#praying tips

I'm not sure of any other Muslims who needs to hear (or read) this atm but I sure wish I myself had realized/understood/found out about these sooner...

If you have problems with praying full five times a day and staying punctual (praying as soon as possible after the adzan), here's my advice:

You shouldn't force yourself to immediately try to pray five times a day if you've never been able to do that properly in the past. Instead, try to aim small first. For example, pray for the times that you have least difficulty of performing and perhaps set up to maintain istiqomah for at least a week. After you've succeeded with that goal, you increase it to become four times a day and until you succeed with that, you increase it to five times a day. During this period, you have to focus on performing the prayers only and not too critical of yourself about punctuality. If you missed, then try qada'. If not,reset the progress.

Next, once you have succeeded to pray five times a day and not skipping any (or if you missed any you managed to qada'), or that you've never had problem with it, set another goal which is to be punctual. As soon as you hear the azan for example, you head straight to get your wudhu'/ablution and prepare to pray (be it at the mosque for jemaah or at home). If you can't do that, then perhaps you can select a specific time span for you to immediately get up from whatever you're doing to pray. An example of that would be, if the time of Isyak azan is delivered at 8.15pm, then you set the time for you to drop everything at 8.20-8.25pm. Personally, I find this very effective to help with making me feel more practised and disciplined of performing my prayers early on and not too late anymore.

Lastly, if you keep on failing to better your solat, then you need to start identifying the factors. In other words, you have to find ways to accommodate yourself better. See if it's the environment that's making you feel reluctant or hesitant. Or perhaps it is the clothes you wear for prayers that needs a change or adjustment. Or could it be the praying may itself? The texture or the ground feels too hard? There are soft and fluffy praying mats available out there. Oh, perhaps you prefer to pray alone and feel very, odd, when others know that you're praying? Or you feel anxious with the presence of others? For Muslimin, I'd suggest making friends/finding a friend/someone in your usual jemaah that is comfortable to be with to ease it. At least there's some sort of assurance, yknow? For Muslimah, if you pray alone, find a place where you can have privacy for at least four to six minutes.

(If it's hard, or your home situation is difficult, then I have not much advice on that -- if you ask, please DM because I think what I do have to say is not suited for public sharing like this)

All in all, these are the three points that I made above simplified:

Small steps, don't jump (force) yourself to immediately perfect the five obligatory prayers.

After succeeding in not skipping any prayers, focus on improving punctuality -- set a time span for yourself from the time of azan.

Keep improving your prayer in ways you can. Accommodate yourself to what you can.

Solat/Performing prayers is obligatory and I understand the guilt from not being able to perform them as perfect/complete as others around us do (and they do it so easily too -- how?) but remember, Allah is Merciful and ever so understanding.

He knows if there's guilt in you. He knows if you want to keep on trying, or that you feel hopeless over yourself.

We perhaps even believe that He is angry at us for not being able to do it.

But no. Actually no. As I have said, He is Merciful and understanding. He loves us. He Knows that deep down we try to try. What matters is that we keep on trying to better ourselves. Just like how it is best if we can achieve khusyu' in our prayers, it is acceptable when one keeps on trying to redirect their thoughts and hearts to the ibadah. It's okay if you got distracted for a few moments, but if you pull yourself back in and you do that consistently every time, Allah sees your effort. We may fall, but remember, the more we try the more Allah sees our efforts to better ourselves. Maybe we think that we fall or fail because He is rejecting us, but no. Actually, try to consider your environment, your mental state, you spiritual state even -- perhaps there are things that needs resolution, like perhaps a debt to someone, owing an apologies to our parents or our friends/teachers, our heart still has so much resentment over something, it could be anything!

Don't blame yourself too much. And honestly, nothing much is to blame. It's okay if you've tried and tried but you still can't make it. Perhaps there are other chances in the future to better ourselves insyaAllah. That's why we need to remember to be grateful -- at the very least you can say is alhamdulillah. Once you get the next chances, try again and ask from Him.

This is also very important to remember: Ask, pray to Allah to help you. If you want to be specific, go ahead. If you're not sure, ask Him to give clarity. Just, ask. Our prayers are always heard of, just the matter of unresolved things I've mentioned above (the debt and apologies etc.). Even if you don't get it now, as I have also mentioned before, perhaps it is reserved for a better chance in a better future.

That is all from me. I apologize if anyone finds this offensive, feel free to point it out to me. Jazakumullahu khair to those who chose to read this till the end. I hope my words helped even in the slightest bi iznillah.

