The Forgotten Prayer

The Young Scholar

A young man by the name of Hamza ibn Kareem lived in the great city of Baghdad, where the air was filled with the aroma of spices and the streets were bustling with travelers and merchants. Hamza was known for his brilliance. He had been fascinated by knowledge since he was a young child. He spent long hours in the House of Wisdom, reading ancient texts on philosophy, mathematics, and medicine. His teachers praised him, and fellow students admired his intellect.

But Hamza had a flaw—he was careless with his prayers.

He would respond, "I will pray later," as the city's prayer call reverberated. Sometimes, he would be so engrossed in his studies that he forgot entirely. Other times, he would tell himself, “I will make it up tomorrow.”

As days turned into months, his heart, once full of faith, began to drift away from Allah.

A Mysterious Encounter

One evening, as Hamza walked home from the library, he noticed an old man sitting under a large olive tree. The man had a face etched with wisdom, and his eyes held a strange depth, as if they had seen the passing of many lifetimes.

As Hamza passed by, the old man called out, “Young scholar, have you ever seen a traveler who ignores the milestones on his journey?”

Hamza stopped, confused. “No, of course not. To avoid getting lost, a traveler needs to pay attention to the signs. Slowly, the elderly man nodded. “Then why do you ignore the signs of your own journey?” His voice was calm but powerful. "Those milestones are like your prayers. Without them, how will you find your way to your destination?”

Hamza felt a strange chill in his heart. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, a gust of wind blew through the street. The old man was gone when he turned around. The Dream of Regret

That night, as Hamza lay in his bed, a strange dream overtook him.

He found himself standing before an enormous palace. Its golden gates shimmered with an ethereal light, and inside, he could hear voices of joy, laughter, and peace. The palace was more beautiful than anything he had ever seen, and his heart longed to enter.

As he stepped forward, a tall gatekeeper in a flowing white robe blocked his path.

“You cannot enter,” the gatekeeper said firmly.

Hamza frowned. “Why not? Who is this palace owned by? The gatekeeper opened a large book, filled with glowing words. It was a record of Hamza’s life. Hamza's heart raced as he turned the pages. He first saw his acts of kindness, his pursuit of knowledge, and his love for his family as good deeds. But then, his eyes fell upon something terrifying.

Page after page was filled with missed prayers.

Missed Fajr.

Missed Asr.

Isha was late. Each entry felt like a dagger to his soul.

The gatekeeper sighed. “This palace was meant for you. But your prayers were the key. Without them, the gates remain closed.”

Panic filled Hamza’s heart. “No! There has to be a means! Let me enter!”

He attempted to open the gates, but they refused to move. He slammed on them in a desperate attempt to save his heart. Suddenly, a thunderous voice echoed through the skies:

“Return and fix what you have broken.”

A New Beginning

Hamza jolted awake, his body drenched in sweat. He struggled to breathe and felt his chest rise and fall quickly. The dream had felt too real.

He jumped from his bed without thinking and dashed to the mosque to perform wudu. For the first time in years, he prayed Fajr on time.

As he stood before his Lord, tears streamed down his face. He realized how much he had neglected the most important connection in his life—his connection with Allah.

Hamza transformed after that day. He no longer delayed his prayers for the sake of his studies.

He reminded others about the importance of salat.

He found a new peace in his heart that no book or worldly knowledge had ever given him.

The Test of Life

Years passed, and Hamza grew to become one of Baghdad’s greatest scholars. His wisdom was sought by rulers, his books were read by students across lands, and his name became one of honor.

One evening, after a long day of teaching, he was approached by a young student who asked, “Teacher, what was the greatest lesson you ever learned?”

Hamza smiled gently, his eyes filled with memory.

“The greatest lesson I ever learned,” he said, “was not from a book, but from a dream.”

The student looked at him curiously.

Hamza continued, “Knowledge lights the mind, but prayer lights the soul. Without it, even the wisest of men can lose their way.”

The student paid close attention and never skipped his prayer that night. Moral of the Story

Salat is our connection to Allah. Just as a traveler follows the signs on a journey, we must follow our prayers to stay on the right path.

No matter how much knowledge or success we gain, we are nothing without our faith.

It is never too late to change. With just one sincere prayer and one sincere act of repentance, a lost soul can become a guided one. May Allah guide us all to never neglect our prayers. Ameen.