Published on May 18 2009 by Qaid Majils, New Malden

  

Prayer is the pillar of every religion. It takes precedence over other acts of worship since it arises as one of the necessary implications of faith. This is due to its having a great effect in nurturing the souls and drawing one close to Allah. There is nothing that can correct the soul, strengthen it and make it desire the virtuous actions and noble manners more than prayer.

The prayer is the action that truly distinguishes the believer from the disbeliever as declared by the Holy Prophet (saw) "...the covenant between us and them is the prayer; whoever leaves it has committed disbelief..."

The prayer has been ordained in the manner that is the best and most complete form of worshipping the creator; the blessed and exalted. It includes the glorification by the limbs, articulation of the tongue, to the movements of our hands, legs and head; every part of the body humbling itself before Allah in this great action of worship.

Apart from the physical attributes, an important part is played within us all; the heart performs the servitude binding upon it.  The prayer includes praising, extolling, glorifying and imploring for divine help; standing before Allah in a state of humility and submission.

One stands in the condition of a slave; helpless, weak and with no command over one’s affairs. The servant seeks to humbly draw closer to Allah through reciting Thy speech; then he bows his back in submission to Thee alone. Then he straightens again in order to prepare himself for an act of humility greater than the bowing: The Prostration. He places his head, the noblest part of his body, on the ground in a state of complete submission before his Lord; humbling himself before Thy greatness. His heart yearning for Thy closeness; his body, deep in absolute humility and his mind at complete peace.

The servant continues moving between these states until he is about to complete his prayer. He sits in the position of Tashahhud; glorifying Thy Lord, invoking peace and blessings upon thy messenger: The Holy Prophet (saw).

This was the tenacious practice and example of our Beloved Prophet of Islam; bestowed upon this world as a mercy to mankind. Subsequently, through the steadfast observance of his prayers especially the Tahajjud prayers; Allah granted the Greatest Prophet of this world; past, present and future to be Divinely granted:

1. Inner Happiness

2. Paradise on Earth

3. Prosperity of Islam

Hence, it is incumbent upon us, as the Khuddam of Allah’s Jama'at; Jama'at Ahmadiyya, to revolve our daily tasks around our daily prayers as taught by Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa (saw) to guide and keep us on the right path; subsequently, gifted with spiritual pleasures in this world and the world to come.

Alhamdulillahi Rabil A’alameen

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