:salam2:
you too? Poor dear, I think I can relate somewhat. I have never missed a prayer, or obligatory things, but I think I know exactly what you mean. (this comes generally - as I haven't entirely stopped reading and i still have this habit but if you want just advice...)
First of all, the books I was reading were kind of pointless. I mean yes, they drew you away from the circle of reality and put you in an different situation. In a life in which all the things were perfectly planned out, and the conclusion was already mapped, only you had to get to it. It was easy this world, because all the characters had their decisions chosen for them by the author. However, if we were to step away from this bubble, we might realize how unreal it really is. I mean... does it help us in our lives? In our daily applications and movements and whatever we do? Does it teach us about somebody we could come to admire because they were REAL or does it just cause facination of the imagination? The imagination of an author and their frankenstein creation. For just as Frankenstein was made up of different parts of people, so are characters in stories. They simply aren't real. SO ask yourself, "WHY am i reading this?"
Having realized that... it's easier to go away. Just tell yourself - "they aren't real, and they can wait eternity - while i can't
"
NOW if it's not ficticious books... i'm out of my league... i don't know what kind of person has an addiction to them, or how to cure that.
hehe I have this problem that if i dont finish a book a start within that day, it drives me crazy. So what I try to do, if i do have to read it, i do it after i get most things done, or else i end up delaying everything i do, telling myself "five more minutes can't hurt"
OR i make conditions. I can read one chapter but after that I have to do so much work or I'm not allowed to touch the book again. And if I do touch it, that means i have to do triple the work before i can touch it again.
This probably sounds crazy to a lot of people out there, but i'm serious ... :muslim_child:
HEY but i want you to know, there's nothing wrong in knowing and loving to read, just use it to help yourself advance in other ways as well, ex: write ALONG with what you read... watch their styles or how the author directs things, what makes you like how they write, how you can use it yourself. Or keep good words you like from them, then just when writing, make use of it in which ever way you can. So that the reading isn't just fruitless.
And your mother isn't going to kill you ... :astag: The most she can do is try to ban you from the library (which i've generally been done). I can tell you see her point of view as well, so just learn to defy yourself.
RATHER learn to defy and deny your Nafs. What i've seen helps sometimes, is when in your head you know something is good (say making sunnah prayers) and you find yourself making excuses, (i'm too tired, maybe tomorrow) IMMEDIATLY get up and do that thing which you don't want to. learn to rebel against yourself! And then when you see something bad, and find excuses... just say no and immediatly get up and leave right then and there as well.
Don't give yourself the time in which to be indecisive. Be spontaneous and don't regret.
ok i gotsta pray ~ take care ~ wasalam
