A Cry From the Dying Soul
By: Dr Aftab jan
Salah is the soul of a believer’s life. It is not just a ritual, but the connection between a weak, dependent servant and the All-Powerful, All-Merciful Creator. Yet, many of us go through phases where our heart feels heavy, our body reluctant, and our mind distracted when it comes to offering prayer.
We know its importance, we believe in it, yet our limbs resist. Sometimes we delay it, sometimes we rush through it, and sometimes we abandon it altogether. What is this condition? Why do we turn away from something that is meant to be our peace, our strength, and our lifeline to Allah?
The Qur’an explains that it is not the eyes that go blind, but the hearts. When sins accumulate, they form layers over the heart, making it hard and unreceptive. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that when a person sins, a black spot appears on the heart, and as sins increase without repentance, the heart becomes sealed. This hardness makes Salah feel like a burden, not a relief.
The sweetness is gone, not because Allah turned away, but because we drifted away slowly. Our connection to the world becomes stronger than our connection to the One who created the world. We scroll through hours on our phones, but can’t spare five minutes for the One who gives us life.
We chase the approval of people who don’t even care about us, but forget the One who provides for us without measure. Slowly, without realizing, we lose our spiritual pulse. Allah warns in the Qur’an: “So woe to those who pray but are heedless of their prayer.” (Surah Ma’un). This is a scary verse—not for those who don’t pray at all, but for those who pray mindlessly, lazily, without sincerity or care. Our Salah should be our meeting with the Lord of the worlds, not a hurried chore squeezed between worldly tasks.
Sometimes the detachment from prayer is not due to arrogance or sin, but due to emotional fatigue, loss, or spiritual confusion. Life hits hard—loss of a loved one, heartbreak, failure, or loneliness—and the person begins to ask silently, “Where is Allah?” The pain numbs them and they slowly distance themselves from Salah. But the truth is, these moments are exactly when we need to hold on to prayer more.
The Prophet ﷺ, even during the Year of Sorrow, when he lost his beloved wife Khadijah (RA) and his uncle Abu Talib, never let go of Salah. He called it “the coolness of my eyes.” It was his place of peace, even when the world was burning around him. The solution is not to run away from prayer during sadness, but to fall into it. Cry if you must. Be silent in sujood if words fail you. But don’t give it up. Because Salah is not just for praise, it is for healing. It is not only a duty, it is a refuge.
Another reason people drift away is distraction. This world is full of temptations. Allah says in Surah Munafiqun: “Let not your wealth and your children distract you from the remembrance of Allah.” And today, distractions are worse than ever—social media, fame, trends, entertainment, endless scrolling and comparison. These things don’t just steal our time, they steal our heart’s focus.
The heart that is always entertained forgets how to feel in Salah. The mind that is always stimulated forgets how to reflect in sujood. The solution is to detox the soul. We must clean the heart with istighfar (seeking forgiveness), limit unnecessary entertainment, and sit in quiet places to reflect. Prayer needs space to bloom. A noisy, restless life leaves no room for it.
Salah is not just a religious act—it is a command. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, the rest of his deeds will be sound.” (Tirmidhi). Imagine standing in front of Allah, with a life full of charity, good deeds, kindness—but your prayer was neglected. What will be the worth of everything else? Without Salah, Islam becomes hollow. It is the wall between belief and disbelief. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Between a man and shirk and kufr is the abandonment of Salah.” (Muslim). It is serious. We must not take it lightly. If we are failing, we must stand up again. Allah does not tire of forgiving. He loves when His servants return. He is more Merciful than a mother to her child. Even if you have missed years of Salah, start today. One sincere raka’ah with tears and humility is better than a lifetime of empty ritual.
If you feel far from prayer, make the du’a the Prophet ﷺ made: “O Turner of hearts, keep my heart firm on Your religion.” If he, the Messenger of Allah, made this du’a regularly, then how much more do we need it? Sometimes we try to pray, but it feels cold. That’s okay. Keep praying.
Even when you don’t feel it, pray. Even when you’re tired, pray. Even if it’s imperfect, pray. Because Salah is not about perfection, it’s about connection. It’s not a performance, it’s a conversation. And Allah loves to hear your voice. The Prophet ﷺ said that when a believer stands in Salah, Allah turns to him and listens. What an honour. Would you miss an appointment with a king? Then how can we be lazy about the appointment with the King of Kings?
Many people say, “I’ll start praying when I feel ready.” But that day may never come. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. Death doesn’t send warnings. And when it comes, the very Salah we delayed may be the thing we regret most. On that day, when our body is washed and wrapped, the prayer we missed will cry out, and the sujood we skipped will stand as a witness. Don’t wait for calamity to remember Salah. Make it your strength before weakness comes. Make it your habit before sickness steals your time. Make it your light before the grave surrounds you in darkness.
This world is temporary. Everyone leaves. Beauty fades, fame dies, money goes. There will come a time when even your own shadow will not stay. Zindagi ka koi bharosa nahi. You will one day find yourself alone—no friends, no family, no support. And on that day, only your prayer will be your companion.
You will cry out for those missed sujoods, for those delayed prayers, for those times you were scrolling instead of bowing. Don’t let that regret come too late. Even now, no matter how far you’ve gone, you can return. Allah says: “Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah.” (Surah Zumar). This is not just a verse—it is a promise. No sin is too big. No past is too ugly. Just begin again.
Make wudhu. Stand. Even if you feel empty, just stand. Even if it’s not perfect, Allah will accept it. Even if all you say is “Ya Allah,” let it come from the heart. Salah is not only for the religious. It is for the sinner trying to be better, for the broken seeking healing, for the lost looking for home. Salah is where life begins again. And remember: no one ever regretted praying—but many will regret not praying when it’s too late.
