It’s Prayer Time: But Why Do I Find it Difficult to Pray

Outline

Introduction

Alhamdulillah; all thanks and praises are due to Allah, alone; Lord of the worlds. May His Peace and Blessings be upon the best establisher of prayer, Habibi Muhammad, his family members, his companions and all those who follow their guided path, till the Day of Judgment.

Sometimes, we start to feel lazy, as prayer time gets closer. Or, the nearer it is time for prayer, the busier we get. One may not yawn the whole day until they stand in front of Allah and say ‘Allahu Akbar'. One may not be able to sleep the whole night, but wait until it's five minutes to azan for ‘fajr', they suddenly (unwillingly, luckily) go into very deep worlds of dreams. At times, we prioritize sleeping over prayer, and as a result, we delay the prayer (in the best scenarios), or we don't perform it, at all (in the worst scenarios).  Many are the times, in which we forgot the Surah we recited in the immediate prayer, which we just performed.

If you have experienced any of the above, and have realized it happening to you often, then, you have certainly asked yourself, in your conscious or subconscious mind, this question; Why do I find it difficult to pray?

‘Why do I find it difficult to pray?' is a common reflective question, which every Muslim asks himself, especially those who are concerned about their religious and spiritual progress. But the truth is that, this question, besides being a subject of concern for the religion-conscious, it also demonstrates and proves one of the greatness of Allah, s.w.t. in His creatures, as well as it proves the Prophecy of our beloved Prophet, Muhammad, s.a.w. and it also proves that the Qur'an is a book of Allah, s.w.t.

top

Prayer is a Heavy Duty Indeed

The prayer, as it may seem as simple physical exercise to some, it is one of the heaviest ‘ibadah' to be carried out.  It is only light and easy for one group of people. This group consists of those who have fell in true love with Allah, s.w.t.

The fact that, prayer is a heavy and difficult duty, comes to reflect its importance and its rewards if observed appropriately. Allah Himself, s.w.t., has indicated in the Qur'an, that soprayerlat is a big and heavy (difficult) duty/deed to be carried out, by His servants, though with an exception. This exception applies to only one group of people, and they are those who are convinced that they will meet Allah one day, and will stand before Him for judgment. This group of people is called “Khashi'oun” (the humbly submissive).

So, when we suddenly become engaged, either for good, or the otherwise, it comes to alert us to check on our submissiveness towards Allah, s.w.t., and obviously, our level of love for Him. Have we noticed that our Facebook page feeds faster, and hence, requires us to spend more time to like and/or comment on posts? The frequency of tweets in our Twitter obviously goes high. Likewise, our SMSs keep flowing, as the time gets closer, for prayer, especially, for the youth amongst us. All this happen; just to distract us from focusing on our prayer. As a result, although we go for the prayer, we start to yawn. If we don't yawn, we realize not what Surah we read in the first and second raka'ahs. Obviously, we read Al-Fatihah in the third and forth raka'ahs, as we do in the first and second.

Although prayer is naturally heavy to be performed, it's an easy duty for the submissive. As much as it is easy for the submissive, it's supernaturally difficult for the hypocrites. Hence, prayer is one of the ‘accurately-used' to differentiate between true believers and hypocrites.

The hypocrites, whenever they go for the prayer, they go lazily, just to please others, and not to invite the Pleasure of Allah s.w.t. For them, Allah says in Surah Al-Nisaa: 4:142:

إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّـهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّـهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

“The hypocrites seek to outsmart Allah – but it is He, Who outsmarts them. And when they stand up for prayer, they do so reluctantly and to be seen by others, and they hardly remember Allah, at all.”

Prayer is also one of the hot topics supposed to be discussed by Muslims in their gatherings, instead of discussing about food recipes, latest fashion, gadgets and entertainment; unfortunately. Allah describes the true believers, due to the fact that they establish their prayer, when He said in Surah Al-Taubah, 9:71

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُولَـٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّـهُ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

“The believers, both men and women, are friends to each other; they enjoin what is good and forbid evil, they attend to their prayer and pay the zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. On these Allah will have mercy, for Allah is Almighty and Wise.”

In Islam, prayer is so important in one's life, such that, it's the first deed that they will be judged upon, on the Day of Resurrection.

