The obligatory pillars of Islam are not optional; they are the direct commands of Allah, and taking them seriously changes everything. When believers hold the five daily prayers on time and read the Quran daily, the effects show up in the heart, the body, the nervous system, and in how Islam is represented to the world. I want to share why this matters so much to me, especially in this region.
Obligatory Means Not Optional
The obligatory pillars prescribed in the Quran are obligatory (not optional), that means that if you believe in God, you would respect His commands and get to the prayer mat 5 times a day as well as reading Quran daily with no excuses.
Depending on the level you are at, reciting Dua and Zikr are also essential for our protection against Shaytan.
The word obligatory carries weight. If we truly believe in Allah, we do not treat His commands as suggestions. The prayers, the Quran, and the daily Dua and Dhikr are how we prove our belief in action.
What Happens Without the Daily Prayers
If we don’t do the 5 daily prayers consistently (including Fajr on time), we won’t be able to maintain our connection; we will constantly be getting triggered, acting irrationally, making decisions based on emotion; we won’t be able to process all our negative emotions constantly and get purified by asking for forgiveness; we will be living in a constant state of fear.
You can feel the difference when the prayers slip even for a day. The mind gets noisier, the reactions get sharper, and the heart loses its centre. Consistency in Salah is what holds everything else in place.
Fear Puts the Nervous System in Overdrive
When we are living in a constant state of fear, our sympathetic nervous system stays in overdrive, and our body cycles between hyper-arousal and a feeling of shutdown (the freeze response), leading to our physical bodies becoming dysregulated, and this is why health problems start to manifest.
I saw it with my own eyes working as a nurse.
The link between disconnection from Allah and physical illness is undeniable. As a nurse in the UK, I witnessed this pattern for years without being able to name the root cause, and now it all makes sense.
Most of the World Is Not Connected to God
Most of the world is not connected to God.
In the UK we don’t even talk about God.
At least in the Middle East, most people over here believe in God.
Coming from the UK to the Middle East showed me how rare belief has become in some parts of the world. In the West, God is barely spoken about, and that silence is felt in the state of people’s hearts.
The Problem With Non-Practicing Muslims
But the problem I found when I accepted Islam is that most Muslims don’t pray, let alone read the Quran regularly; these habits are essential to become more conscious and aligned with God’s attributes.
People who consider themselves Muslims but are not practicing may give Islam a bad reputation because they are not able to represent the religion accurately.
This is one of the reasons Islam is so misunderstood in the world. The people carrying the label are not always living the practice, and that gap shapes what outsiders think Islam actually is.
You Have to Really Believe for This to Make Sense
However, I do also understand that it’s complicated if you were brought up in a Muslim family that prays but doesn’t actually sincerely believe; then you will naturally think to yourself, what is the point, it doesn’t make sense.
You have to really believe in order for this all to make sense.
Practice without belief is empty. The prayers only carry their true weight when they come from a heart that actually believes in Allah and wants to draw closer to Him.
Islam Is the Only True Religion Accepted by God
Islam is the only true religion that is accepted by God, so learning about Islam is the only way to really know God accurately and understand what we are doing in our lives that is sinful.
That’s why I am reaching out to all of the Muslims that do actually believe in God.
The message is a call to action for anyone who genuinely believes. If you know Islam is the truth, then honouring the pillars is the natural next step, not something to postpone.
Daily Praying and Reading Quran Keeps Us Steadfast
The daily praying and reading the Quran is really important to maintain our connection and protection, it keeps us steadfast and influential, and it makes us conscious of our behavior on a daily basis with each interaction.
When reading English translations of the Quran, it is essential to get a high-quality translation; otherwise, you won’t get the information accurately.
The right translation matters. A poor translation can distort the meaning and cause confusion, so choosing a well-respected, scholar-backed version is important for anyone reading in English.
Every Action Is Being Recorded
We have to stay conscious and remember that every single action is being recorded.
I am really excited about what we can all build here together in this region.
Living with the awareness that every word and action is written keeps the heart in check throughout the day. When the whole region raises this consciousness together, what can be built here has no limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are The Obligatory Pillars Not Optional?
Because they are commands from Allah in the Quran. If you truly believe in God, you respect His commands and get to the prayer mat five times a day and read the Quran daily with no excuses. Dua and Dhikr are also essential for protection against Shaytan.
What Happens If We Skip The Daily Prayers?
Without consistent Salah, including Fajr on time, we lose our connection with Allah. We get triggered easily, act irrationally, make emotional decisions, fail to process negative emotions, cannot purify through repentance, and end up living in a constant state of fear.
How Does Disconnection Affect Physical Health?
When we live in constant fear, the sympathetic nervous system stays in overdrive, cycling between hyper-arousal and the freeze response. This dysregulation is why physical health problems begin to manifest. I saw this pattern with my own eyes working as a nurse.
Why Do Non-Practicing Muslims Affect Islam’s Reputation?
Because people who consider themselves Muslim but do not practice are not able to represent the religion accurately. When their behaviour is not aligned with Islam, others form the wrong picture of what Islam actually is.
What Should I Look For In A Quran Translation?
Choose a high-quality English translation; otherwise, you won’t get the information accurately. A poor translation can distort meaning, so it is important to use a well-respected, scholar-backed version if you are reading in English.