Re: Reading Namaz and Relaxation
Yes and yes.
You might remember this blog of mine that I wrote when I was at my lowest not just because of work-related stress but also because of other things at home. From that day on, I never missed a namaz and I made duas regularly, something I hadn’t been very good at for the past couple of years. I didn’t even recite any fancy surahs, simply talked to Allah taala after every namaz with tears pouring down my face. And SubhanAllah it was like everything magically started working out okay at work and at home. At the time of that blog, I was afraid that I wasn’t going to be done with my lab work until March-April but because everything has been going so well, I’ll be all done and dusted this Friday Alhumdulillah. What kept failing for me in the lab last year suddenly started passing with ease. Of course one of the conditions for acceptance of prayers is hard work so I also worked my butt off this past month, working till 8-9 PM every night, not even taking a lunch break during the day. I could hardly bend down by the time I got back home because my back was so stiff due to standing/walking for long hours. That combined with the realization that I couldn’t do it on my own and that I needed Allah’s help at every step is what paved the way for me and that’s my imaan. Now the question is, had everything kept failing, would I have lost my imaan? I don’t think so. It’s not Allah’s fault that the lab managers are too lame to buy a new instrument instead of making researchers cry with frustration. It is my belief k jo hota hai ache k liye hota hai. There have been times when I really really really wanted something but didn’t get it and I was gutted but looking back, things worked out just fine. Itna sabr toh hona chahiye insaan mein. So the bottom line is what Allah swt said in Surah Baqarah - “Remember me and I will remember you.”
Alhumdulillah x a gazillion. I feel indebted to Him forever, it’s not like I’ll forget about namaz now that matlab pura ho gaya hai. May Allah swt give me hidayat to never be a lazy bum again.