Rasulullah, s.a.w., said, in a Hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurairah, and reported by Al-Nasaee and Tirmizhi:

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ العَبْدُ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ صَلَاتُهُ، فَإِنْ صَلُحَتْ فَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ وَأَنْجَحَ. وَإِنْ فَسَدَتْ فَقَدْ خَابَ وَخَسِرَ. فَإِنِ انْتَقَصَ مِنْ فَرِيضَتِهِ شَيْءٌ، قَالَ الرَّبُّ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: “انْظُرُوا هَلْ لِعَبْدِي مِنْ تَطَوُّعٍ فَيُكَمَّلَ بِهَا مَا انْتَقَصَ مِنْ الفَرِيضَةِ.” ثُمَّ يَكُونُ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ عَلَى ذَلِكَ.

“The first deed, for which a person will be brought to account, on the Day of Resurrection, will be his prayer. If it is good, then he will have prospered and succeeded, but if it is bad, then he will be doomed and have lost. If anything is lacking from his obligatory prayers, the Lord will say, ‘Look and see whether My slave did any voluntary prayers, and make up the shortfall in his obligatory prayer from that.’ Then all his deeds will be dealt with likewise.”

No wonder then; Rasulullah advised Abdullah Ibn Mas'oud, raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu, that prayer is the most beloved deed to Allah, in the Hadeeth narrated by Imam Al-Bukhari:

سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ “أَيُّ العَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّه؟ قَالَ “الصَّلاةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا” قَلت: ثُمَّ أَيٌّ؟ قَالَ “ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ…”

“I asked the Messenger s.a.w., “Which deed is most beloved to Allah?” He said, “prayer offered on time.” I said, “Then what?” He said, “Then honouring one’s parents…”

However, it's important for us to remember the physical and visual impacts of prayer that every Muslim can observe if they punctually attend to their prayers. The rewards to be attained in the Hereafter are obviously abundant.

Allah s.w.t. informs us of the importance of prayer and its benefits and good effects, when He said:

اُتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ، إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّـهِ أَكْبَرُ، وَاللَّـهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ

“Recite that which has been revealed to you of the Book, and keep up prayer; surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil, and certainly the remembrance of Allah is the greatest, and Allah knows what you do.” [Surah Al-‘Ankabout, 29:45].

Therefore, our prayer should not only be performed. Instead, if performed, it should lead to some positive social benefits in the actions of the Muslim, which includes abstaining from indecency and evil doing.

top

How Do We Motivate Ourselves to Steadily Adhere to Prayer?

Imagine your child who claims they love you dearly, but he fails to abide by your instructions. How much would you trust him in his claims? We all claim “love” for Allah, but we almost, always fail to attend to the basics of His instructions. How then, do we expect Him to trust us in our claims; that we “love” Him?

In order for us to self-motivate ourselves, and steadily adhere to our prayer, we can consider practising one of the following characteristics, or we can combine all together, as possible. The three characteristics are:

• Remember that prayer was decreed and prescribed by Allah, s.w.t.;
• Visualize the rewards, awaiting those who establish prayer, and;
• Be mindful of the consequences of missing prayer.

top

Remember that Prayer was Decreed and Prescribed by Allah

One of the characteristics (if not the only) that should be enough to set us, to be prayer conscious, is to bear in mind, at all times, that prayer is a ruling, decreed and prescribed by Allah, s.w.t. The only way to be in peace of mind about it, is to carry it out. Carry it out, in the hope of achieving the rewards awaiting establishers of prayer, or to avoid the bitter consequences that one may face, if they fail to obey Allah, s.w.t. If this consciousness is developed successfully, then, perhaps, the following two, may not be necessary. However, if it's combined with the other (following) two, one will experience what can be considered as ‘sweetness in prayer', let alone the sweetness of iman.

There are several verses in the Qur'an, in which Allah clearly decrees prayer upon us. Among those verses, is this verse from Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:43, in which Allah says:

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ

“Attend to your prayer, give the zakat and bow down with those who bow down.”

Also, in the same Surah (Al-Baqarah, 2:238), Allah says:

حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا لِلَّـهِ قَانِتِينَ

“Be ever mindful of prayer, especially the middle prayer; and stand up before Allah in submissive devotion.”

In Surah Al-Nour, 24:56, Allah says:

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

“Attend to your prayer and pay the zakat and obey the Messenger, so that you may be shown mercy.”

In his last breath, Rasulullah, s.a.w. did not fail to advise and remind his ‘ummah' to embrace their prayer, in which he said:

الصَّلاةَ، الصَّلاةَ، اِتَّقُوا اللهَ فِيمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ

“[Be ever mindful of] The prayer, the prayer! And fear Allah with regard to those whom your right hands possess.”

The above Hadeeth was classed as authentic by Shaykh Al-Albānī in Saheeh Abi Dāwūd.

