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Communicating with Allah: Rediscovering Prayer
Muslims are required to pray five times a day, but for too many of us these are little more than physical movements devoid of any spirit or divine connection? In contrast, the Prophet characterised prayer as "the spiritual ascent (mi'raj) of the believer." In a modern world of constant distraction, how are we to achieve the communion with the Divine that prayer is supposed to be? How can we reach the state of the Prophet who would ask his Companion Bilal to give the call to prayer with the expression: "Give us repose through it, O Bilal."
The present short but valuable work provides us with the answer. Dr Bassam Saeh, a scholar of the Arabic language, casts a refreshing new perspective on prayer in the modern context. With practical examples, and in contemporary idiom, he charts a path for the seeker of God's pleasure to attain a deeper sense of consciousness and devotion in prayer. The short chapters of this work are designed to be read and reread as constant reminders for us to renew our commitment to the Divine in our prayer.
The present short but valuable work provides us with the answer. Dr Bassam Saeh, a scholar of the Arabic language, casts a refreshing new perspective on prayer in the modern context. With practical examples, and in contemporary idiom, he charts a path for the seeker of God's pleasure to attain a deeper sense of consciousness and devotion in prayer. The short chapters of this work are designed to be read and reread as constant reminders for us to renew our commitment to the Divine in our prayer.
176 pages, Paperback
Published November 23, 2018
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January 19, 2019
Once upon a time, Bassem Saeh was asked to speak at an event about prayer (salah). When the time came, he rushed up to the podium and hurriedly read a few verses and a couple of hadeeth he had jotted down on a piece of paper, reading so quickly that his words ran together. He then turned and left. The audience was shocked and confused. After a moment, he returned to the podium and explained that his performance was no worse than the way that many of us pray. Rushing in, reciting without expression or understanding, and rushing off again.
Communicating with Allah: Rediscovering Prayer is Saeh’s answer to the problem of disconnecting from our distracting, modern lives and finding tranquility in our connection with Allah. Unique and powerful, this book breathes new life into an action that Muslims repeat constantly. If you are looking to worship smarter, a little bit of consistency in improving the quality of your five daily prayers will go a long way.
The chapters are sometimes very short and sometimes longer, each focusing on one idea or one aspect of the prayer. Of the twenty-five chapters, the first eight focus on ideas around the prayer. In them, Saeh tackles questions I have always wondered about. For example, in “The Satisfaction of Waking up Early for Prayer,” he answers the question: Why is Fajr so early? Why isn’t it closer to the other times of prayer? In “Variety: The First Lesson of Civilization,” he answers the question: Why do the different prayers have different numbers of rakahs (units)?
The latter chapters each focus on one aspect of the prayer, beginning with the adhan (call to prayer) and wudu, and moving through each of the phrases we recite. There are quite a few linguistic gems in these sections, as Saeh is a scholar of the Arabic language. For example, he counts thirty-three open-ended phrases in a two-rakah prayer. Many of us know that Allahu akbar literally means “God is greater . . . ” Allah is, without a doubt, greater than everything, but the open-endedness of this phrase allows us to apply it to our everyday lives. For example, He is greater than the work that I will have to put on hold to pray this prayer. Or, He is greater than my financial troubles that seem insurmountable. Or, He is greater than the illness I’m suffering from. Saeh goes on to enumerate all of the other phrases in the prayer that have this open-ended quality, and therefore provide an opportunity for personal reflections that can bring us closer to God.
Saeh shows us that the prayer is a privilege rather than a duty, and if we were praying the way we were meant to be praying, we would be happier and more successful in all of our endeavors. Saeh urges a return to the spirit of Islam, and condemns a focus on the letter that sacrifices the spirit in the strongest terms.
Perhaps my favorite technique of Saeh’s is his use of striking, new metaphors to share ideas that are absolutely essential to our faith. For example, in the second chapter, he asks us to imagine a battle between two ants over a grain of sugar, and how insignificant it might appear to us as humans. Prayer, he explains, allows us to be elevated to a height at which we can view the dunya (this worldly life) in the same way: we can recognize its insignificance.
I commend the translator, Nancy Roberts, for this fantastic translation. The prose is beautiful and flowing, and perfectly idiomatic. Had I not seen the translation credit, I would never have thought this was a translated work.
Finally, I’d like to share an excerpt from “The Rhythm of Prayer and the Rhythm of Life,” in which Saeh discusses the question: Why do we recite silently in some prayers and aloud in others?
Communicating with Allah: Rediscovering Prayer is the best book on prayer I’ve read and my favorite nonfiction Islamic book of the year so far. I highly recommend this book for every Muslim looking to invigorate their prayer, worship smarter, and reconnect with Allah.
