Question: In the first of the 54 obligations (fard) listed in the book İslam Ahlakı, it is stated: "It is obligatory (fard) to know Allah as One and never to forget Him." However, from morning till evening, we forget very often. If we are neglecting this obligation, does that mean we are constantly committing what is forbidden (haram)?
ANSWER
A Muslim who performs the five daily salats and refrains from what is forbidden (haram) is not considered to have forgotten Allah. By performing one salat and then awaiting the next, we remain in a constant state of worship and do not forget Allah. When we go to bed at night with the intention of rising for the Salat al-Fajr, we are engaged in worship even while asleep until morning and thus have not forgotten Allah. Though sleep is a state of complete heedlessness (ghaflah), solely by virtue of our intention, our sleep too becomes an act of worship.

Everything done by one who performs the five daily salats and works with a sound intention becomes an act of worship.

Because Allah the Exalted is most compassionate, most merciful, and most forgiving, He has commanded the five daily salats so that our errors between them may be erased. The meaning of a noble hadith is as follows:

(Just as the dirt of one who bathes five times a day is cleansed, so too are the sins of one who performs the five daily salats.) [Bukhari]

Islamic scholars have said: "One who performs the five daily salats correctly has fulfilled the gratitude owed for all blessings." It is necessary to remember Allah the Exalted, to mention Him, and to give thanks to Him continuously, twenty-four hours a day. This, however, is not possible in a state of heedlessness (ghaflah). Therefore, it is stated: "Whoever performs the five daily salats, because they will think of the next salat after each one and because they will think of the Salat al-Fajr when going to bed, will have remembered Allah and given thanks to Him throughout the entire day." Many such glad tidings have been given to those who perform the five daily salats.

Never forgetting Allah the Exalted means striving to do everything in accordance with Islam.

A person who makes this intention every morning, "I am going to work to earn a livelihood for myself and my family, to not leave them dependent on anyone, to be able to worship Allah the Exalted in comfort and purity, and to walk the path of the Hereafter," always earns reward (thawab). All of that person's work becomes an act of worship. (Kimya-i Saadat)

Likewise, a student who goes to school and makes the intention, "I am going to school so that, once my education is complete, I may serve Muslims and people. O my Lord, grant me beneficial knowledge!" earns reward (thawab) at every moment while studying at school and at home. Such a student is not considered to have forgotten Allah. Another person who strives to refrain from something by saying, "This would be sinful," or who wishes to do something by saying, "This will earn reward (thawab)," evidently has not forgotten Allah.