Prayer | a beautiful secret conversation
In the name of Allah The Most Merciful The Most Gracious:
You might be asking what is the secret between The Most Merciful and me? Well, the short answer is your prayer.
Ask yourself do you share your secrets with just about everyone? No right. You share it with only a certain few that you trust. We know that a secret is something that is hidden between two parties that trust one another. Where it’s always hidden behind a barrier locked and packed away. So if that is so then how is the prayer a secret? Well because it’s the place where you tell The Most Merciful your deepest concerns.
Take some time to reflect upon who you are as a person and the things that you say in your duas to Allah SWT. Does anyone know of it other than Him? That trust is between you and The Most Merciful, and excellent is that trust. Have you ever had those moments where you sit on the prayer mat and cry your heart out to Allah SWT? The tears run through your eyes but you just can’t seem to stop them because your heart is overwhelmed with the trials of this world.
You cry to your Lord and ask him to invoke his blessings upon you and guide you throughout your journey. The best part of this moment is that your Lord hears your call and responds to you. He sees your tears and understands your pain. He knows what you’re going through, and is your comfort when no one else seems to stand by you. He cares for you and loves you for who you are. He understands your cries and knows that you’re not perfect.
He loves to just listen to you and cherishes your words. He mentions you in front of his assemblies if you mention him in front of yours. As he says in his glorious book.
“So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me” (2:152).
He remembers you!
Allah SWT doesn’t just remember you individually but He also remembers you in a gathering that is likewise as well! Imagine this: Have you ever had that moment when you were with a friend and enjoyed their company? Or a special family gathering where it felt like the hours passed by as if time didn’t even exist. These moments are precious in life for us because this is our way of finding peace in the moment. Where we aren’t so focused on the things that are going wrong and are more aware of the loved ones around us. We enjoy these moments and sometimes even wish for them to last longer or never end.
Oftentimes we wonder if we can enjoy the company of our friends to the max then how would it be to be in the company of our Creator? A beautiful example of this is when
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:“People will not sit in an assembly in which they remember Allah ﷻ without the angels surrounding them, mercy covering them, and Allah ﷻ Mentioning them among those who are with Him” — narrated by Abu Hurairah, Sahih Muslim
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah has divided mercy into one hundred parts, and He retained with Him ninety-nine parts and sent down to earth one part. Through this one part creatures deal with one another with compassion, so much so that an animal lifts its hoof over its young lest it should hurt it”. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Keep Asking!
Your creator values you in ways where you wouldn’t have been able to value yourself. He watches your back while you face your fears in life. He cares for you endlessly and truly loves to hear what you have to say. He rushes to the first heaven at night just to hear your words, and to give you his bounty. He knows you better than you know him and understands that too. He says only one thing, and that is “Ask”.
As Prophet Muhammad PBUH said, “Verily your Lord is Generous and Shy. If His servant raises his hands to Him (in supplication) He becomes shy to return them empty.” (Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi).
The Most Merciful values your prayers and duas, as long as your intention is sincere. We know in life we get those moments as if we don’t feel worthy of making duas. Where we feel like we are not the best Muslims, and therefore we don’t mean what we say during our duas because it’s almost as if it is a completion ritual. Face it if you don’t feel mindful during your prayers does that mean you shouldn’t pray?
If your having a hard time connecting to the prayers does that mean you’re not worthy of asking in the first place? From time to time don’t you feel guilty if you notice that you’re slacking on your prayers and if you do why do you think that is? We understand that because at times we all feel that in life, where we get this really bad feeling within us that says that we should do better.
However, you have this inner spiritual flame that can shine its way through the challenge if Allah SWT will so don’t belittle it. Just try your best! Don’t destroy the warrior from within before starting the battle. Tell yourself ”If I see myself surrounded by my sins I will not let that stop me from talking to my creator!” He understands you better than you understand yourself. He knows what is within you and you don’t know what is within him.
We know this because as we continue in the world we will fall into traps that make us feel as if we aren’t worthy of receiving Allah’s mercy. Remember, Allah SWT will never forsake you as long as you ask. Shaitan has given up hope in the Most Merciful and isn’t an excellent companion for us. He rather hopes to see us fall because this is what makes him happy. If he lost hope in the Especially Merciful then that doesn’t mean we fall into his trap and become his walking puppet.
We have to understand that Allah SWT has given us breath, and as long as there is breath there is also repentance. Shaitan will lose in the end and he wants to take as many people as he can with him, so try your best to fight him. Give it your best fight, and don’t give up. You have the legions of the Most Merciful who can aid you even if you face an army alone! Excellent is Allah SWT as your protector, and he will not forsake you.
We advise you as sincere advisors, to dig down deep, go to the prayer mat and just let your tears fall. Allah SWT has oceans of water but loves the drops of your tears. If you’re having a hard time being sincere to Allah SWT, then start by admitting your wrongdoings to yourself, and then call upon Al-Ghaffar for forgiveness.
My brothers and sisters, please don’t ever underestimate your prayers and duas, your Lord responds and hears your calls. He works in a way that you don’t understand, and he gives you that which would benefit you in this world and the next. Keep striving for his cause and if you feel defeated remember victory comes from Allah. In shaa Allah if He wills then you will keep winning so in the meantime keep your head up and keep going.
Allah SWT knows best from here.