The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Communicating with Allah: Rediscovering Prayer is Saeh’s answer to the problem of disconnecting from our distracting, modern lives and finding tranquility in our connection with Allah. Unique and powerful, this book breathes new life into an action that Muslims repeat constantly. If you are looking to worship smarter, a little bit of consistency in improving the quality of your five daily prayers will go a long way.
The chapters are sometimes very short and sometimes longer, each focusing on one idea or one aspect of the prayer. Of the twenty-five chapters, the first eight focus on ideas around the prayer. In them, Saeh tackles questions I have always wondered about. For example, in “The Satisfaction of Waking up Early for Prayer,” he answers the question: Why is Fajr so early? Why isn’t it closer to the other times of prayer? In “Variety: The First Lesson of Civilization,” he answers the question: Why do the different prayers have different numbers of rakahs (units)?
The latter chapters each focus on one aspect of the prayer, beginning with the adhan (call to prayer) and wudu, and moving through each of the phrases we recite. There are quite a few linguistic gems in these sections, as Saeh is a scholar of the Arabic language. For example, he counts thirty-three open-ended phrases in a two-rakah prayer. Many of us know that Allahu akbar literally means “God is greater . . . ” Allah is, without a doubt, greater than everything, but the open-endedness of this phrase allows us to apply it to our everyday lives. For example, He is greater than the work that I will have to put on hold to pray this prayer. Or, He is greater than my financial troubles that seem insurmountable. Or, He is greater than the illness I’m suffering from. Saeh goes on to enumerate all of the other phrases in the prayer that have this open-ended quality, and therefore provide an opportunity for personal reflections that can bring us closer to God.
Saeh shows us that the prayer is a privilege rather than a duty, and if we were praying the way we were meant to be praying, we would be happier and more successful in all of our endeavors. Saeh urges a return to the spirit of Islam, and condemns a focus on the letter that sacrifices the spirit in the strongest terms.
Perhaps my favorite technique of Saeh’s is his use of striking, new metaphors to share ideas that are absolutely essential to our faith. For example, in the second chapter, he asks us to imagine a battle between two ants over a grain of sugar, and how insignificant it might appear to us as humans. Prayer, he explains, allows us to be elevated to a height at which we can view the dunya (this worldly life) in the same way: we can recognize its insignificance.
I commend the translator, Nancy Roberts, for this fantastic translation. The prose is beautiful and flowing, and perfectly idiomatic. Had I not seen the translation credit, I would never have thought this was a translated work.
Finally, I’d like to share an excerpt from “The Rhythm of Prayer and the Rhythm of Life,” in which Saeh discusses the question: Why do we recite silently in some prayers and aloud in others?
Prayer needs to serve as a counterweight to the hurried pace of our daily lives. Hence, it makes perfect sense for the prayers that involve silent recitation, such as the mid afternoon-prayer, for example, to be inversely related to the tone of life at that tumultuous time of day: a time of loud hustle and bustle when the sun is high in the sky and the temperatures are soaring, and amid the day’s flurry of activity as people rush urgently about to accomplish their tasks and achieve material gain.
As for the Sundown prayer, which is customarily accustomed to buy audible recitations, it bears a fitting inverse relation to the silence and stillness of the night as people retreat from striving to earn their daily keep and allow life’s mill to turn at a gentler, quieter pace. Our audible recitation serves to fill some of the space left by life’s unhurried tempo, and restores balance to our inner lives by reestablishing a harmony of sound, image, and movement.
Communicating with Allah: Rediscovering Prayer is the best book on prayer I’ve read and my favorite nonfiction Islamic book of the year so far. I highly recommend this book for every Muslim looking to invigorate their prayer, worship smarter, and reconnect with Allah.
The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2022
I was trying to prolong this book as much as possible, because I didn't want its wisdom to end. As far as self-help books go, this went above and beyond. Saeh provides such perceptive takes backed up by hadith and Qur'anic verses on Salah; perspectives that I never before even thought of, but now, cannot stop thinking about, اللهم بارك.
This has definitely improved my Khushu, الحمد الله. I wish I could erase every little thing I learned from this book just to read it again and feel that shimmer of newfound awareness and understanding once more.
5 stars. Utter perfection.
This has definitely improved my Khushu, الحمد الله. I wish I could erase every little thing I learned from this book just to read it again and feel that shimmer of newfound awareness and understanding once more.
5 stars. Utter perfection.
January 22, 2019
Absolutely loved this book for anyone whose prayer has started to feel more like a duty than a gift. I recommend reading only 1-2 chapters a day rather than plowing through the slim 150 pages.
August 25, 2021
A must read!
