رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
“My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance] and ease for me my task and untie the knot from my tongue that they may understand my speech.” Surah Taha 25-28
Team meetings, presentations, coffee breaks with colleagues, and industry workshops can keep us busy all day long. The corporate world can make us forget about the importance of prayer at work. However, it is important that you take out a few minutes to pray while at work, no matter how busy your day is.
For Muslims, prayers hold a special meaning as Salat (pronounced salah), Namaz, or Prayer is an integral part of our faith. In fact, Salat is one of the five pillars of Islam, and according to most scholars, it is the most important pillar.
Rain or hail, peace or war – the daily five prayers are a compulsory obligation for all Muslims. Needless to say, for Muslims, prayers are obligatory in the workplace too. Along with Salat, praying for productivity and success at work is also a healthy practice.
In this article, we look at the importance of praying at work and how to include prayer in your work schedule.
Is Prayer Allowed At Work?
While our Muslim brothers and sisters living in Islamic republics have the privilege of taking Salat breaks, most of the people in non-Islamic states don’t. In fact, one of the main questions that people have is that if they are allowed to pray while at work.
Although you can ask your employer should prayer be allowed at work, it is important that you understand that employees have the right to pray at work in most countries. For example, in the US & Europe, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Equality Act 2010 in the UK provide workers with the right to pray at the office.
In fact, the US Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits the refusal to accommodate employees’ religious beliefs and practices. Hence, employers cannot prevent their staff from praying. But, they are not legally bound to provide a prayer room to them. However, they can provide a quiet room where their employees can pray.
Why Should You Take Prayer Breaks At Work?
Prayer is not just limited to the mosque or home. You can pray anytime and anywhere. Prayer can be a voluntary Dua that we recite at work for a productive and successful day, or it can be the mandatory Salat that Muslims must perform 5 times a day regardless of work or leisure.
Most Muslims are unaware of the benefits of praying while at work. They believe that including prayer in the office can hinder their work and affect their performance negatively.
However, they are missing the important benefits that prayers offer for work. The following reasons will convince you to take prayer breaks at work:
1. Prayer Is Obligatory for Muslims
حَـٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَـٰنِتِينَ
Be guardians of your prayers, especially of the midmost prayer, and stand up to Allah with devotion. — Surah Baqarah 2:238
A major reason why Muslims need to pray while at work is that it is obligatory for them to do so. Allah has made it mandatory for Muslims to pray five times a day; there is a great reward for those who perform their daily prayers consistently and great punishment for those who don’t.
“In Gardens, the righteousness will ask one another concerning those in Hell and what had brought them there to which they will be told that those are the people who did not pray” Surah Al-Muddasir: 40-43
2. Brings Us Closer to Allah (SWT)
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ
أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ
فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُون
“And, when My servants ask about Me, I am near, I shall respond to the call of the one that prays to Me so he must believe in Me so that he may be led to the right path.” Surah Baqarah: 186
What is the basic purpose of prayer? It is to bring us closer to Allah. Salat and dua both are ways to communicate directly with Allah.
When we pray, we get to read important chapters from the Quran, such as Surah Fatiha 5 times a day. It helps refresh our Iman and relieves us of our worries, and gives us the strength to keep going. The peace of mind that comes with placing our problems in Allah’s hands is unlike any other.
3. Prayer Is the Solution
وَاسۡتَعِيۡنُوۡا بِالصَّبۡرِ وَالصَّلٰوةِ ؕ وَاِنَّهَا لَكَبِيۡرَةٌ اِلَّا عَلَى الۡخٰشِعِيۡنَۙ
And seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, it is a burden except for the humble— Surah Baqarah 2:45
Another reason why you need to pray at work is that it is the solution to your every problem. It is the ultimate avenue for a resolution, the path that allows you to find the best answer. Here are some of the ways prayer can solve our problems.
- Gives Us Patience: It helps give us the patience to keep going by allowing us to place our faith in the Almighty.
- Strengthens Us: No matter what challenges come our way, prayer gives us the strength to overcome them.
- Makes Us Resilient: Praying at work allows us to connect with the Creator and unleashes our unlimited potential.
