Praying is like brushing your teeth

I like to use this analogy and I remember it every time I am doing things that seem to contradict with the characteristics of a Muslim who prays.

There is never a bad time to begin brushing your teeth. There is never a time when it is inappropriate to be brushing your teeth.

There is a popular belief that it is better not to pray at all then to pray inconsistently. I am totally against this. Just because you don't brush your teeth every day doesn't mean that it is bad to brush them every once and a while.

I once heard of a guy who started praying even though he is leading a life that others consider un-Islamic. He was told that his prayers will not be accepted because of the contradiction in his lifestyle. To me this is similar to telling someone who ate too much candy that he should not bother brushing his teeth.

Just because you ate too much candy doesn't mean that you shouldn't brush your teeth. On the contrary, it is because you ate too much candy that brushing your teeth is especially important.

Similarly, just because you are filthy doesn't mean that you shouldn't take a shower.

Good deeds she never be belittled. Habits are acquired gradually and it is the small steps that make the big difference. Good habits take time to build. An all or nothing mentality only sets you up for failure.

Stopping prayer only makes you to feel bad about yourself and encourages you to indulge in behaviors that you want to avoid.

Praying is also like brushing your teeth in that you should not discourage someone from doing it just because they do it wrong or insufficiently.

A half-ass job is better than no job at all

I think that people who find it very difficult to make wudu should be given permission to skip wudu when they feel that it causes them hardship.

Praying without wudu may not be perfect, but it is better than not praying at all. After all, doesn't the ayah about wudu say that "God does not want to cause hardship for you"?

Just as it is not useful to tell someone, "you either brush your teeth right, or you don't brush them at all," it is not useful to tell someone, "you either pray right or you don't pray at all."

I think of it this way: praying without wudu is better than not praying at all. It's better to bend than to break.

Prayer can also be compared to exercising

Prayer can also be compared to exercising. It is important to do it regularly. You might give yourself a break from time to time, but you should get back on track as soon as you can so you don't drift away.

Also, when you start exercising you should begin slowly in order to give yourself realistic expectations and avoid crashing and giving up. As the weeks, months and years go by you will find that you will gradually develop habit, endurance, enjoyment and benefit.