We stand, we bow, we recite… five times a day.
Let’s be honest: How connected are we to Allah during those prayers?
We pray just for sake of praying because it’s obligatory upon us to pray. Do we fully immerse ourselves and try to connect with Allah as we should…?
We recite the words without understanding or feeling them within our hearts. Salah is not meant to be like this. It is more than a ritual, a meeting, a moment and opportunity to connect with Allah.
The real purpose of Salah
Allah does not need our prayer, we do. Allah reminds us in the glorious Quran:
“Establish prayer to my remembrance” (Quran 20:14)
Salah is not a tick box exercise. It’s about taking a pause from the chaos of the world and reconnect with the Creator. Connect with him and speak to him directly.
Ibn al-Qayyim (RA) says: what the competitors compete for… it is nourishment for the soul and the delight of the eyes,” and he also said, “If this feeling leaves the heart, it is as though it is a body with no soul.”
Presence over performance
We tend to rush through Salah, barely registering what we are reciting. The prophet ﷺ warned us of this disconnect.
A man returns after saying his prayer while a tenth part of his prayer, or a ninth part, or an eight part, or a seventh part, or a sixth part, or a fifth part, or a third part, or half of it, is recorded for him. (Abu Dawood)
Salah = mind stops wandering, heart and mind start to reconnect with Allah.
Speaking to Allah, not just mindlessly reciting
Let’s reflect upon it, Salah provides us an opportunity to speak to Allah directly. Every Surah, Dhikr, Dua in our prayer we recite, Allah is giving words to speak to him.
The prophet ﷺ says:
When the servant says: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe, Allah the Most High says: My servant has praised Me. And when he (the servant) says: The Most Compassionate, the Merciful, Allah the Most High says: My servant has lauded Me. (Muslim)
The prophet ﷺ also says:
“Whenever anyone of you stands for the prayer, he is speaking in private to his Lord or his Lord is between him and his Qibla. (Bukhari)
Therefore, five times a day, Allah invites us to speak to him directly. No intermediaries, no waiting list, no barriers. Yet how often we rush through that very conversation…?
When the heart disconnects
We know the feeling: standing in Salah, but our mind is somewhere else. We replay our conversation, thinking about deadlines, meals or notifications.
This is not something new. The early Muslims also faced the same struggle. Hasan al-Basri (RA) said:
“Every prayer in which your heart is not present may more quickly be punished than rewarded.” (al-Arba’ūn lil-Ṭūsī)
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about to notice when the heart drifts and gently bring it back. It’s like training a child i.e. patiently, consistently and kindly.
Praying with the heart, not just the lips
Let’s talk about practical steps we can follow to rebuild a connection with Allah during Salah.
- Prepare before standing: Do not stand immediately for Salah from phone screen or a conversation. Take a pause, breathe and disconnect yourself from everything.
- Understand what you recite: Reflect upon the meanings of Surahs you recite. Try to recite Surahs that you know their meaning. When you understand what you recite, your heart naturally engages.
- Visualise who you are standing before: “Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you.” (Bukhari)
- Slow down: Do not rush, take pause. Each pause is an opportunity to feel, not just perform.
- End with Reflection: After Tasleem, sit for a moment. Recite Adhkar and reflect that you just had a conversation with Allah.
The Reward of a connected prayer
When salah is performed with connection, it transforms everything else.
Allah says: Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing (Quran 29:45)
A connected heart with Allah finds strength to resist what distances it from Allah. Salah becomes more than worship: protection, peace and renewal.
Ibn al-Qayyim (RA) said:
“Whoever is delighted by the prayer in this world, will be delighted by nearness to his Lord in this world and the next.”
That is what Salah was meant to be, not a burden but relief. Not just words, but connection.
Final reflection
Next time you stand to pray, remember: Allah is not counting your words, he is listening to them.
You do not have to sound perfect. Just show up: fully, humbly and sincerely. Because in a world that keeps pulling you in a thousand directions, Salah is the moment to return home!