حي على الصلاة | Come to Salah

“Come to Salah” – حيَّ على الصلاة and “Come to Success” – حيَّ على الفلاح are two notable phrases in the athan (call to prayer). Repeated five times daily, serving as a signal to Muslims that the designated time for mandatory prayers has come. 

 It’s only natural for us to begin to lose touch with the meaning of such powerful phrases we hear something so often, the words become unconsciously heard to and not listened to. 

But let’s spend time realigning ourselves with Prayer, realigning ourselves with purpose and true meaning of the obligatory task that Allah has commanded.

In today’s world we measure success in material terms. Money, belongings, cars, phones, branded clothing, branded shoes, working at a prestigious company or firm, networking with people of high net worths – this is what many see as success. This is what many aspire to be able to have. 

Informally speaking, we’ve lost the plot. Islamically speaking, true success is always measured internally and is always attached with one’s relationship with His creator. You could have the best job, highest income, greatest house, and have that all amount to nothing on the day of judgement. 

We are here as investors, not in the stock market, not in bitcoin, but in our final Meeting with The Almighty. Sure, we have to work in this life, that’s a given, but to ever put yourself in a position where you have prioritized a worldly pursuit over Allah – that is when you have to remember what He reminds you of every day, five times a day. Coming to Him – that is Success. That is فلاح

The word itself denotes meaning of enduring and permanent states of prosperity. Because there is truly only (1) permanent thing in your life and it is your delusion that convinces you otherwise.

Let Salat be prioritized–and chased– the same way you strive to make a living, the same way you strive to afford something you really want. Remember that your success is forever intertwined with your connection to The Almighty.