Communicating with Allah

This being the case, don’t we wrong ourselves by not giving our daily prayer ‘meals’ the time and attention we devote to the meals we take into our bodies? Why do we begrudge our spiritual nourishment the time we give so freely of to our physical nourishment? Which of them do you suppose is more important for us

‘In lieu of the rent, I require you to eat five delectable meals a day at my expense. That’s what I require – no more, no less.’

[Abd Allah Ibn Mas[ud said: ‘I once asked the Messenger of God (pbuh), “Which, of all actions, is the most pleasing to God?” And he said, “Performance of the prayers at their specified times”. “Then what?” I asked. “Honouring one’s parents.” “Then what?” I asked. “Engaging in struggle (jihad) on God’s behalf”.’1

Salah is an encounter that occupies first place among the various forms of Islamic worship, which might be thought of as worldly-otherworldly investments.