How To Get Into The Habit Of Praying In Islam

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ وَذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّىٰ

Surat Al-A’la 87:14-15: He has succeeded who purifies himself, who remembers the name of his Lord and prays.

How to get into the habit of praying in Islam?

I can admit.. I'm guilty. ✋🏼

I hate it. But it's true. And it's my reality. And I'm positive their are many out there in my shoes. But what is it that we can do to correct that? What can we do as individuals and Muslim's to correct our behaviour?

It all starts with a simple change. A decision even, to make that change.

You can say we'd like to achieve many things in life. But what do you end up achieving without actually trying? What does it take for you to physically get up and act on the words you say you want to do? This is an issue much larger than just you and I. Society as a whole tends to struggle with this concept. That's why so many people have different perspectives and outlooks on life. You're either part of the group who does, or part of the group who says.

Who do you want to be?

To clarify, as Muslims, it is obligatory to pray 5 times a day. Regardless of work, responsibility, duties, whatever it may be. Prayer comes first. And I say this to myself before anyone. Because who are we without prayer? What do we have without our religion? You can say your successful. But are you really if Islam isn't embedded through every atomic habit in your day?

Your thought process in itself should be centred around Islam. And the one thing asides from shahada that differentiates us from any other religion, is prayer. 

So ask yourself again, am I praying my 5 daily prayers? If the answer is no, you may want to continue reading to develop habits that will encourage and motivate you to stay disciplined with prayer.

2. Set Your intention

Once you understand the importance of prayer, you need to set the intention because if you don't have the 'niyeh' (intention) to want to do something, it usually fails. A great book to read for further insight on this is 'Intention: The Surprising Psychology of High Performers'. Another amazing book with an Islamic guidance, 'The Barakah Effect: More with Less', is also a must read!

You may notice this in yourself when you say you want to do something but it was never intentional for you to do. You kind of just brush it off. And it usually never happens. If it does, it somehow goes wrong. Whereas when you have the niyeh to do something, you manage to achieve it. Regardless of the consequences.

By starting with the intention to want to pray, you already have it situated tightly in your heart. So no matter what you do or where you are, your heart constantly beats "I want to pray, I want to pray". Myself as an example, I have the intention to want to pray consistently and on time. I'm not terrible with praying, but I do tend to miss a prayer here or there because 'life get's in the way'. Not an excuse 🙅🏼‍♀️. 

Therefore, I've intended whole heartedly to pray on time and not miss my prayers. No matter where I am or what I'm doing. By putting Allah (swt) first, you're putting your future first. You're practically setting yourself up for success. And if you're trying to achieve something in your life, no matter what it is. Believe you me, if you put prayer before any of it, you will start to find success. Putting Allah (swt) first is where the success is. Because without Allah, what do you have?

3. Building habits

What does it mean to build a habit? If you'd like further knowledge and information about this, I highly recommend you read the book, Atomic Habits. To build a habit is to do something small but consistently until it becomes automatic. It becomes your 'norm' if you will. 

I'll give you an example. Say you intentionally wanted to start eating better. So every time you would have a meal, you would process in your mind "ok, we're eating better so I'm going to buy healthier ingredients". Or if you go out to eat, you would opt for a healthier alternative. These small decisions are you actively making the decision to eat better. Now say you do this consistently over time, eventually it'll become your norm. You won't have to. process in your mind that you want to eat better. You automatically will do it because it's become your lifestyle. 

Now let's bring this back to praying in Islam. 

You've already set the intention to want to pray all 5 daily prayers and do them on time. If your intention is there, it's already sitting in your mind. So no matter what you do, where you are or who you're with, your mind will be setup almost like an alarm telling you to pray. By reacting on that trigger, and actually DOING something about it will enter you into the zone of building a habit. To brush off these feelings and thoughts, you're back to square one and may need to work harder on your intentions.

4. how To Build These Habits

How can I build habits to praying in Islam?

