Thursday Morning
7:00 AM: Alarm clock buzzes.
Get up, stagger to the bathroom—shower on.
Work clothes on, hair looks good, coffee brewing in the kitchen.
“It’s 7:30! Shoot!”
7:30 AM: Jump in the car, coffee in hand.
Try to make it to work on time without spilling coffee.
7:55 AM: “Phew! Made it.”
Burn through the first 4 hours.
12:00 PM: What is that noise? “Oh, it’s my stomach growling—lunch time.”
Inhale food, pray dhuhr (the noon prayer) in the chapel.
Tap feet while waiting in line for the second cup of coffee.
“What are you wearing? I know it is summer but come on, you are practically naked.”
“Next in line.”
1:00 PM: Run back to the office.
5:10 PM: Look outside the window—“Why is it dark? It’s ten past five?!!”
5:15 PM: Finish up, turn computer off.
“Gotta hurry home, I only have a little time left for maghrib (after sunset prayer).”
“Come on, come on, move!”
5: 45 PM: “I think I still have my wudhu (ablution).” Shoes off, rug on the floor—
“Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatu Allah, Assalaamu alaykum wa Rahmatu Allah (peace and the Mercy of Allah be upon you).”
6:00 PM: Sizzling oil, boiling water, growling stomach, salivating tongue.
Plop on couch, take a deep breath, “What a looong day.”
Food on a tray, TV on, national anthem just done—“Play ball!”
6:15 PM: “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest).”
9:00 PM: “What a game!”
Check email, facebook. Update blog.
10:30: Brush teeth, get in bed—“Did I pray `isha (the night prayer)?”
Friday morning
Same routine as Thursday.
12:00 PM: Lunch time. Eat on the way to the masjid.
12:35 PM: “Still got five minutes before the khutbah (sermon).”
Open the Qur’an—it’s Surat Ali `Imran (Chapter of the Family of `Imran) Ayah (Verse)191:
“Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire” (Qur’an, 3:191).
“HOW?! I barely have enough time to eat!”
Now pause, rewind and start from the top.
Thursday morning
7:00 AM: Alarm clock buzzes. Get up.
“All praise is to Allah who granted us life after He caused us to die, and to Him is the return.”
Stagger to the bathroom.
“O Allah I seek refuge in you from the male and female devils.”
Shower on.
Work clothes on, hair looks good, coffee brewing in the kitchen.
7:30 AM: “It’s 7:30! Gotta go.”
Run out the door.
(I leave) with Allah’s name. I rely on Allah. There is no power to do good or abstain from evil except with Allah’s help.
Jump in the car, coffee in hand.
“Exalted is He who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it” (Qur’an, 43:13).
Will make it to work on time without spilling coffee—“Insha’ Allah (God willing).”
7:55 AM: “Made it, alhamdullilah (praise be to Allah).”
Burn through the first 4 hours.
12:00 PM: What is that noise? “Oh, it’s my stomach growling—lunch time.”
“Bismillah (in the name of Allah).”
Inhale food, pray dhuhur in the chapel.
Tap feet while waiting in line for the second cup of coffee.
“What are you wearing? astaghfiru Allah (I seek forgiveness in Allah).”
“Next in line.”
1:00 PM: Run back to the office.
Look outside the window— “Subhan Allah (glory be to Allah), it’s maghrib (the prayer after sunset) time already?!”
4:45 PM: Go down to the chapel, pray maghrib. Back to the office.
5:00 PM: Finish up, turn computer off.
5:30 PM: “Home sweet home.”
O Allah, I beg of You the blessing of entering this home and leaving it. With Allah’s name we enter and with His name we leave. And on Allah, our sustainer, do we rely.
Assalaamu Alaykum (peace be upon you)
5:35 PM: Sizzling oil, boiling water, growling stomach, salivating tongue.
Plop on couch, take a deep breath, “What a looong day. Alhamdullilah.”
Food on a tray, TV on, national anthem just done—”Play ball!”
6:15 PM: “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.”
O Allah! Lord of this perfect call and of the prayer which is established for all time. Grant Mohammad the path and Excellency and raise him up in a praiseworthy position which you have promised.
6:30 PM: Get to the masjid.
“O Allah open your doors of mercy for me.”
9:00 PM: “What a game!”
Check email, facebook. Update blog.
10:30 PM: Brush teeth, get in bed.
“O Allah, by your name I lay my side and by your name I left it up. If you hold my soul then have mercy on it and if you send it back then preserve with that by which you reserve your righteous servants.”
Friday morning
Same routine as Thursday.
12:00 PM: Lunch time. Eat on the way to the masjid.
12:35 PM: Still got five minutes before the khutbah. Open the Qur’an—it’s Surat Al-Imran Ayah 191:
“Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire” (Qur’an, 3:191).
Glory to Thee, O Allah, and Thine is the Praise, and Blessed is Thy Name. and Exalted is Thy Majesty. and there is no other object of worship beside Thee.
As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum
Jasakullahu Khairan for such a beautiful reminder.
And thanks for providing us with the many Dua’s
does anyone know a site that provides audio for the
many hadith one should incorporate into their daily lives.
Thanks
your muslim brother
subahan Allah . wonderful read.
ps arabic text at 6:15 pm in the adhan dua is not in sequence.
This, is very good.
Jazakallahu khayran for this article 🙂
Assalamu’alaikum.
How come you keep missing Fajr?
Awesome
What an interesting way to write a post. jezaak Allaaho khairen for the reminder!
ma sha Allah love it 🙂 Very unique and thought provoking!
This is a great article, Masha’Allah.
For a link with the duas posted, where you can listen to the arabic/ transliteration and translation, I found one for the “Fortress of the Muslim”, which includes the duas included here:
http://special.worldofislam.info/index.php?page=Fortress_of_the_Muslim
Assalaamu aleikum,
Amazing. I loved the style mashaaAllah. Very creative and very informative.
beautiful and effective talk. what i take away are the following: islam, imaan, ihsaan can be found in establishing the universals, not in the particulars. the creator gave us shariah (naas) so we can have futawa (dhaahir). being true to shariah means understanding the particulars of man, place, time and situation, not blind following.
I loved this! We truly can turn everyday mundane actions into acts of worship and the remembrance of Allah. This page on facebook is really useful as it posts a simple, practical sunnah to practice everyday, including du’as and other things:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Practice-a-Sunnah-a-Day/113426905342467?ref=ts
Masha’Allah, this was a wonderful piece. It brought tears to my eyes. Subhan’allah. Thanks for sharing.
Once again, a very relevant and very informative article. This really is so really important and thought provoking, I found myself following the advice in the article. What a good way to put the remembrance of ALLAH in our lives, so simple yet reward able, ja zakallah to all who put this together. Salaams to all my Muslims.