Our devotion to God must be more than superficial. “My inmost being” would suggest to me that our love for Him must sink so deep into our souls that it permeates our entire body, heart, and mind. Every part of us should be dedicated to fulfilling His purpose for our lives. Remembering His goodness to us will help us get closer to Him. Allah says:

كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ

“(This is) a Book We have revealed it to you, blessed, that they may ponder (over) its Verses and may be reminded those of understanding.” (Surah Sad 38:29)

Very few of us spend any significant amount of time remembering all that He has done for us. We are much more likely to be focused on what He hasn’t done for us. Our prayers are largely consumed by asking Him for more benefits. That’s okay if it has been balanced off with a lot of remembering and thanking Him for all He has done in our past. Let us try spending more time each day thanking Him for all He has done for us than we do voicing our requests. Allah says:

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

Say, “O Those who have transgressed against themselves, (do), not despair of (the) Mercy (of) Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives sins all. Indeed He, He (is) the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” (Surah Az-Zumar 39:53)

Quran is the 4^th and last sacred Holy Book of Almighty Allah. Quran is the Book of guidance for the whole of mankind. It was revealed on our beloved Prophet (SAW) who is the last Prophet of Allah Almighty. Allah says:

ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

“That (is) the book no doubt in it, a Guidance for the God-conscious.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:2)

Quran is the Divine book towards which Muslims turn when there is any problem because the Quran has the solution to every problem and it is a guide for every aspect of life. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِّمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

“O mankind! Verily has come to you instruction from your Lord, and a healing for what (is) in your breasts, and guidance and mercy for the believers.” (Surah Yunus 10:57)

Today we are going to look a little closer at the way we pray. We will try to understand the significance of the positions we assume and the order in which we assume them. Before we begin it is worth remembering that Islam is a religion that is more than a religion.

Things to Do to Get Yourself Closer to God:

1. Meet with God before anyone else
2. Get into God’s Word every day
3. Closer to the Quran and Islam
4. Deep relationships with Allah
5. Become More Forbearing
6. Maturity and Stability
7. Build a positive think
8. Experience Freedom
9. Accept healing
10. Do what you love
11. Change your posture
12. Get your eyes off of you
13. Pick a ‘theme verse’ for the year
14. Confess to God your brokenness
15. Make note of what He’s given you
16. Keep away from Satan’s temptations
17. Record your blessings and answered prayers

It is a way of life. While for many, religion is something practised every week, for Muslims, it is a way of life that flows into every aspect of their being. Islam is concerned with healthy believers; healthy in mind, body, and spirituality.

Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:

• “Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours.” (Quran 4:103)
• “Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds.” (Surah Al-Fatiha, 1)
• “This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 2)
• “Those who break Allah.s Covenant after it is ratified, and who sunder what Allah Has ordered to be joined, and do mischief on earth: These cause loss (only) to themselves.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 27)
• “Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness. So they could not see.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 17)
• “Strike the (body) with a piece of the (heifer).” Thus Allah bringeth the dead to life and showeth you His Signs: Perchance ye may understand.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 73)
• “In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease: And grievous is the penalty they (incur), because they are false (to themselves).” (Surah Al-Baqara, 10)
• “Beseech on our behalf Thy Lord to make plain to us what she is: To us are all heifers alike: We wish indeed for guidance if Allah wills.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 70)
• “Remember ye slew a man and fell into a dispute among yourselves as to the crime: But Allah was to bring forth what ye did hide.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 72)
• “But ye turned back thereafter: Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of Allah to you, ye had surely been among the lost.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 64)
• “So We made it an example to their own time and their posterity, and a lesson to those who fear Allah.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 66)
• “Fain would they deceive Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves, and realize (it) not! (Surah Al-Baqara, 9)
• “And, We have certainly presented for the people in this Qur’an from every [kind of] example – that they might remember.” (Quran, 39: 27)
• “Of the people, there are some who say: “We believe in Allah and the Last Day;” but they do not (really) believe. (Surah Al-Baqara, 8)

The benefits are spiritual, emotional and physical. And the most important is establishing a connection to our Lord, the Most Merciful. Prayer is our way of connecting with and maintaining a connection with God. Allah says:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

“And not I have created the jinn and mankind except that they worship Me.” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:56 )

Praying at fixed times serve as a reminder of why we are here and helps to direct a person’s thoughts and actions away from sin and onto the remembrance of God. Allah says:

كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَاتًا فَأَحْيَاكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

“How (can) you disbelieve in Allah? While you were dead then He gave you life; then He will cause you to die, then He will give you life, then to Him you will be returned.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:28)

Keep a “blessing book” in which you record every blessing that comes your way throughout the year, adding a prayer of thanks or praise. Also, write out your prayer requests and record the answers as they come. By writing out these types of things, you will not only be more keenly aware of how God is working in and around your life, but you will become a person who can “give thanks in all. Allah says:

قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ فَلَمَّا أَنبَأَهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ

He said, “O Adam! Inform them of their names.” And when he had informed them of their names, He said, “Did not I say to you, Indeed, I [I] know (the) unseen (of) the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you [were] conceal.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:33)

It is logical to think that the One who created us also gave us the means with which to keep ourselves healthy and strong both in belief and physical attributes related to the mind and body. Daily recitation of the Quran brings reward from Allah; it can also bring other benefits in the form of the cleansing of the heart, a chance of communication with Allah and thus becoming a better Muslim every day. The Holy Quran is a highly admired Book of Allah (SWT) that requires proper understanding.