Power of Prayer
| Khatib : |
Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: |
237 |
| Khutbah Date: |
05/04/07 |
[b]فَأَقِيمُواْ الصَّلاَةَ إِنَّ الصَّلاَةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا[/b][i]Establish prayer! Surely prayer has been prescribed as a duty unto Believers. [Q4:103] [/i]Yesterday, the first Thursday of May, was the National Day of Prayer, a special day that was proclaimed by President Truman in 1952. Since then, Americans of all faiths participate be each praying in their own way.[b]Prayer in Islam[/b]Prayer in Islam, is worship of Allah the Almighty, Praising and Thanking Him, acknowledging His Sovereignty and committing oneself to obey His Commands and remember Him at all times. It is the central part of a comprehensive way of life, which is based on submission to the Lord of all existence. Salaah is a pillar of Islam and its performance at prescribed times is an obligatory duty upon every mature, mentally sound Believer. It is a manifestation of obedience in practice and an expression and symbol of one’s faith. The Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said that
“Salaah is the core of ‘Ibaadah (servitude to Allah)” and that “the best ‘Ibaadah is Salaah.” Understanding PrayerWhen talking about prayer as a Muslim; there three angles that come to mind;
i. Salaah = ritual prayer (some prescribed, others optional)
ii. Du’aa = supplication (personal at any time in any condition)
iii. Dhikr = constant consciousness of Allah. Dhikr is the companion and spirit of actions, and note how Allah has paired it with salaah which is the best of all acts of worship, and made dhikr the very reason for it, when He says,
Establish salaah (Prayer) for My dhikr (remembrance) [Q20:14]
Dimensions of Prayer - Historical ~ All Messengers of Allah from Adam to Muhammad (peace be upon all of them) were commanded to establish the institution of prayer. This is evident from numerous verses in the holy Qur’an: Abraham (Q 14:37- 40); Isaac and Jacob (Q 21: 73); Moses (Q 20:11-14); Zacharia (Q 3:39); Mary the mother of Prophet Jesus (Q 3:43); Jesus (‘Isa) (Q 19:30-31) peace be upon them.The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) experienced the highest manifestation of the Glory of Allah on the Night of the Mi’raj (ascension). He experienced great joy and the contentment in communion with God; there he was given the gift of prayer and the news that if Muslims observe the institution of prayer, they will enjoy the pleasure and satisfaction of being in communion with Allah. Muhammad (pbuh) therefore said: “Prayer is the Mi’raj of the Believer.”
- Physical & Spiritual ~ Salaah is in fact a constant reminder of the reality of human servitude to Allah. In the holy Qur’an we are commanded strictly to guard the institution of salaah [Q2: 238] for the guarding of prayer is not simply the observance of the exterior physical form; it is both the form and the spirit to which attention is drawn; both the outer and the inner dimensions. In that very same verse we are commanded to stand up in true obedience to Allah. This aims at generating the spirit of humility in relation to the Divine. Very often the external behavior of a person serves as an index to inner devotion or feeling towards the Supreme. The Qur’an reprimands those who merely observe the outward form of salaah but do not conform to its spirit. In Chapter 107 Allah says: “Shame to those worshippers who are unmindful of their prayers. ” These verses indicate that worship does not consist merely of physical rituals. Prayer represents the duties and obligations we owe to Allah and they are called huquq- Allah (obligations due to Allah- the first basic principle of Islam). These verses also purport that the prayers of those hypocritical persons who do not discharge the obligations they owe to Allah’s creations (huquq al-‘ibad, obligations due to humanity at large) are like a body without a soul, a shell without substance. Undoubtedly there is an outward form that must be accompanied by consciousness and the earnest desire to submit to the commands of Allah in word, form and deed. Prayer provides opportunities for harmonious functioning of the outer and the inner dimensions of the human being in order to achieve Divine enlightenment. The ideal balance between the outer and the inner; the physical, mental and spiritual, in salaah, assists human beings to achieve true communion with the Creator.
