The other day when I was offering nafil Salah in Masjid al Haram, people - adults, children and yes even a cat went in front of me. I ignored the first few people who jumped over my sutrah but by the time I was in my second rakah, I started blocking people with my hand. I was frustrated: can't they find any other place to walkthrough, I am praying here? This is my alone time with Allah, must they come in between? This is when I realized three is a crowd.
a) First, I am asked to spend time alone with Allah and in corporate extra voluntary worship (nafil, tahajjud etc) for the best nourishment of my emaan.
Allah says in a Hadith Qudsi, "My servant keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (voluntary deeds) until I love her, so I become her sense of hearing with which she hears, and her sense of sight with which she sees, and her hand with which she grips, and her leg with which shebwalks; and if she asks Me, I will give her, and if she asks My Protection, I will protect her..." [Bukhari]
Spending time alone with Allah rids my of distraction, worries, stress, sadness and emptiness so that I can focus on Him and hear His Words (Quran). Abiding in Him, I can enjoy the intimacy to which He calls me and come to truly know Him.
b) Second, I need to protect my relationship with Allah by not allowing anyone to come between me and Allah. Sometimes I let my spouse, my relatives, my job, my hobbies and emotions become more important or more of a priority than my relationship with Allah. When I follow the decisions, wisdom and approval of others over what Allah commands me or when I allow my feelings to control my behaviour rather than seeking what Allah desires, I am compromising my relationship with Allah.
How do I put Allah first?
By intentionally pursuing Him first my daily actions—from the moment my alarm goes off until I fall asleep again. By praying and asking for His guidance not only when things go wrong, but on every occasion. By encountering Him through His Words (Quran) and listening to how He wants me to live it every day.
Allah is not a back-up plan but the Planner of life itself. And the sooner I recognize this, the sooner I reshape my priorities and recharge my faith.
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