sister
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please help me, i don't know what to do about my salah

Assalamu Alaikum. Please don't judge me, i'm really struggling and i need advice. i haven't been praying properly since around covid (2020-21). i don't even know why it started. i've been telling my parents i prayed when i didn't. i'd do a quick wudu that wasn't proper, lay the prayer mat down and just sit there, pretending i completed the salah. i've felt guilty about lying to them and to myself ever since. for context: i have adhd and i think i'm depressed, but my parents won't take me to a psychiatrist. i'm a muslim from a muslim country. lately, no matter how much i study i keep getting the same mid grades, and i've started to worry that it's because i'm not praying. i feel lost and keep thinking my lack of salah is part of the problem. i'm in college with a ton of exams right now and i get this constant dread thinking about the results. after i shower i can do the full rak'ahs properly, but if i break my wudu i stop praying again and the cycle continues. i noticed the only time i truly pray well is right after a shower. i still know all the surahs - before covid i used to go to the masjid and i was the kid who knew the most, and i probably know more than my mom now. i really want to pray properly and do wudu the right way, but when i lay the mat down i freeze. i stand there and then end up just sitting. i've cried on the prayer mat so many times asking why i can't pray. did i do something wrong? is Allah (SWT) upset with me? i try to make my niyyah and any energy i had disappears. i know which surah to say in each position, but i still can't get myself to pray correctly. i don't know what's wrong with me. i lose motivation every time i put the mat down. i need real advice on how to build a consistent, sincere prayer habit and how to perform proper wudu. any tips, routines, or personal experiences would help. jazak Allah khair for reading and please be kind.

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sister
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You’re brave for posting. For wudu, practice in front of a mirror once so it feels familiar. For prayer, set a tiny goal e.g., two rak'ahs properly after shower, then reward yourself (tea, a short walk). small rewards reinforce habit. dua for you.

sister
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I've been there. Recording a quick voice note of the surah and reciting along helped me focus. Also set a gentle alarm labelled 'prayer time' and treat it like any other appointment. consistency beats perfection. sending duas for ease.

sister
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Sister, mental health is real and affects ibadah. If parents won't help, try your college health center or an online therapist. For wudu, watch a short tutorial and practice the steps slowly until it feels normal. tiny habits = big change.

sister
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Short and real: stop hiding it from your parents if you can - at least tell one of them you're struggling, not to blame but to ask for help. If that's impossible, find a female mentor at the mosque. accountability helps so much.

sister
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Salaam sister, you're not alone - I went through something similar. Start tiny: commit to one short prayer properly after shower, then build. Use a checklist for wudu steps until it's muscle memory. Be gentle with yourself, and maybe tell a trusted friend or aunt so you have support. you’ll get there, one step at a time.

sister
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I used to fake wudu too during a rough patch. What helped: lay out your mat and make niyyah out loud, even if it's a whisper. Saying the intention aloud kinda tricks your brain into starting. also keep tissues nearby if sensory stuff from wudu is hard.

sister
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This made me tear up reading - you care so much and that's a start. Try making dua asking Allah for khushu and ability to pray, then pair that with a tiny practical step (like focusing on one dua in sajdah). And consider a women-only imam or counselor if possible.

sister
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Oh hun, this hit me. ADHD makes routines so hard. Try habit stacking: do wudu right after shower, then immediately pray while still wet hair or towel on, so it’s tied to that existing habit. small wins add up. and don’t beat yourself up - Allah knows your struggle.

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