Struggling to pray

[Maryamayram]

Salam everyone,

ive been struggling to pray lately, I think about prayer all day and when I don’t pray I’m thinking about it too. But I’m having trouble getting up to pray. It’s on my mind 24/7 but I don’t understand why I can’t get up and pray. I’m hoping there’s an explanation for it. I don’t understand why I feel guilt all day but never get up and pray? I need something to push me to pray, I need help. I know how important it is and I really want to get use to praying but why do I feel guilt all day but don’t get up?

any advice on how to be consistent or motivated to pray?

[starlight]

I think it's procrastination. Ask a friend or family member to push you to get up and pray. Ask him or her to be persistent and annoying like an alarm clock that can't be turned off until you leave the bed. Hopefully in a few days you will be able to to get rid of this mental block you are facing. 

Another thing you can do is set an alarm clock to Salat timings and as soon as the alarm goes off,without thinking you get up and pray. 

Try and remain in wudhu all day. That way you will already be one step closer to Salat.

Edited October 29, 2020 by starlight

[El Cid]

1 hour ago, Maryamayram said:

Salam everyone,

ive been struggling to pray lately, I think about prayer all day and when I don’t pray I’m thinking about it too. But I’m having trouble getting up to pray. It’s on my mind 24/7 but I don’t understand why I can’t get up and pray. I’m hoping there’s an explanation for it. I don’t understand why I feel guilt all day but never get up and pray? I need something to push me to pray, I need help. I know how important it is and I really want to get use to praying but why do I feel guilt all day but don’t get up?

any advice on how to be consistent or motivated to pray?

Lol, I think at some point in our lives we all feel like that because it feels like a burden than anything else. I remember when I use to be in hardcore gaming matches, suddenly my phone goes off and it's prayer time. I wouldn't want to get up and pray either but duty calls. It's the same feeling as leaving that warm fuzzy amazing feeling blanket+bed for an 8am class. All you need to do is just say Ya-Ali and get up. 

[YoungSkiekh313]

Salam, 

When young, sometimes we don't understand the importance of salat, and its value. So we sometimes think of it as a chore, and rush through it. With that thought when we are younger, it transitions into our teens, and adulthood. We sometimes postpone it for various things such as school, work, or various other worldly things. This again reinforces that psychological notion that pray is a chore that can be left after more valuable things. 

Most of the time people postpone prayers out of laziness, procrastination, work/school, and not understanding its value. Of course this short list is not comprehensive, and everyone has their own reason as to why they may miss pray. 

Usually the most missed prayers are the fajr, duhur, and asr as they are set up in inconvenient times during the day. I struggle with fajr as I am not a morning person, so I place my alarm far from my bed so I have to get up and turn it off. You can also ask one of your family members to wake you up, go to bed a bit early, or set the alarm far from your bed side. At the end of the day like anything in life, prayer is a test by Allah. If you miss a pray, that's no reason to skip out on the other prayers, and if you do miss a pray just pray the qada. At the end of the day Allah is the best of judges. 

I also find it helps staying in the state of wudhoo throughout the day as it psychological makes me feel pure, and lowers the burden of the task. I'm not sure the COVID-19 restrictions in your area, but praying with family, friends, and or at the mosque also helps. 

WS

[alsharifi.n]

Salam alaikum,

I used to think of my prayer as a chore and later on it made me guilty as we really need to approach prayer in a different way. The purpose of prayer is to thank your Lord and to strengthen your connection with Him. From now on, instead of just thinking "oh it's prayer time" think of it as an important meeting that you have. In the end it is an important meeting with your Lord. You would never be late for a meeting or an interview, so treat prayer time as such. That's what I started doing and slowly, over time everything about my prayer changed, Alhamdulillah. You literally will start to fall in love with prayer time. It is your time to build your connection with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى).

Another thing you can do it to make the area that your pray in more beautiful. Make it special, and away from distractions, especially your phone or any other devices.

All the best, sister.