Can You Return to Prayer After a Long Break? – Fatwa Official Answers
An Egyptian Fatwa official explains how to return to regular prayer after a long absence, emphasizing that consistency begins with making prayer a daily priority.
Dr. Ali Fakhr, Secretary of Fatwa at Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta, responded to a question from a woman asking how she could return to prayer after being away for a long time. He explained that the first step is realizing that prayer is not a seasonal habit limited to Ramadan, but a permanent obligation and a spiritual link between a person and their Creator.
He urged everyone to reflect on why they remain committed during Ramadan but neglect prayer afterward. True understanding, he said, lies in recognizing that prayer is a lifelong act of worship, not a temporary practice tied to emotion or occasion.
Dr. Fakhr advised that anyone struggling to maintain prayer should make it their top priority—responding immediately to the call to prayer and setting aside distractions. Maintaining this practice for just one week, he said, helps implant the habit of prayer deeply in the heart until it becomes an inseparable part of daily life.
He also recommended focusing first on the obligatory prayers before adding voluntary ones, along with gradual engagement in Quran recitation and daily supplications. He stressed that steadfastness in fulfilling the obligations is the foundation of genuine and lasting spiritual discipline, assuring that sincere efforts to return to God are always met with divine acceptance.
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