February 24, 2025
As a muslim, it is our responsibility to complete our 5 daily prayers. But, the intention behind these prayers is to only 'finish' at their prescribed times? Have we ever wondered why there are 5 different prayers at different times throughout the day and not just at one prescribed time alone? It might be easy right? We all had different scenarios and different circumstances when we decided to pray continuously. But, as time go, the reason and wisdom behind that gets stuck in the 'action of habit'. In order to circumvent that stage, one must revive himself and his intentions to move towards the "reward" stage through wisdom. And this book will shed us those wisdoms behind prayer to attain the reward because prayer in itself is a reward only. The wisdom behind congregrational prayer as well as about each and every step in the Islamic prayer iterates qualities like Time Management, Alliance, Oneness, Patience, Collective Action, Internal Fear, ALLAH's Majesty and his gift.
Advocacy and the outcome of this book lies in having faith, believing and praying to the All Knowing, All Merciful ALLAH and not completing with just some body movements. The article about Accrediation to Mosques, innovation in Friday (Jumuah) Bayan, The beauty of Fajr Prayer, Response to Adhan, Notions of Salah are must read to invent oneself towards the beauty and benefit of prayer. Just few pages or specfic articles in this book would give one a boost, even after he falls in the habit, after having read the book.
Advocacy and the outcome of this book lies in having faith, believing and praying to the All Knowing, All Merciful ALLAH and not completing with just some body movements. The article about Accrediation to Mosques, innovation in Friday (Jumuah) Bayan, The beauty of Fajr Prayer, Response to Adhan, Notions of Salah are must read to invent oneself towards the beauty and benefit of prayer. Just few pages or specfic articles in this book would give one a boost, even after he falls in the habit, after having read the book.
January 26, 2022
One word: WOW. If I could give this book an even higher rating, I would. Not only does Bassam Saeh have a beautiful style of writing, the way he plays with words really touch your soul. It feels like you have the puzzle pieces and he shows you where to put them and why. This is definitely one of my fav religious books already!! Absolutely loved it
December 28, 2019
This is one that I'll be re-reading. I did have some issues with the authors comparisons to more worldly gains, like the lottery or stock market, but overall a really solid book with a lot of good advice.
May 4, 2019
An excellent book that draws in the reader very quickly. One finds himself in self reflection continously while reading this book. The author provides multiple analogies to help drive his points home.
August 31, 2018
Spiritual reminders to help us understand the deeper meaning of Salah/Prayer in Islam. Makes as a great gift book and as a nice quick read.
April 11, 2019
Reflection on my daily prayer and a reminder to always do better. Our whole life is about worship and we should not waste the opportunity given.
December 20, 2021
Another 5🌟 read for me. I just love the side effects reading this book 😁. It helps me in understanding what I should do to improve or level up my prayers.
So yeah, I just love this book!
So yeah, I just love this book!
February 5, 2023
I read this book very slowly over the last few months and feel rejuvenated after completing it a few moments ago.
While I took off one star because there are too many details and rules that seem impractical (e.g. praying for people who hurt us - I think most religions sadly teach us to be kind to our "enemies" to the point of being a doormat), there are numerous gems in this book, such as:
(1) our whole life is a prayer (e.g. a simple act such as leaving a negative/gossipy conversation is an act of prayer),
(2) we have to continue to translate our prayers into actions (e.g. asking ourselves before spending money or eating a bite of food how God would feel about these actions),
(3) we ought to pause between each line of our prayer, take a moment to reflect on the previous and next sentences and let the meaning sink in,
(4) remind ourselves during prayers the symbolic meaning of the gestures embedded in them (e.g. raising our hand to say "Allah Akbar" to leave the world behind us),
(5) imagining that the word "us" in our prayers refers to everyone - Muslims, non-Muslims, people we love and people who hurt us.
While I took off one star because there are too many details and rules that seem impractical (e.g. praying for people who hurt us - I think most religions sadly teach us to be kind to our "enemies" to the point of being a doormat), there are numerous gems in this book, such as:
(1) our whole life is a prayer (e.g. a simple act such as leaving a negative/gossipy conversation is an act of prayer),
(2) we have to continue to translate our prayers into actions (e.g. asking ourselves before spending money or eating a bite of food how God would feel about these actions),
(3) we ought to pause between each line of our prayer, take a moment to reflect on the previous and next sentences and let the meaning sink in,
(4) remind ourselves during prayers the symbolic meaning of the gestures embedded in them (e.g. raising our hand to say "Allah Akbar" to leave the world behind us),
(5) imagining that the word "us" in our prayers refers to everyone - Muslims, non-Muslims, people we love and people who hurt us.
August 31, 2021
A book of Rediscovery.🗃
A book of Wonders.🔦
A book of Investments!📈
A book of Imagination.🕶
A book of Why?🔎
A book of Curiousity. 💡
A book of Analogy. 🔓
A must book for Jannatul Firdaus (Highest Level of Heaven) candidates.
