Pray with pure intention and complete focus to establish a loving connection with God.
Prayer is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam and has a direct connection with God Almighty. To pray with love and affection, the first step is to intend to perform this act for the sake of pleasing God. As mentioned in Surah Al-Imran, verse 19: 'Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam,' understanding and respecting this religion should be our priority. While praying, try to reflect deeply on the verses of the Quran; these divine and radiant verses illuminate the soul. Furthermore, in Surah Al-Muddathir, verse 7, Allah states: 'And do not confer favor to acquire more.' This implies that while performing acts of worship, one should not expect rewards but rather focus on divine love and affection. The best way to enrich your prayer with love is to sit facing the Qiblah, take deep breaths, and clear the mind from worldly thoughts to engage in worship with a calm and refreshed spirit. Recall God’s blessings and His love for His creation to feel a closer connection with Him. Finally, Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 238 underscores the importance of prayer by saying: 'Maintain with care the prayer and the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly.' Hence, with these intentions and attention in prayer, you can read it with love and affection.
Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.
And do not confer favor to acquire more.
Maintain with care the prayer and the middle prayer, and stand before Allah, devoutly.
One day, Mahmoud was preparing for prayer and pondering how he could pray with more love. He thought to himself, 'If instead of praying alone, I reflect on the divine attributes and names of Allah, could I not feel closer to Him?' From then on, during his prayers, he constantly cherished the glorification and praise of the Lord in his heart, feeling as if the heavens had opened within him. Now, prayer was no longer just an obligation for him, but had transformed into a spiritual and loving moment.