Siti Hoiriyah (Photo: Mike Brown)Siti Hoiriyah, a Muslim from Malaysia, speaks about her experience of listening and inviting the Divine to guide her. This talk was given at the Tools for Change conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 5 March 2010.

As a Muslim I have an obligation to pray canonical prayers five times a day: before sunrise, at noon, before sunset, and after sunset. Each prayer takes 5 – 10 minutes. And I used to do it very fast because I had something else to do or to finish, being busy with the world.

As soon as I finished the prayer then I would make a quick dua or supplication then leave the praying mat.

When I was introduced by friends here to the idea of listening to the inner voice, sit down in quiet place and let the Divine guide you and help you change, whatever changes you want to see and need to have in your life, then I decided to practice it after my 5 times prayers. I decided to spend longer time on my praying mat, not leaving the mat immediately and having my quiet time for another 10 to 15 minutes and remain silent on my sajadah or praying mat.

The result is Alhamdulillah Praise to Lord that I have been able to see my self change little by little and I was able to forgive my brothers and tolerate other family members and my daily matters with my children and spouse. Whenever I have conflict or there is a need to change something in me, then that 10 minutes extra time after the 5 times prayer has been a real Tool for me and with the help, guidance and Light from Allah Taala.

In that extra 10-15 minutes after praying I am able to reflect my self upon the values of honesty, love, purity, and unselfishness.

It may sound simple, but it needs a continous practice and steadfastness. And I think the Muslim is fortunate because Allah Taala has given a tool to reach HIM through the Solah or the 5 times prayer. I remembered during the prophet Muhammad time, the prophet asked one of his sahabah or companion He said; If you bath in a river and wash your body five times a day, will there still be dirt in your body? Then the companion answered, No..then the prophet said it’s the same thing with the 5 times prayer”.

And now, what we, the Muslims need to do is just to spend longer time alone with HIM and really listen and be Mindful in our quiet time alone with HIM . I also remembered the saying of the Prophet that “as long as you remain still on your praying mat and remember God after the prayer then the angel will keep on praying for you”.

By spending longer time after the prayer and being alone in my quiet room full of blessings, I am able to listen and reflect and change myself into a better me and solved many of my worldly problems. And I hope that my friends here can also use this tool to change too, in whatever faith or practice you are having. Thank you