How to Keep Discipline in Worship

Every morning before Fajr (dawn), Abdullah would get up and run to the Mosque to perform the prayer. For Maghrib (sunset) and ‘Ishaa’ (evening) prayers, he would return to the Mosque. He regularly read the Qur’an. He spent his free time reading various Islamic texts. He devoted much of his leisure time to his family and took his position as the household’s spiritual leader very seriously.

Five years later, he discovered that he would frequently go days—and even weeks—without saying a single prayer. Because of his new employment, he no longer participates in the mosque’s congregational prayer. His new position required him to interact closely with individuals from dubious backgrounds in nightclub settings. 

As a result, he developed a strong sense of secrecy about many of his professional endeavors. He even refrained from discussing them with his wife since he was certain she would disapprove. He worked all night and all weekend, never stopping. He started working alongside several of his new acquaintances and spending a lot of his leisure time with them. He spent less time with his family as a result of this. He couldn’t work at night, so he had to sleep during the day.

His wife observed a significant shift in his behavior. They talked extensively about his job, how it affected him, and how it related to his connection with Allah, the Almighty. He agreed and said he would start looking for new employment, but he ultimately decided to stay in his existing position. He soon realized how far apart from his wife and kids he felt. Even though he started with a lot of money, it was now barely enough to cover the bills.

He could feel the years of neglect causing his marriage to fall apart. He discovered himself giving in to depression over his situation and lacking the drive to start the actions he knew he would need to do in order for his life to improve.

It is noteworthy that ‘Abdullah’s life appeared to be considerably more tranquil and well-balanced when he was performing his regular religious responsibilities, and that he started to suffer significantly when he stopped doing them.

Could this be an accident? The scholar from North Carolina in the United States, Imam Muhammad Baianouni, aptly summarizes these circumstances by saying: “The regulation of a man’s behaviour within one system of life is one of the most essential grounds of success and stability. A guy’s biggest problem is the need for this regulation. This occurs when a person needs to be raised appropriately in accordance with the divine direction or when they are not given guidance from Allah, The Most High. Man’s existence becomes unpleasant under these conditions and will be counted among the losers in the Hereafter.