Wallahualam.

You're welcome! Thanks for the initial follow! Good question. On my altar in my room I have the following: cloth to go on the table with colors corresponding to the liturgical calendar, my St Michael stone, St Michael statue, St Michael chaplet, devotional candles (some of them blessed), an image of the Sacred Heart, St Joseph statue, Mary statue, a picture of Our Lady of the Rosary, a Crucifix in the center where I kiss the feet of Jesus, blessed salt, holy water, blessed oil, several Rosaries, and Bible. On the wall behind the altar I have several pictures, including the Immaculate Heart, Divine Mercy, Scourging at the Pillar, and another Crucifix. If you plan on kneeling in front, you can get a comfortable portable kneeler to use, or a pillow. This sounds like a lot but I have it organized so it is not cluttered and there is space on the table. I just used a cheap side table from Walmart.

These are all just examples. Here's a few tips to answer your question: pick the holiest and most special objects you have and try to fit them on there. If you have any special devotions try to include that in the altar. But don't have it too cluttered, as it may distract you from prayer if it is, basically start small and add more as you feel like it. Remember the whole point of the altar is to deepen your prayer life, and if something takes away from your prayer, replace it or take it off the altar. Keep something in the center to help deepen your devotion, such as a Crucifix like me, or put the Bible in the center. Also pictures are very helpful. And candles are a good way to signal prayer time has started, which can be helpful.

Despite how beautiful and amazing this prayer is, and the tremendous amount of graces you receive, it can be very difficult to devote time to saying the Rosary everyday, stay motivated, and get rid of distractions. The Rosary is a prayer that you need practice to say well, so don't get demotivated if it is difficult at first. Just remember to say the Rosary well is a skill.

Why is this? We live in a world where we constantly have stimulation, through TV, through being with other people, we constantly have our phones, and plenty other stimulating distractions from our inner life. The Rosary calls us to meditate on the mysteries of Our Lord Jesus and Our Holy Mother Mary. Meditation is a part of your inner life, you need to contemplate, and think to yourself. When we try this and are not used to it we start thinking about what we need to do, what we could be doing instead, and what we would rather be doing. This is a difficult mountain to cross, and unfortunately the only answer is practice. You need to practice Christian meditation, and it will be difficult at first, but soon it will be easy if you keep at it.

Another reason it's difficult to pray every day is that it is a long prayer. For some people it will take an hour, more experienced people it will take 30 minutes, either way it takes at least 15 minutes, which can be difficult when you have a busy and hectic life. Some suggestions for this problem are to give up a TV show you don't really need to watch, pray while you drive, pray while you work out, wake up earlier in the morning, stay up later, and have a set scheduled time everyday.

I also suggest carrying a Rosary with you everywhere, whether it's a set of beads or Rosary ring.

Another way to improve your meditation and ability to sit quietly for long periods of time is to read the Bible and other religious books.

Getting motivated can be tough. Just remind yourself of these things. Demons are terrified of the Rosary, they run in the other direction when you pray. Every Marian Apparition in the last 150 years has asked us to pray the Rosary. A large multitude of Saints have said that the Rosary is a weapon against evil, many have called it a sword. It keeps you close to the life of Jesus and Mary, and constantly keeps in your mind what needed to happen for our salvation. Remind yourself of the 15 promises of the Rosary.

Distractions make your prayer life more difficult, so you need to get rid of distractions as much as possible. If you are able to set aside time for yourself, devote a space in your home for prayer. If you are in your room close your door. Turn off all music and TV, put your phone on silent or turn it off and put it in a drawer or under something, get yourself comfortable or kneel to help you focus. Before you start your Rosary take a couple minutes to clear out distractions from your mind and focus on God.

In 2014 Jesus appeared to a Bishop Oliver Doeme and handed him a sword, when this bishop held the sword it turned into a Rosary. Our Lord Himself gave the Rosary as a weapon to this bishop in Nigeria to fight against the terrorist group that is plaguing their lands. That's how much Our Lord regards this weapon against evil, and how important it is to Him.

The weapon was originally given to us by Our Lady, to St Dominic, who was also battling an evil attacking our Church. The Rosary is so important to Our Lady.

My final suggestion if this doesn't work is to get a recording of the Rosary. Listen to it and say it to yourself if you absolutely have no other time to say it yourself. This is the only thing you can listen to and only if you need to. The Rosary is more personal and beautiful without it.