I pray but my heart isn't in it

 🔴 Q : I don't feel like praying, I pray but my heart isn't in it. What should I do in this situation?

🔵 Ans: Imaan (faith) says that the Kalima is acknowledged by the tongue, confirmed by the heart, and fulfilled by the limbs. And until we practically demonstrate our faith, we will not be called believers. And prayer is the pillar of the life of a believer, and a believer always prioritizes prayer, whether he is in comfort or hardship.
A companion, Imran bin Husain (may Allah be pleased with him), who had hemorrhoids, asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about prayer. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Pray standing, and if you cannot pray standing, then pray sitting, and if you cannot pray sitting, then pray on your side." (Bukhari)
You can gauge from this Hadith that prayer is never excused, even for a sick person. If someone cannot pray standing, he should pray sitting, and if he cannot pray sitting, he should pray on his side, but prayer is never excused.
If someone thinks, "I don't feel like praying," then he should immediately repent to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and make a firm intention to pray in all circumstances, whether he feels like it or not. This is because prayer is an action without which one cannot be called a Muslim.
If someone neglects prayer, he will not be called a Muslim, his worship will not be accepted, and he will not be deserving of Allah's mercy and blessings. Rather, he may be tested with trials, afflicted with calamities, and face difficulties in this world and the Hereafter, where the punishment for neglecting prayer is Hellfire.
Therefore, we should fear Allah and prioritize prayer in all circumstances. Some reasons for neglecting prayer include watching movies and serials, attending bad gatherings, keeping bad company, earning haram income, and engaging in sinful activities. We should avoid these things and attend religious gatherings, listen to religious sermons, befriend good people, and engage in good deeds.
Specifically, we should pray the five daily prayers on time, recite the supplications after prayer, recite the morning and evening supplications, recite the supplications before sleeping and waking up, and recite some portion of the Quran daily. We should also give some charity, which will soften our hearts.
 ✒️ Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi Hafizahullah, Jeddah Dawah Center, Saudi Arabia.