If you're a jannatul firdaus chaser, then, this book absolutely for you!
And you know what? Each time i read this book, over again, it was like the first time i read it! How this author could write such a beautiful thoughts like this? And, it is about solah?! Really, Dr Bassam Saeh brought us a different level of perspective about solah!
Okay guys, this is just an introduction of my book review! 🤣🤭✌
Will share more about this book after this inshaa Allah. 🙏
I bought this book from @dakwahcornerbooks ❤
#rediscoveringprayer #communicatingwithAllah #drbassamsaeh #musthavebook #syabilahreviewbuku
A book of Wonders.🔦
A book of Investments!📈
A book of Imagination.🕶
A book of Why?🔎
A book of Curiousity. 💡
A book of Analogy. 🔓
A must book for Jannatul Firdaus (Highest Level of Heaven) candidates.
If you're a jannatul firdaus chaser, then, this book absolutely for you!
And you know what? Each time i read this book, over again, it was like the first time i read it! How this author could write such a beautiful thoughts like this? And, it is about solah?! Really, Dr Bassam Saeh brought us a different level of perspective about solah!
Okay guys, this is just an introduction of my book review! 🤣🤭✌
Will share more about this book after this inshaa Allah. 🙏
I bought this book from @dakwahcornerbooks ❤
#rediscoveringprayer #communicatingwithAllah #drbassamsaeh #musthavebook #syabilahreviewbuku
July 17, 2021
"And put your trust in the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful, Who sees you when you stand up (for prayer)."
[As-Shu'ara 26:217-218]
This is the kind of book I would pick up time and time again, to remind me how precious prayers are. To remind me that to be able to perform a prayer, is a huge blessing and a gift from God.
I experienced so many awestruck & eye-opening moments from this book. so many things about prayers that ive ignored about. To think that all this while i prayed 5 times a day for the past 15 years, but i took it so for grantedly and understand so little about :(
[As-Shu'ara 26:217-218]
This is the kind of book I would pick up time and time again, to remind me how precious prayers are. To remind me that to be able to perform a prayer, is a huge blessing and a gift from God.
I experienced so many awestruck & eye-opening moments from this book. so many things about prayers that ive ignored about. To think that all this while i prayed 5 times a day for the past 15 years, but i took it so for grantedly and understand so little about :(
July 16, 2024
The book is so well- written and it intrinsically analyses the performance of Salah from body movements, intentions whilst praying, recitation and embodying the words of Allah SWT. As someone who struggles with prayer and is often distracted during salah, this book has helped me to see the practical efforts I can put in place to perform my salah and the spiritual rewards of doing so. Alhamdullilah, as a none Arabic speaker and as I learnt how to read the Quran at a young age, I am so grateful to have been able to revise Arabic pronunciation and recitation in this text. I look forward to improving the quality of my salah and revisiting this book. A must read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2021
A short but brilliant book that helps us to internalise our prayers, its meanings and implications. This, along with an online course I took (Transform My Prayer) has helped me to revive my prayers and understand how they are our lifeline, and not a mere duty, ritual or checklist. A must-read for any Muslim looking to revitalise their lives.
December 17, 2021
Lovely book with lovely advice on khushoo, along with actionable steps and goals. I also loved the obvious point the author made that a believer is always in worship.
"Do not take as much pleasure in what you have acquired, then spent, as in what you have given, and thus kept."
"Do not take as much pleasure in what you have acquired, then spent, as in what you have given, and thus kept."
Read
April 17, 2022So good♡
March 26, 2024
A deep and heartfelt encouragement for those who feel disconnected from the ritual of traditional prayer
November 20, 2022
Let your prayer be a free ticket to a pleasant journey, not simply around the world, but around the universe, one in which you gain access to the King and Absolute Ruler of the cosmos.
the light radiated by the face is simply a reflection of the light that comes from the heart and the soul.
What is a hundred years, a thousand years, a hundred thousand years, or even a million years of life in this world compared with a single moment in the realm of eternity
Who am I to pronounce something or someone ugly when everything and everyone is one of God’s creations?
the light radiated by the face is simply a reflection of the light that comes from the heart and the soul.
What is a hundred years, a thousand years, a hundred thousand years, or even a million years of life in this world compared with a single moment in the realm of eternity
Who am I to pronounce something or someone ugly when everything and everyone is one of God’s creations?
January 17, 2021
A simple book. Good for people totally new to Islam
May 21, 2021
4.5 stars. This book reminds me that I am extremely blessed to be among the people who pray because when I'm praying I am 'live on air' with Allah without any intermediary.
March 16, 2022
One of the most important books I have ever read. My number 1 book of 2020.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews