17th Jumada-II 1446H |
Assalamu'alaikum, |
You've probably heard of slow cooking, slow traveling, maybe even slow living... but have you heard of slow praying, or what I like to call "Slow Salah"? |
Before we dive into this concept, let's explore why more and more people are embracing slow living in today's world. |
We can all feel that something is 'off' with our modern lifestyle. Life is accelerating at an unbearable pace, especially for those of us in the sandwich generation – juggling young kids, elder parents, and the prime of our career or business. We're trying to manage so many things at an ever-increasing speed that it simply doesn't feel humanly possible anymore. |
The purpose of the slow movement is simple yet profound: to bring our ever-accelerating lives back to a human pace. But here's the challenge: for many of us, we're so used to rushing from one thing to the next that the idea of a slow, mindful life feels uncomfortably slow. It's like when you watch a YouTube video or listen to an audiobook at 2x speed, and then try to watch or listen at the normal 1x speed – suddenly, it feels painfully slow! |
"I have to speed up" |
You might ask: "Why should I slow down? I can keep up with this fast pace. I have so many things to do. I have no option but to speed up." |
I understand this resistance – I've been there too. But let's explore this deeply. |
Yes, you might be able to keep up with the pace now, but you're likely speeding towards an inevitable burnout. Burnout isn't just feeling tired – it manifests as emotional exhaustion, cynicism, reduced productivity, or simply "not caring about anything anymore." |
Think of it this way: a sprinter can run fast but only for a short distance. A marathoner, however, can keep going for long distances. The difference? Pacing. Elite marathoners actually train to slow down their natural pace to maintain endurance. They understand something crucial: long-term achievement requires strategic slowness. |
Be the smart marathoner in your life. Figure out a 'slow' but sustainable pace that balances different areas of your life: relationships, work, health, and spirituality. The Harvard Business Review calls this "sustainable performance" – the ability to maintain high performance over the long term without burning out. |
And yes, this might mean disappointing some people or taking longer to complete certain tasks. However, in the long run, you'll likely achieve all you set out to accomplish, but at a much healthier (and more human) pace. |
#SlowSalah: Antidote to Fast Living |
One of the first ways to help you slow down your life is to practice what I call "Slow Salah." This isn't just another productivity hack or wellness trend – it's a return to how prayer was meant to be experienced. |
Alhamdulillah, we are blessed as Muslims to have the five daily prayers that help us pause in the middle of our busy lives and turn to our Creator. But sadly, many of us rush through them trying to catch up with life. |
The irony is that we rush through our meeting with our Creator, Who has control over everything in our lives, to hurry towards meetings with people or tasks that only Allah can facilitate in the first place! |
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ spoke directly about this issue. In a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah, the Prophet ﷺ noticed a man praying in a hurried manner. He said to him, "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." This happened three times, until the man said, "Teach me, O Messenger of Allah." The Prophet ﷺ then explained, "When you stand for prayer, perform wudu properly, then face the qibla and say takbir. Then recite what you can from the Quran, then bow until you feel at ease in ruku', then rise until you are standing straight, then prostrate until you feel at ease in prostration..." (Bukhari) |
The Importance of #SlowSalah |
Slow Salah is more than just praying slowly – it's a deliberate antidote to our fast-paced life and the essential infusion of Barakah that we need in our daily life to achieve more with less. |
This isn't a luxury – it's a necessity. We're fighting our lower selves and Shaytaan's whispers that push us to ignore what truly matters. |
And the stakes are high! We don't want to reach the end of our lives only to realize that most (if not all) of our prayers weren't accepted because we rushed through them, treating them as items to check off our to-do list rather than precious moments of connection with Allah. After all, the first thing we'll be questioned about on the Day of Judgement is our Salah. Not how much work we got done in the short life span we have. |
How to Practice #SlowSalah |
1. Schedule Ample Prayer Time |
Don't squeeze prayer into 10-20 minute slots. Schedule 30-45 minutes at least. You might think that's excessive when you have 'more important' things to do – but pause and reflect on that thought. Do you have anything more important than meeting your Creator? |
2. #DropTheHammer |
I wrote a newsletter once called #DropTheHammer - the concept comes from the inspiring story of a blacksmith who, upon hearing the adhan while lifting his hammer, immediately dropped it to answer the call to prayer. Make this your modern practice. When you hear the adhan, pause that email, step out of that meeting, save that document – whatever you're doing can wait. The Prophet ﷺ said, "When the call to prayer is made, do not come to it running, but come to it walking and with calmness" (Bukhari). Notice the emphasis on calmness – even our journey to prayer shouldn't be rushed. |
3. Create a Distraction-Free Prayer Zone |
Leave your watch and phone behind. Studies show that merely having your phone in view reduces your cognitive capacity, even when it's turned off! Moreover, last week, I wrote about the "Tyranny of the Mechanical Clock" and how the constant awareness of time passing can create "time pressure," leading to anxiety and rushed behavior. Immerse yourself in Allah's Time without the constraints and constant ticking of the mechanical clock. If you must bring your watch/phone, keep it in your bag or car until you're done. |
4. Master Mindful Wudu |
A Slow Salah begins with mindful wudu. Try this: use a small water bottle for your entire wudu. This practice, common among our predecessors, naturally makes you more conscious of each drop of water. The Prophet ﷺ used approximately one mudd (about 0.5-0.7 liters) of water for wudu, showing us that thoroughness doesn't require excess. As you perform wudu, recall the hadith about how sins are washed away with each body part. |
5. Perfect Your Prayer Movement |
The Prophet ﷺ was meticulous about prayer movements, saying, "Pray as you have seen me praying" (Bukhari). Here's a practical breakdown: |
In ruku' (bowing), wait until each joint settles In sujood (prostration), ensure your forehead, nose, and palms are firmly placed Between movements, pause until your body is completely still Recite at a calm, rhythmic pace
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6. Resist the urge to rush! |
Every time you feel the urge to rush, acknowledge it and ignore it – this is your nafs (lower self) and Shaytaan speaking. Instead of giving in, use this as a trigger to slow down even further. Take a deep breath and remember: this moment of connection with Allah is more precious than anything I need to rush to. |
7. Don't rush off after Salah |
Don't jump up after saying salam. The Prophet ﷺ would remain seated for dhikr after prayers. You need a transition period between your deep/spiritual Salah and the worldly life – this time allows your prayer experience to settle in your heart before you rejoin dunya again fully. Use this time for: |
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The Reality Check: Making Slow Salah Work in a Fast World |
I understand – the tips I've shared may seem idealistic. There will be times when you genuinely need to pray quickly. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself would sometimes 'lighten' a prayer when he heard a baby crying, showing his mercy for the mother's heart. But notice the language used: "lighten" the prayer versus "rushing through" prayer. One approach maintains the essence and focus of salah while being brief; the other sacrifices the prayer's spirit in a hurried dash to the next task. |
The key is making rushed prayers the exception, not the rule. |
If this is too much, start practicing #SlowSalah with one prayer a day, perhaps with Fajr or Isha, when time pressures are lower. Then, gradually expand your slow salah practice to all your prayers. |
The ultimate question isn't whether we have time for Slow Salah – it's whether we can afford the spiritual cost of rushed prayers. In a world that's constantly pushing us to go faster, our salah can become our daily reminder to return to a more natural, human rhythm that will actually benefit us in this life and the Akhira. |
I pray that Allah SWT gives us the wisdom to be mindful of Him at all times, the strength to resist the urge to rush through our prayers, and the consciousness to live our lives at a pace that brings us closer to Him. May we not reach the end of our lives, regretting all the precious moments we rushed through in our haste to get somewhere else. Ameen. |
Sincerely, |
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