There were still a few minutes to Fajr when his eyes opened. He felt a kind of stinging dryness in his throat, doubtlessly due to thirst. He got out of his bed and was about to head for the kitchen when he heard a wailing sound from somewhere around him. He turned around to see what it was. The sound vanished. It could just have been his mind imagining things, he thought. He went and drank a glass of water and snuggled back into the comfort of his bed.

There were still a few minutes to Fajr when his eyes opened. He felt a kind of stinging dryness in his throat, doubtlessly due to thirst. He got out of his bed and was about to head for the kitchen when he heard a wailing sound from somewhere around him. He turned around to see what it was. The sound vanished. It could just have been his mind imagining things, he thought. He went and drank a glass of water and snuggled back into the comfort of his bed.

It was quite cold out there. He heard the wailing sound again. This time it was much louder and clearer. It sounded like someone was crying. He reached out with his hands and fumbled on the ground. He got his hands on the prayer mat lying there. The moment he groped the prayer mat, the sound vanished.

He (surprised): Were you the one wailing?
Prayer mat: Yes.
He: But why?
Prayer mat: You were awakened by your thirst. You drank water and quenched it! I too am thirsty. But I don’t get anyone who would quench my thirst.
He: Do you want me to bring a glass of water and pour it on you?
Prayer mat: No. This water can not satisfy my thirst. My thirst can only be quenched by the tears of the righteous subjects of Allah, who worship him and ask for repentance from him.
He: Where do I get you such tears from?
Prayer mat: This is what is making me cry. In this dimness of night, leave your bed and offer two rakats (units of prayer) in the presence of Allah. This prayer shall enlighten your pitch-dark grave. The night is about to end. Then muazzin will call out for the Fajr prayer. You don’t have much time. Get up!
He: Leave me to myself (drifts back to sleep).
Prayer mat (after sometime): At least get up to pray Fajr. Prayer of Fajr is the life of heart and soul. Look, the muazzin is calling out: الصلاة خیر من النوم “Prayer is better than sleep”.
You…you run on the call of the world day and night, but when Allah almighty calls upon you, you turn a deaf ear to it. What in the world has happened to you!?
He (irritated): Let me sleep. You know how tired I am when I get back home at night. Let me get my part of sleep.
Prayer mat: Listen. Does this world matter to you more than your religion? Are you going to devote your life to this cruel world?
He (strictly): Now, shut up! Let me sleep. I am tired.
Prayer mat (after being silent for a while, in a sad tone): Ahh! Where have they gone, the people of Fajr! Listen! Haven’t you heard that beautiful teaching of our beloved prophet( SAW):
“One who prayed the prayer before sunrise and the one before sunset( Fajr and Asr respectively), will not have to face the hellfire”
Prophet of Allah (SAW) has also foretold us that:
“Whoever prayed the prayers of cold (Fajr and Asr) shall enter Paradise”
He also taught us that:
“Give good tidings to those who walk to masjid in dark, of perfect light on the day of judgement”
He (PBUH) has also said:
“There is no prayer more burdensome on hypocrites than Isha and Fajr prayers. If they were to know the virtue of them, they would come to them even if they had to crawl.”
He (taken aback): So this means, prayer of Fajr is very important.
Prayer mat: Ya. So, just get up! Get up and get ready for the prayer.
He: Look! I am very tired today. Let me sleep. I will start praying tomorrow onwards. Promise!
Prayer mat (remorsefully ): He who doesn’t have faith in rewards from Allah, finds no condition suitable to do a good deed. Your grave will have quiet enough room for you to sleep. And you will sleep for eras in there. It is then that you will regret not listening to my advice!

The prayer mat went silent.

He slept again. He slept again, just to never wake up again! His time to prove himself righteous had come to an end!