Praying on time is the best way to fulfil one's duties
30-1-2006 | IslamWeb
Question:
I have problem that whenever I go to pray I feel I am not concentrating in my Salat also I feel that I am far from Allaah, I live in America but I am wearing Hijaab and this make me feeling worse and blaming myself most of the times (Why I am feeling far from practicing Islam the right way at the same time nobody forcing me to wear Hijaab in country that is really hard to do so, also I pray most of the times late because whenever there is time for Salat I keep thinking I have to feed my kids (3 kids, 7-years- 2and 6-months) I have to clean the house and my husband doesn't help very rare when he does and he like to find everything perfect at home he is good but I want show him that I am perfect at the time that I try to kill myself to make him satisfy.
Now I just want to know how to be so close to Allaah, especially I feel guilty everyday regarding this but still I can't organize myself to pray on time, read some Quran and be a good Muslim.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
We have already issued Fataawa 85048 and 82335 on the treatment of the lack of concentration and submissiveness in prayers, so please refer to them.
We have also issued many Fataawa on the seriousness of delaying the prayers from their prescribed fixed times, you may refer for instance to Fatwa 82961.
We advise you to fear Allaah as this is the only way to get closer to Him, and you should not delay the prayer from its prescribed fixed time as it is the pillar and foundation of religion. Delaying the prayer is one of the characteristics of the hypocrites, and delaying it from its prescribed fixed time may lead a person to abandon it completely, consequently, this takes him out of the fold of Islam. It is confirmed that the Prophet 
said: "The pact between us and them (the non-Muslims) is the prayer, so whoever abandons it is a disbeliever." [At-Tirmithi and An-Nasaa'ee] Housework and taking care of children is not more important in the life of a Muslim than the prayer. Persisting in performing the prayer at its prescribed fixed time is not a burden and it does not take a long time to an extent that one would abandon other tasks. Rather, being persistent in performing the prayer at its prescribed fixed time is, Allaah willing, a reason of performing other everyday jobs, as Allaah will help the person and enable him to fulfil them. Allaah Says (what means): {And whoever fears Allaah — He will make for him of his matter ease.}[Quran 65:4]. So, one should be very careful not to neglect the prayers or delay them from their prescribed fixed times.
As regards your eldest son who is nervous, the best way of solving this problem is to deal with him in a quiet manner. Shouting at him and dealing harshly with him may lead him to be stubborn and obstinate. If he should be punished, then let the punishment be educative, for instance you may prevent him from things he used to do or eat, but without shouting at him or hitting him.
The reason for this problem may also be the kind of children he keeps company with, or that the parents are negligent in providing him with entertainment time, or because of the programmes he sees on T.V. channels, so he imitates what he sees. Thus, one should be careful about these programmes and channels as most of it nurtures the child to be stubborn and troublesome. We notice that the parents complain about the stubbornness and harsh behaviour of their child without realizing the source of the problem.
Finally, there is no harm in seeking the advice of educators as how to treat nervousness and stubbornness in children.
Allaah Knows best.