlooked things in which authentic growth and impact is unleashed.
Without the small, intentional choices we make in our lives, there’s no ‘photograph’.
We can apply this same principle to salah. We speak of khushu’ [presence of heart]; we yearn for a deeper connection with Allah. We are satisfied with a prayer that feel complete. But in aiming for this lofty experience, have we stopped to consider the tiny choices that actually bring us closer to the very results we desire?
That is the question we should be asking ourselves.
What are the tiny choices that beautify our salah? What are the smaller steps that unconsciously invite khushu’ into our prayer?
Let’s take a look together at what we’re naming here as some of the ‘pixels’ of prayer.
Pixels in Prayer: The Small Steps
The following steps aren’t dramatic, but that’s the point 🤗 When practiced consistently, they start to rewire your relationship with Salah.
Think: deepen, not demand.
Treat Wudhu as a Reset, Not a Routine
Before starting wudhu, pause for 5–10 seconds. Set an intention: I’m washing away distraction, stress, and noise. As you wash each limb, imagine releasing tension from that area. It’s a mental shift that signals you’re transitioning into a different space. 💧Approach Your Prayer Spot with Deliberation
Instead of jumping straight into prayer, walk to your prayer mat slowly. This simple act of walking with intention creates a sense of entering sacred time.Body movement and heart prep - check! ☑️
Stand Still Before Saying Takbeer
Once you’re on the mat, stand still for a moment before raising your hands. Breathe. Feel your feet on the ground. Let your mind arrive. Then begin with Allahu Akbar. This pause helps prevent a robotic, rushed entry into prayer. 🤖Recite Al-Fatiha with Gentle Pace (Not Just Tajweed)
Focus on pacing, not just pronunciation. Try to match each verse to one full breath. This naturally slows you down and gives space for each ayah to land. 🫁Stay in Sujood for One Extra Breath
After you’ve said Subhana Rabbiyal A’la, remain in sujood for a quiet breath or two. Let your body relax. Don’t rush back up. This small extension deepens the moment of surrender and stillness. ☺️Vary Your Du’as in Sujood and Before Salam
Add a personal du’a in sujood or before you close the prayer with assalamu ‘alaykum. This small change pulls you into the heart of what prayer is. Conversation. It makes each salah feel slightly different and more alive. 💓Don’t Rush the Tasbeeh After Salah
Instead of racing through SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, treat each one like a mindful breath. Try this at least once a day. The difference in presence is noticeable. Not a filler but a pixel! 😤Stay Seated for One Minute After Salah
Stay on your mat after salah without reaching for your phone or moving straight away. Just sit. Breathe. This helps you absorb the prayer instead of switching gears too fast. Think of it as giving your soul time to catch up. 🧘🏾♀️
The full picture of a prayer that feels meaningful is made up of these little acts, like pixels filling in over time. Even if one or two seem blurry or off, that doesn’t erase the image. We keep adding. We keep honouring the small and the tiny. And before we know it, something beautiful begins to form. The goal is to experience prayer, not as an obligation we are racing to finish but as a living, breathing process we enter. And through this process insha’Allah, we discover that the goal we were chasing was actually being built all along pixel by pixel.
That’s it from us this week folks!
Any requests, tips, or things you’ve loved reading from us: please feel free to spread the love and share it with us. The Minara Team love connecting with you. 💜💜
Wishing you a very warm week.
The Minara Team
