When we think about pillars, we think of the structure that supports a building or a monument.  Our understanding and our approach to the pillars of Islam should be no different. Each pillar comes together to provide a structure that holds up our imaan, and shoulders our struggles of this life in many ways.

Of the five pillars the one that we engage with most regularly is prayer. How we manage it is therefore essential to our daily (and subsequently weekly, monthly, yearly) imaan levels.Here are 5 ways we can build a consistent and quality prayer habit.

1. Plan your day around prayer, not prayer around your day

In today's day and age, where everything is so fast paced, it is extremely easy to get caught up in a web of activities and lose track of time. Thankfully, we have a good idea of exactly what time the five calls to prayer are each day, and once we can figure out a way to schedule our day's tasks around our prayers, then you are setting yourself up for success. No missed prayers, and a guaranteed reset and refocusing period is built in to your day. Whether it's a meeting, appointments kids activities, house chores, most of these tasks can be scheduled with prayer in mind. Put Allah first.

2. Pick a spot or two in the home for consistency

When you have a dedicated corner or area of the house that you pray in, it can aid in maintaining the consistency. You aren't trying to find a spot to pray, you know where it is, and when it's time that's where you go. It also lets everyone else in the house take it as such and can often aid you in praying together (which is #3).

3. Pray together when you can 

Pray with family members when you can. Not only does it mean greater reward for your prayer, but it is a great act for the family to do together. As the saying goes, "the family that prays together, stays together". We often get so caught up in our day-to-day, that we don't spend quality time to connect with those we share a roof with. Those moments in prayer together and those that follow can be truly blessed for all in re-centering as a family. It is also great time to share reminders and cultivate that habit in children, as they see parents and elders doing it together.

4. Make an effort to pray as early as possible

Praying as early as possible is highly encouraged act.¹Building this into your daily plan. Praying as early as possible eliminates the possibility of missed or rushed prayers. It gives you a window to work in for the days when things may not go according to plan, plus you get the reward for a consistent effort and the intention to maintain one (whenever possible).

5. Build your Quran & Dua Repository

One of the things we all face with prayer, is a lack of concentration. When you couple that with the fact that it is such an oft-repeated act, it may be reduced to motions. In order to sustain a higher level of focus and connection in your prayer, learn some new duas that you can recite in various positions in prayer. Learn new surahs to make sure you are working from a larger repository for your actual Quran recitation. Not reciting the same surahs means you have to focus and lends to a sweeter prayer experience.

These are just some of several ways we can build and sustain a good prayer habit in our days. What are some of the ways you do so? Share your ideas below!

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¹ The Prophet (saw) said, "The best of deeds in the sight of Allah is salah at the beginning of its time" (Bukhari)