The above characteristic, if developed is a response to the order and command of Allah. Now let's reflect on the reward(s).

top

Visualize the Rewards Awaiting Those Who Establish the Prayer

In order for one to self-motivate himself, he can constantly remember the abundant rewards that Allah s.w.t. has in possession for establishers of prayer, let alone the fact that, when one stands to perform prayer, he is in direct communication with Allah, s.w.t.

Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:110:

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللَّـهِ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

“Attend to your prayer and pay the zakat; any good you store up for yourselves, you will find it with Allah. Certainly, Allah sees what you do.”

He also says, in the same Surah, 2:277:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

“Those who believe, do good deeds, attend to their prayer and engage in giving zakat, shall be rewarded by their Lord and shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve.”

To emphasize the offer/promise, and to keep high your hope, Allah says in Surah Al-A'raaf, 7:170:

وَالَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِالْكِتَابِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُصْلِحِينَ

“As for those who hold fast to the Book and are steadfast in prayer, We shall not deny the righteous their reward.”

Looking into the Sunnah, Rasulullah said in a small chat he had with the sahabah (Hadeeth) narrated by Abu Hurairah r.a. and classified by Al-Bukhari and Muslim:

“أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ نَهْرًا بِبَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ مِنْهُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ هَلْ يَبْقَى مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْءٌ؟” قَالُوا: “لا يَبْقَى مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْءٌ.” قَالَ: “فَذَلِكَ مَثَلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الخَمْسِ؛ يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِهِنَّ الخَطَايَا.”

“What do you think if there was a river by the door of any one of you, and he bathed in it, five times a day. Would there be any trace of dirt left on him?” They (the sahabah) said, “No trace of dirt would be left on him.” He said, “That is like the five daily prayers (ṣalāh), by means of which Allah erases sins.”

The above motivational package of rewards should be sufficient to keep us moving righteously, towards Allah, s.w.t. If that did not work, then we may consider looking into applying and practising the next characteristic.

top

Be Mindful of the Consequences of Missing Prayer

If one fails to be motivated by the different kinds or rewards, which Allah, s.w.t. has promised His righteous servants, then, it's important for me and him, to be constant cautious of Allah's anger and punishment. Thus, the various verses of warning in the Qur'an and in the Sunnah may help to get him abide by Allah's commands. There are several verses from the Qur'an and the Sunnah of Rasulullah which present what Allah has in stock, for those who choose to disobey, and hence, fail to take their prayer as important.

Allah s.w.t. warns, those who cause their prayers to be lost, in Surah Maryam, 19:59:

فَخَلَفَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلاةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ، فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّا

“But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil.”

The above was warning, which goes to those who fail to establish their prayer. As for some of us, who do establish the prayer, but still take it lightly, to us; Allah says in Surah Al-Ma’oun, 107:4-5:

فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ * الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ

“So woe unto those performers of prayer (hypocrites), Those who delay their prayer (from their stated fixed times).”

Upon visiting the Sunnah, Jabir Ibn Abdullah r.a. related a Hadeeth, which was authenticated by Muslim, in which Rasulullah said:

بَيْنَ الرَّجُلِ وَبَيْنَ الشِّرْكِ وَالكُفْرِ تَرْكُ الصَّلاةِ

“Between a man and associating others with Allah and disbelief there stands his giving up prayer.”

top

Let's Seek Our Provision Through Performing Prayer

ِ

If we successfully change our attitude, positively, towards prayer, then we can look forward to the add-on rewards from Allah, s.w.t. As I mentioned earlier, the heavier and more important a particular ibadah is, the more rewarding it is. Thus, Allah has advised us to seek His help through prayer. For that, He said in Surah Al-Baqarah, 2: 44-45:

وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ، وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الخَاشِعِينَ * الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَاقُو رَبِّهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ

“And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah] (Khashi'oun). Who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him.”

Allah requires one thing from us and guarantees our provision in return. He, s.w.t. requires us to steadily adhere to prayer, and He will take care of our subsistence (rizq). For that He said in Surah Taha, 20:132:

وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلاةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا، لا نَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقًا، نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ، وَالعَاقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ

“And enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein. We ask you not for provision; We provide for you, and the [best] outcome is for [those of] righteousness.”

top

Our Sense of Value for the Prayer can Reflect on Our Sense of Amanah

Being the heaviest ibadah ever imposed on creatures, handling it well will certainly reflect on one's sense of amānah, and how they value it. What I mean is: The fact that we establish prayer five times a day, it gradually becomes, in the perspective of some of us, as routine. Some even consider it the way they consider culture. The difference between ibadah and culture is: Ibadah is carried out as a result of religious obligation, whereby cultural actions are culturally motivated; where one thinks of the impact of their action on their family or ancestors. No one will hold you to account if you fail to carry out culture. But, we all know the consequences of neglecting our obligatory ‘ibadahs.

