UNLOCK YOUR SALAH

Consider this: When we look at successful people today, like leaders, CEOs, or entrepreneurs, many share habits like staying fit. Why? Eating well and exercising regularly not only builds muscles and clears the mind, but this strength and clarity help them be effective in all areas of life.
We look for hacks, tips and tricks for our daily lives. Now think of Salah as the ultimate productivity hack brought to you by none other than the Creator of Mankind.

#1. EXECUTE IN LIGHTNING SPEED

"Surely, Salāh is an obligation on the believers that is tied up with time" - [Surah Nisaa: Verse 103]

One of the top killers of productivity and effectiveness is procrastination. Procrastinating and setting work aside not only delays the completion of any task but also decreases quality in other areas. There's always that thought on your mind, "Gosh, I have to get this done," or "Tomorrow for SURE, I will get it done." 

These thoughts distract your focus. Successful people in all aspects of life have always proven to be capable of executing any given task with lightning speed!

Salah teaches us this: when we hear the Azan, we should stop what we are doing and EXECUTE. It's about closing the gap between thought and reality. Being able to perform without delay reduces the chance of self-doubt, second thoughts, or being tempted to go off track.

Going to the grocery store to buy some healthy fruits? Walk in, look down, speed through the aisle, get what you came for, and get out! Otherwise, beware of the ads and the distractions, and good luck cutting off the calories from that bag of chips.

#2. WASH AWAY THAT FILTH!

“The key to Paradise is Salah, and the key to Salah is Wudu." [Sunan at-Tirmidhi]

Salah may indeed be the key to unlock the pathway to paradise. However, the first step is to unlock salah itself through purity.

Purification before salah, achieved through wudu, is not merely a transition from a state of being unfit to pray (state of hadath) to a state of purity. It is more of a process of detoxifying oneself. This ritual is designed to eliminate the negativity within and shield oneself from the toxicity around.

As you perform wudu, with each drop of water, our sins are shed away. This cleansing process ensures that when you come to offer salah, you arrive in a refreshed state of spirit and mind. 

Similarly, in our daily lives, we frequently cling to negativity and carry extra baggage that only serves to weigh us down. It is crucial to clean yourself of all negativity when undertaking any task, whether it involves your family, friends, or work. Only then can you be most effective in accomplishing your goals.

Let your wudu be your refresher, cooling you in the sun,

Let your wudu be your hydration, fueling you for your run.

#3. KNOWING YOUR 'WHY'

“(The value of) an action depends on the intention behind it." - [Sahih Muslim]

We start prayers with niyah, focusing on why we pray, not just what we are praying. Knowing the why helps define your purpose and plan accordingly.

Like a chess grandmaster who plans opening moves based on the end game, defining your 'Why' guides your actions.The more personal and important the 'Why,' the more driven you become. Always ask "Why" before a task; it shapes your effort. For example, someone preventing a stroke stays consistent on the treadmill compared to someone trying to lose weight to fit into clothes.

Asking 'Why' when tempted to do wrong can also prevent slipping. When craving sugary drinks, ask why. You might say, "Because you're thirsty." Ask again, "Why crave sugary drinks when thirsty?" The answer may be dehydration. Asking 'Why' helps make the right choice – choosing water for hydration. This is commonly used is in a business setting called Root Cause Analysis (RCA) where you ask why did this happen. And then you keep asking why again to each answer until you identify the root cause and cut it out.

#4. DRAW THE RED LINE

“ If you have no shame, do what you like." - [Sunan Abu Dawud]

This quote from the Prophet ﷺ isn't telling us it's okay to do whatever we want if we're not ashamed. It really means that if someone doesn't feel shame, they probably don't have any rules or morals guiding them. That could lead them to make bad or even harmful choices.

When we start praying Salah, the very first thing we say is the 'Takbeer Tahreemah'. This phrase means "the Takbeer that makes things forbidden." It's used because, in Salah, things that are usually okay to do, like drinking water, are not allowed. If you drink water during Salah, it nullifies your prayer. By saying this Takbeer and folding our hands, we're like setting up a clear line for ourselves to not cross during prayer.

It's crucial to have your own set of rules that help you stay on track and be productive. Stick to your rules, and don't let yourself bend them for anything. To sum it up, I'd like to quote Malcolm X: "A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything."

#5. LIVE THE MOMENT

“ So once you have finished ˹your duty˺, strive ˹in devotion˺," - [Surah Al-Inshirah: Verse 7]

When looking into the actual Arabic word being used for "finished," the Arabic word is "When you have done Furoogh" فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ. The literal meaning of this verb is "to empty," in other words, when you have emptied yourself out. This refers to the Prophet being immersed in the work of dawah and giving his attention to the ummah.

Here, Allah is saying, in other words, "Clear your mind and thoughts from all distractions and come empty, then stand before me." If this is for the Prophet ﷺ, then what about us? We often come for Salah distracted, with thoughts lingering from countless things. By practicing concentration and focus in Salah, one can also apply this to his life by being present and living in the moment while doing any task. Multitasking has its place and time, but ideally, we want to give all of our attention to one task. Thoughts occupying your mind take away your energy. The more your concentration and attention are being pulled elsewhere, the less present you will be for your task.

This also ties back to being prompt and executing with lightning speed. By completing a task without delay, we free up the mind. The world today is filled with distractions. Just remember one thing when you stand for Salah: when the Angel Jibreel asked the Messenger of Allah what is excellence "Ih'saan," the Prophet ﷺ replied, “To worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He sees you.”