- Cathathric: Prayer serves as a source of catharsis and provides psychological peace.
- Eliminates Anger and Jealousy: An incredible way prayer can help us at work is by eliminating anger and jealousy from our hearts and allowing us to get along with everyone at the workplace.
4. It Makes Us Wiser
تِلْكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ
هُدًۭى وَرَحْمَةًۭ لِّلْمُحْسِنِينَ
These are the verses from the Wise Book, a guidance and mercy for those who do good. — Surah Luqman 31: 2-3
Prayer is also important because it helps us become wiser. The more we know, the better our lives will be. When you know more, you are better equipped to make decisions. Similarly, more wisdom allows you to connect and discern.
The Challenges of Praying at Work
Since prayer at work is not easy, it is important that you learn to overcome the challenges of praying at work. If there is no prayer room at your workplace, you should ask your supervisor if one can be arranged. Even if a designated prayer room does not get assigned to you, it is important that you do not lose hope.
You can make do with the meeting room, the storage room, or even the cafeteria when it is not occupied. Always remember that if you do not ask, you will not get it. Many employees ask for a smoking break which does not take longer than a prayer break. Therefore, you can rest assured that your employer will allow you to pray.
If your colleagues give you weird looks when you pray, you need to remember the difficulty that the first Muslims endured and how they were treated by the Makkans. Moreover, you can always take the time to speak with them individually and help them overcome their biases.
Prayers for A Good Day at Work
Dua 1
اللَّهمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِن منْكَرَاتِ الأَخلاقِ، والأعْمَالِ، والأَهْواءِ
Transliteration: Allahumma inni auzubika min munkaratil akhlaq wal-aamal, wal ahwaa
Translation: O Allah! I seek refuge in Thee from undesirable actions, deeds, and aspirations.
Dua 2
رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ
Transliteration: Rabbana afrig alaina sabranwa tawaf fana Muslimin.
Translation: Our Lord! Give us patience and enable us to die as Muslims.
Dua 3
رَبِّ أَعِنِّي وَلا تُعِنْ عَلَيَّ وَانْصُرْنِي وَلا تَنْصُرْ عَلَيَّ وَامْكُرْ لِي وَلا تَمْكُرْ عَلَيَّ وَاهْدِنِي وَيَسِّرِ الْهُدَى لِي وَانْصُرْنِي عَلَى مَنْ بَغَى عَلَيَّ
Transliteration: Rabbi aainni wala tuin aalayyam wa-n surni wala tansur aalayaa, wa-mkur-li wala tamjur alayya wa’hdini wa yassir il-huda ilayya wa-n surni aala man bagha aalayaa.
Translation: My Lord, help me and do not help anyone against me, and give me victory and do not grant anyone victory over me, plan for me and do not let anyone plan against me, guide me and give me guidance, grant me victory over my transgressors.
Dua 4
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
Transliteration: Rabbi ishrahil sari wa yassir-li-amri wahlul uuqdatam min-lisaani yaf qahu-qawli.
Translation: “My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance] and ease for me my task and untie the knot from my tongue that they may understand my speech.” Surah Taha 25-28
Dua 5
فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَقِيرٌۭ
Transliteration: Fasaqaa lahumaa summa tawallaaa ilaz zilli faqaala Rabbi innee limaaa anzalta ilaiya min khairin faqeer
Translation: “So, He watered for them (their flock). Then, He turned shade into it and said: My Lord! I am in need of whatever good you send down for me.” Surah Al-Qasas28:24
These are the best prayer for a good day at work. Besides these prayers, you should also recite “Ya Wahaboo (The Giver),” as it is the name that you should call God with when you need Him to give you something.
Prayers Are Essential for Success at Work
Nobody loves us more than our Lord, not even our own parents, for He has created us. If we only take out a few minutes of our time daily, we can connect with Him and succeed in this world and the hereafter. Prayer leads to miracles.
Everything that starts with prayer has a favorable outcome. Hence, you need to pray while at work. You can even ask your coworkers to pray with you. Always remember that people who pray together grow together.
