Need Help with Obligatory Prayers as a New Muslim in a Hindu Household
Assalamu alaykum! I recently took my shahada, and I'm so grateful to have found Islam as the truth. But I'm really struggling to keep up with the five daily prayers. Here’s the thing: my whole family, my relatives, my friends, and even the people I work with at our family business are all practicing Hindus. I rely on my father financially, and I have a wife and a little one to take care of. Alhamdulillah, my wife knows about my shahada and she's been accepting of it, but she's made it clear that I can't let her family know. Her parents are extremely against Islam, and my own family would never accept me either. They have a very negative view of Islam-may Allah guide them. So, during prayer times, I'm either at home or at the office. If anyone caught me praying, or even found out, I'd be shamed and likely kicked out of the family. My father might cut me off from the business and any money, and I don't have a degree or a house of my own. I honestly don't know how I would support my wife and son if that happened. I’ve been looking for ways to pray without them noticing. From what I've read, I understand that by Allah’s mercy, I can combine Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha. I also heard that I can pray silently in my mind, just whispering the words while sitting at my desk or in the living room, even skipping the physical prostrations and bowing. Is this allowed? I really want to do what's right and grow closer to Allah. Please, if anyone has advice or knowledge on this, I’d be so grateful.