There are a list of things one can do to build habits. Again, I would suggest referring to the book mentioned above for in depth knowledge. However, a few simple things you can do:

• Setting an alarm: By setting an alarm for every prayer, you will be constantly reminded of the times you need to pray. It's very easy to forget, especially living in a very hasty environment. However, with our phones in our hands and built in alarms, it makes it so much easier.
• Download a Prayer app: With so many on the market, you literally have access to prayer times right at your finger tips. I personally love using QuranMajeed because you can use the prayer times as a widget on your lock screen. and it's for free. The app also includes access to reading quran, Qibla direction, tasbeeh and more. Good thing about these apps is you can also activate every prayer time to be called even while you aren't using your phone.  
• Tell someone close to you: By telling your husband, mum, sister, brother, friend, or anyone you see daily to remind you of these prayers is also another way for you to be constantly reminded. Try and approach someone who does pray every prayer without fail. That way neither of you can forget. However, telling someone on the same level as you may be a form of motivation for the both of you.
• Set up a prayer station: By setting up a small area in your home just for prayer can easily motivate you to get up and pray. With your prayer clothes and prayer mat always ready, you have no excuse but to get up and pray.

EXAMPLE
That 'alarm' (as mentioned in above text) goes off in your head telling you you need to pray, but you're out at the shops. What can one do to actually act upon this thought? 

I am not telling you stop then and there and pray in public. No. But you may want to make your way to the bathroom and make wudu if necessary. That's the first step to making the intention to want to pray and actually doing something about it. Next would be to approach a prayer room (if available) or in this case, a changing room. Changing rooms are usually provided in almost all clothing stores making it easier for you to access and complete your obligatory prayer.

This is you fulfilling your intentions and building small habits. By acting upon what your mind tells you, is one step closer to achieving your goals and making them 'normal'. Eventually and over time, you would be praying all 5 prayers no matter the circumstances.

5. Discipline and Consistency

Now that you've set the intention to pray your 5 daily prayers, you're responding to your thought process and building habits, you need to be steadfast on your decisions.

Let's clarify.

You've been doing well with praying your 5 daily prayers. Every day may be challenging because you work or have plans or maybe you aren't home. But through each and everyday you persisted to pray. All of a sudden, you're packing for that trip you've been patiently waiting for and although we're given the privilege to pray 'jame3', you get caught up and forget to pray again.

What happens now?

You've been on such a good streak, you've not missed a single prayer since you made the intention and acted upon it. All of a sudden, 'whoop, life got in the way'. You forget to pray on your trip and feel terrible. You tell yourself it's ok, let's try again tomorrow.

❌

Wrong. You need to try again now.  

But first you need to say istighfar. This is because the shaytaan can get in our minds and tell us things are 'ok', even if they aren't. The shaytaan also tries to lead us astray from being close to Allah (swt). Therefore, you need to do istighfar, seek forgiveness and then correct your intention. Then make wudu and pray your due prayer.

By remaining steadfast with your intentions, making the choice to get up every single time no matter how busy you are and pray is being true to yourself. Proving to yourself that you can do anything, so long as you put in the effort. It's also proving that you care to put Islam first. To put Allah (swt) first. 

Praying in Islam...

Ultimately, praying in Islam is an obligatory act and should be the centre of our day to day life. What's the purpose in anything we do if we aren't taking the time out of our day to remember Allah (swt)?

Is He not who will make your dreams come true? Is He not who will help you achieve your goals?

Allah (The Almighty) is the creator of all worlds. He is the most powerful and most Just. Don't you think with His blessing, you will be blessed in your life?

Why deny that with prayer?

Remind yourself of the sole purpose you have been put on earth. We are not here for mere entertainment. Every single being in this life and this world is here purely as a servant to Allah (swt). Our ultimate goal as an Ummah should be to please Allah (swt). To make Him proud in every way that Islam offers.

A great article talking about the purpose of prayer in Islam eloquently elaborates on why prayer is so important and the beauty that comes with it. It's a short but very insightful read.