So far, in my little experience in life, in my few interactions with people, the few people I have come across, who take their prayer seriously, whose prayer is genuinely established, who do not please others with their prayer; they take amanah seriously. Amanah to them is not expressed in words until they prove it in actions.

On the other hand, those ‘amanah abusers' whom I've come across (again; in my little experience), have less, or no consciousness for prayer.

top

The Impact of Our Commitment to the Prayer on our Children

For the younger generation of today (at least), parents bear part (if not most) of the responsibilities of their children who find it difficult to pray.

“Character begins at home”. Most of the time, it's unlikely that if we teach our children prayer at the age of seven (as Rasulullah s.a.w. advised), we'll still need to discipline them at the age of ten (also, as advised by Rasulullah s.a.w.) if they refuse to perform it.

Not only that; if our children see us, frequently, establishing prayer, at home, they will automatically become establishers of prayer, and cut on us the “trouble” of teaching them. All that we will need to do then, will be to ensure they understand that prayer is ibadah, which is obligatory and must be done with intention; and not a culture which can be inherited.

One of the characteristics that made Luqman Al-Hakeem an exemplary father, to the extent that, he was mentioned in the Qur'an, and a full Surah was named after him, was that, he did not only establish prayer, but he also included prayer in the “golden advices” which he offered to his dear son. Allah narrates to us what Luqman Al-Hakeem included in his advice to his son, in Surah Luqman, 31:17:

يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَكَ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ

“O my dear son! Establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, [all] that is of the matters [requiring] determination.”

After we have (as parents) done our best, to establish prayer, to set good examples to our children, to educate them, and to be responsible for their welfare, we can then leave the rest to Allah; and He won't disappoint us. We leave things to Him by frequently supplicating to Him. One of the du’as which you can supplicate frequently is the du'a which Sayyiduna Ibrahim supplicated, in the hope that it will help him and his family to steadily adhere to prayer:

رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاء * رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

“My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication. Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established.” [Surah Ibarhim, 14:40-41].

top

Be Submissive and Seek Allah's Guidance

One of the causes and factors that divert us, away from our real purpose in this existence is desire, although human nature follows desire. So, we have to constantly present our submissiveness before Allah, s.w.t. That is exactly what we can understand in Allah's command to His most beloved Prophet, Rasulullah, when He said to him:

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Say, “My prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the worlds…” [Sura'h Al-An'aam: 6:161].

Allow me to share with you one of the du'as which Rasulullah s.a.w. used to say in his morning and evening supplication:

اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي بَدَنِي، اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي سَمْعِي، اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي بَصَرِي

“O Allah! Grant me health in my body. O Allah! Grant me health in my hearing. O Allah! Grant me health in my sight.”

When Allah grants one a healthy body, they don't only get to be in a healthier condition, they are also granted a light body. Light body in the way that, performing ibadah becomes easy; to the effect that, for instance, when one goes to bed unusually late, they will still be able to wake up to perform ‘fajr' prayers, on time. This is not because they are not sleepy, nor tired, it's rather because, they are granted light body, as a result of their dependence on Allah, s.w.t.

top

Conclusion

In conclusion, allow me share with you what Ibnu Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah said, with regards to the benefits of prayer, besides the fact that it's an obligatory ibadah:

“Prayer brings provision. It ensures one's health. It drives away any harm.  It expels illness. It strengthens the heart. It cleanses and brightens the face. It invites happiness to the soul. It drives away laziness. It refreshes the body. It inspires actions. It expands up the heart. It nourishes the soul. It illuminates the heart. It keeps and retains grace. It drives away curse. It brings blessings. It keeps away the devil. And it brings one close to Al-Rahman.”

So, when one finds time in this materialistically engaging world to consciously reflect and ask himself “Why do I find it difficult to pray?”, it's a clear indication that he (the person) is in the Good Hands of Allah.

Most importantly, remember; the higher one's iman, the easier prayer becomes to him. And, in order to recharge and get energetic, be punctual to establishing your prayer. This is the secret behind the saying of Rasulullah, s.a.w., when he used to say to Bilal, r.a., “Relief us with it, O Bilal!”

Insha Allah, in our next meeting, we will learn together how to focus and attain khusū' (submissiveness) in prayer. Until then, may Allah bless every single moment in our lives, and may He help us in remembering Him; in being grateful to Him; and in worshiping Him rightfully.

Allahu Hafiz 🙂

top