Why we Pray?
Warhol
After a long and hectic day at work, how difficult it is for a tired person
to go out to the mosque and concentrate on his prayers to Allaah, the
Almighty. Snuggled up in a warm and cozy bed, how difficult it is to get up
at the call of the Mu`azzin: "Come to prayer! Come to success!"
The famous doctor and philosopher, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), recalls such a
moment in his life. One cold and icy night, he and his slave were resting at
an inn in a remote part of Khuraasaan. During the night, he felt thirsty, so
he called to his slave to bring him some water. The slave had no desire to
leave his warm bed, so he pretended not to hear Ibn Sina’s call. But
finally, after repeated calls, he reluctantly got up and went to fetch the
water. A little while later, the melodious sound of the azaan (call to
prayer) filled the air. Ibn Sina began to think about the person calling the
people to prayer. "My slave, ‘Abdullaah, he mused, has always respected me
and admired me. He seizes any opportunity to lavish praise and affection on
me, but tonight he preferred his own comfort to my needs. On the other hand,
look at this Persian slave of Allaah: He left his warm bed to go out into
the chilly night, he made ablution in the icy water of the stream, and then
he ascended the high minaret of the mosque to glorify Him Whom he truly
serves: "I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah." Ibn Sina records:
"I learned the essence of true love, that love which results in complete
obedience." The love of Allaah demands total and unconditional obedience.
Allaah, the Almighty says: { Say [oh, Muhammad!]: "If you love Allaah,
follow me: Allaah will forgive you your sins, for Allaah is Oft-forgiving,
Most Merciful } (Soorah 3:31)
Prayer: A Cry of the Inner Soul
His arrogance and pride have often led man to behave as an oppressor and a
tyrant. Some men have been carried away by their own self-importance that
they have even claimed divinity. Pharoah, the ruler of Egypt, was among
those who announced: "I am your supreme Lord!" With his sense of greatness
and pride, Pharoah subjugated the Israelites and made their lives wretched
and miserable.
But is man really as strong and great as his ego tells him? The Qur`aan
tells us the reality of man’s nature: { It is Allaah Who created you in a
state of weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after
strength, gave you weakness and a hoary head: He creates what He wills, and
He is the All-knowing, the All-powerful } (Soorah 30:54)
Weakness in the beginning and weakness in the end: This is the essence of
man. He is so weak and helpless at birth that his entire existence depends
on his parents and his family. If he were to be abandoned in these first
crucial years, he could not survive on his own. He needs a gentle and loving
hand, not only in his infancy, but in his childhood and even in his teenage
years. As this child enters the years of youth and independence, he begins
to take control of his own life. He looks with pride at his strong physique,
his handsome features and his many talents. He begins to despise those of
lesser abilities, even scorning his parents, who exhausted their own health
to nurture him. He becomes unjust and cruel, using his strength and vigour
to dominate others. He thinks he is master, free to act as he wills. But
does this youth, these good looks last forever? In only a few decades, he
begins to lose his strength…his youth is replaced by old age. Weakness in
the beginning, weakness in the end."
The message is clear: The real Master is Allaah. He Alone is Mighty, He
Alone, is Great. He Alone is never tired, never needs rest, is never
dependent upon anyone. Allaahu Akbar! - Allaah is the Greatest! In our
everyday lives, we say a warm thank you for the small acts of kindness which
others do for us. So what about thanking Allaah, Who, in His infinite Mercy,
has provided for every single one of our needs. Just observe the beauty and
perfection of the earth around you and fall down in gratitude to your Lord.
Prayer: The Ascension for a Believer
After the Messenger of Allaah e was commissioned for Prophethood, the first
thing he was commanded to do by Allaah was to pray. The angel Jibreel u came
to him and a spring of water gushed out of the rocks in front of them.
Jibreel u then showed Allaah’s Messenger how to make ablution. He then
showed him how to offer prayers to Allaah. He began to pray two rak`ah twice
a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. He then went home and
showed his wife Khadeejah what he had learnt from the angel Jibreel u.
From that time, the Prophet e never went through a day without praying. Just
before his migration to Madinah, he was taken on a night journey to
Jerusalem and then to the heavens (Mi`raaj). During this journey, Allaah,
Almighty, ordered him to pray five times a day. This prayer was a gift given
to every Believer to enable him to experience a spiritual ascension five
times a day. The Prophet said: "The prayer is the Mi`raaj of the Believer."
It gives every Muslim the chance to communicate with his Lord. During each
prayer, the Muslim recites Soorah Al-Faatihah: This recitation is not a dull
monologue by the Believer, but Allaah promises that it is a conversation
between Him and the worshipper. The Messenger of Allaah reported that
Allaah, the Almighty says: ‘When my slave says in his prayer: "All praise is
for Allaah, the Lord of the worlds," I say: "My slave has praised Me" When
he says: "The Merciful, the Compassionate, Master of the Day of Judgement,"
I say: "My slave has glorified Me." When he says: "You Alone we worship and
your Aid we seek," I say: "This is between Me and My slave." When he says:
"Show us the Straight Path," I say: "This is for My slave, and I give My
slave what he wants."
The Messenger of Allaah once said: "Prayer is the pillar of religion."
(Narrated by Al-Baihaqi) He also informed us that Islaam is built upon five
pillars, the second being to establish prayer five times a day. (Narrated by
Al-Bukhaari) This makes the image very clear: Islaam is like a building
supported by five columns; remove just one column and the entire building
weakens. In the same way, when a person stops praying, his faith becomes
weak, and the mildest blows can cause it to crumble. The prayer is so very
important that the Prophet said: "Verily, between man and polytheism and
disbelief is abandoning prayer." (Narrated by Muslim)
Allaah says, concerning the plight of the disbelievers on the Day of
Judgement, that they will be asked by the Believers: { "What led you into
the Hell-fire?" They will say: "We were not of those who prayed." } (Soorah
74:42-43). Allaah also says: { Successful indeed are the Believers, those
who humble themselves in their prayers } (Soorah 23:1-2), and: { And those
who guard [strictly] their worship, such will be the honoured ones in the
Gardens [of Bliss] } (Soorah 70: 34-35).
Allaah has emphasized the need for humility and concentration in prayers.
There is no doubt that Satan is the most bitter enemy of man; he always
tries to disturb the Believer’s prayers. He (the worshipper) finds his mind
suddenly engulfed with memories, problems, worries, work and his family… and
he will often find himself wondering whether he has prayed three rak`ah or
four. This is how Satan steals the prayer. Man was created only to worship
Allaah. He says: { I created not the jinns and mankind except to worship
me } (Soorah 51:56). Man is to live in this world as a worshipper of Allaah
and prayer is the best for of worship. On the Day of Judgement, man will
have to answer for his deeds. Allaah says: { Then shall you be questioned
about the joy [you indulged in] } (Soorah 102:8)
(Source: An article by Dr. Shoiab Hassan)
__________________
Know Your enemy!
No time to waste. Act now!
Tomorrow it will be too late
What You Don?t Know Can Kill You!