- Conscience & Consciousness ~ Regular prayer brings about consciousness of the insignificance of the individual creation before the Grandeur and Majesty of the Creator. Humility thus becomes engraved in the psyche of the conscientious worshipper. Such are promised success; “Surely those believers attain success, who humble themselves in their prayer. ” [Q 23: 1-2] A true Believer feels khushu’ and khudhu’ in the prayer due to an increased awareness of the presence of Allah. Khushu’ is a condition of the heart and the mind which results in constant consciousness of the Supreme Being. Khudhu’ is the effect of this consciousness on the physical self which is manifested by submission and humility. “Believers are those who when Allah is mentioned, feel a tremor in their hearts, and when they hear His Signs being rehearsed find that their Faith strengthened, they are of those who establish regular prayer. ” [Q8: 2]
- Prayer, Purity, Patience & Punctuality ~ Wudu (ablution) is essential before every prayer as Allah commands in [Q 5:7]. The Messenger of Allah said, “The key to Paradise is prayer, and the key to prayer is purity.” Ablution removes physical dirt as prayer wipes out spiritual pollution. “Surely, Allah loves those who turn to Him and those who (physically and spiritually) purify themselves” [Q 2: 222]. Ablution is thus a preface to spiritual rejuvenation and moral regeneration, a key to the key- hole of the eternal door of success.Prayer implies a degree of self- discipline in the individual. There exists no restraint from evil better than consistence and conscientious prayer. The Qur’an refers to this, “Establish regular prayer, for it restrains from shameful activity and unjust deeds.” [Q 29: 45].Prayer develops qualities of patience, endurance and contentment; qualities which are essential in the service of justice, equity and goodness and serve as a source of strength in the face of trials and tribulations of life. The believers are directed to seek Allah’s help through prayer:
“O you who believe. Seek help with patience, perseverance and prayer; for God is with those who patiently persevere.” [Q 2: 153] Prayer, on every performance, strengthens one’s will power and reaffirms one’s trust in Allah, while developing the individual emotionally, spiritually and mentally. Allah commands, “Establish regular prayer; for prayer is enjoined at prescribed times” [Q 4:103]. The consistent performance of prayer at stated times, is a training in punctuality and teaches the worshipper the appreciation of time.
- Cardinal Institution ~ As a cardinal institution of Islam, Salaah reflects its religious, spiritual, moral, social, cultural and political objectives. Centers established for congregational prayer (Mosques/ Masajid) serve as the axis for the Ummah (global community of Believers). Salaah is the binding force between Believers; whosoever deliberately breaches this bond by abandoning Salaah, borders on a state of unbelief. It is evident that Salaah is the foremost link between the Believer and Allah. It keeps alive one’s relationship with Allah and ever- conscious of Godliness.
- Expression of Global Unity ~ When Muslims perform Salaah, they pray in the same manner, same prescribed times, face the same qiblah and pray in the same language. Prayer is thus a great force for unification of Muslims worldwide. The uniformity in prayer strengthens universal brotherhood and helps in the realization that all Muslims are on fraternity. Salaah is an expression of supra-national unity which is one of the greatest social ideals of Islam. It induces in Believers a spirit of universal brotherhood and sisterhood. Salaah is a constant reminder to the Believers that they are brethren in Faith, who are to remain united as a single people, otherwise they will fall into disputes through which all depart their power and their unity will be shattered;
“And obey Allah and His Messenger; and fall not into disputes, lest you lose heart and your power depart; rather be patient and preserving” (Q 8:46).
Du’aa / SupplicationCalling upon Allah at any time in your own words is an indication of one’s acknowledgement of ones dependence on Allah. Yu say with your lips what comes from your heart, as ‘Allama Iqbal said; Lab pea ate hein du’a binke tamanna mary “My wishes become my prayer when they reach my lips”. These supplications of the heart should be an essential component of our daily relations with the Divine. Some of the well-known supplications of the Prophet included ....
اللهم انا نسألك الطيبات و فعل الخيراتو ترك المنكرات و حب المساكينO Allah! We ask thee for what is good and beneficial,for the capacity to do good, the ability to abstain from wrongfulness, and love of (and for) the poor.اللهم انا نسألك ايمانا كاملا و يقينا صادقاو رزقا واسعا و قلبا خاشعا و لسانا ذاكرا O Allah! We ask for completion in our faith,Truthfulness I our convictions, sufficiency in our provisions, humility in our hearts anda tongue that repeats Thy praise.اللهم اغفرلنا ما أسررنا و ما اعلناما اخطأنا و ما تعتدنا ما علمنا و ما جهلناO Allah! Forgive us our sins; those done secretlyand publicly, those done inadvertently and deliberately, whether knowingly or unknowingly.اللهم انا نعوذ بك من الهَم و الحُزن و العَجز و الكَسَلو البُخل و الجُبن و ضَلَع ِ الدين و غلبة الرجالO Allah! We seek refuge in Thee from anxiety, grief,incapacity, laziness, stinginess, cowardice; from the burden of debt andfrom the domination of people.It is said that when you want to speak to Allah, make a du’aa; and when you wish Allah to speak to you, read the Qur’an.
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