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Stay Connected
A POCKET GUIDE OF PRAYERS FOR MUSLIMS
ABEER ARAIN
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8 Stay Connected
were on the banks of flowing river."7
Performing wudu' by following the Sunnah of our Prophet prepares the mind for an act that requires complete focus. Starting with Bismillah, one must say the following du'a' while washing hands during wuḍū'.
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ المُتَطَهِّرِينَ
Allahumma ijalni mina al-tawwabina waj'alni mina al-mutaṭahhirin
O Allah, make me of those who repent and purify themselves.
After wudu', step out of the bathroom with your right foot and say:
غُفْرَانَک
Ghufranak
I ask You (Allah) for forgiveness.
7. Sunan Ibn Majah 425.
8. Sunan Abu Dawud 30.
After wudu', recite:
Waking up in the morning
أشهدُ أنْ لَّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَہ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُه وَرَسُوْلُه
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allahu wahdahu la sharika lahu wa-ashhadu anna Muḥammadan 'abduhu wa-rasuluh
I testify that there is no god but (Allah), who is One and without any partner. I testify that Muhammad is Allah's servant and messenger.9
Praying Tahajjud
Our Prophet prayed the pre-dawn prayer, Tahajjud, every single night, however, Allah has not made it compulsory for us. Neverthe- less, Prophet insisted his Companions on it because no other prayer brings a person closer to Allah like Tahajjud. An hour or two before Fajr (in the last third of the night) when everyone is asleep, Allah comes to the lowest Heaven and
9. Jami' al-Tirmidhi 55.
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and following of the Sunnah, the nourishment of every part gets compromised. Life becomes ungratifying and the person may feel restless when the connection with Allah is weak.
From the early years, a Muslim child is taught various supplications and Qur'anic verses. Young children are introduced to Ramadan, and we celebrate their achievements such as the mem- orization of a Surah or the completion of the Qur'an recitation. As we grow up and get busy with education and careers, we unfortunately, lose the vital connection that was built during those early years of life. Our youth is spent busy with studies and establishing a promising career. Marital life and offspring bring other challenges. As a result, mindfulness of the presence of Allah and the thoughts of the Afterlife may fade.
In today's society, we are surrounded by a never- ending competition for acquiring wealth and fame. Allah has allowed us to earn money and travel the world but, when thoughts revolve around this worldly life, the focus on the Akh- irah gets blurred. If not careful, one may easily
Introduction
fall into the trap of ghaflah (heedlessness) and lose the important attribute of taqwa (conscious- ness of Allah). It is narrated by Sayyidah 'A'ishah
that the Prophetused to remember Allah in all of his affairs.'
How do we remember Allah in all our affairs when we are surrounded by distractions at every step? The answer is simple. The best way to improve our connection with Allah and increase our level of taqwa is by adopting the supplications made by the Prophet in our daily tasks. From waking up and going to the bathroom to traveling and eating, our Prophet
taught us beautiful prayers to keep us con- nected to our Lord that can be easily adopted in the daily schedule.
The compass of the heart can be rerouted back towards Allah anytime we want. All it takes is a conscious effort and some habit-building that gets incorporated into one's personality and life- style. Ultimately, what a beautiful life it would
1. Jami' al-Tirmidhi 3384.
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Our existence in this world is like that of a tree. The trunk is the main body that symbolizes our connection with our Creator, and the scattered branches are the life issues that revolve around us. If the trunk suffers from an imbalance, the entire tree feels the effect. The same goes for our connection with Allah. If not careful, one may easily fall into the trap of ghaflah and lose the important attribute of taqwa, the consciousness of Allah. The best way to improve our connection is by adopting the supplications of the Prophet in our daily tasks.
Stay Connected: A pocket guide of Prayers for Muslims is a short guidebook on how to reroute the compass of their heart towards Allah in a busy day. May it motivate the reader to take a step towards improving their connection with Allah and gain His pleasure.
Abeer Arain, MD, MPH is a physician, writer, and an avid gardener. She writes about nature and Islam, self-care and anything that could become a source of Sadaqa Jariyah for her.
