In the previous blog post, we reflected on how Salah is the fundamental aspect of fulfilling our purpose. Let us look at some of the descriptions of Salah.
Salah- A Domain of Tranquility for the Believers.
Ibn al Qayyim رحم الله calls Salah, divine mercy, and gift to the believers. Firstly, I would like to look at the word believers.
Salah is meaningful only to those who have Eeman, Taqwa, and Tawakkul, which are the three primary qualities of a believer.
Those who have strived to learn who Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ is, as well as reflected and recognized their need to worship Him alone. It reiterates the point that Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ is in no need of us, but we are indeed in need of Him.
Humans are fragile beings-weaklings. We are thinkers and over-thinkers. It is through this ability to think that we experience our life. Whenever anything happens in our life, big or small, our thoughts start rolling one after the other, and we lead ourselves into our perceived misery. Within the chaos of our minds, we are a respite of peace and tranquility, which is the Salah.
The Salah is compared to a garden, a space that disconnects us from the noise of the Dunya and reconnects us to Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ where our heart truly belongs. It is indeed a gift and the favor from the favors of The Most High.
Salah – The Enjoyment of the Souls.
When you think of enjoyment, what comes to mind? We associate enjoyment with outings with family or friends. Eating can be an enjoyable activity. Anything that appears to give us a feeling of happiness, relaxation, comfort, or delight can be considered enjoyable.
For a believer though, the source of enjoyment is the connection with Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ through Salah. It is an action that the believers derive pleasure from, relaxes them, like a soothing balm for the soul. When the believer stands to pray, they leave behind all the worldly worries and find their relief in the company of Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
Salah – The Essence of Blessings for the Humble Ones.
Humbleness and humility is a sign of complete submission, it is only through this complete obedience can we experience the true essence of the blessings that Salah entails. As believers, we do not humble ourselves in this manner in the presence of anyone other than Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
Humility is the conviction that only Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ has the ability to provide the peace, the ease, the contentment, the fulfillment, the sustenance and so much more to our hearts, this conviction and reliance upon Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ is the means of receiving His choicest and most special blessings upon our lives as believers.
Salah – The Test for the Sincere Ones.
Salah is a distinguishing factor between Eeman and Kufr, and Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ admonishes us in the Quran in the form of a rhetorical question:
“Do people think once they say, “We believe”, that they will be left without being put to the test?”
[Surat Al-Ankabut:2]
It means to say that Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ will indeed test us, particularly after we ascertain Eeman and its pillars in our hearts.
Salah is an act of worship, but it is also a test.
How is it a test?
The ones who genuinely loves Allah سُبحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ , yearn to meet with Him, rushes at the call-the invitation to talk to Him, five times a day, they look forward to this time with their Rabb, they dress in their best clothes, smell good, prepare for the meeting by sitting in dhikr, before they even stand to pray.
Is this how we feel when we stand for Salah? Do we prepare for it? Are we looking forward to it? Contrarily, if we find ourselves rushing through our prayers, thinking about every inconsequential matter within our Salah, is this not a test of our sincerity?
Salah – A Measure of Success of those on the Right Path.
We now see how Salah is a test of our sincerity. Whenever there is a test, there is an outcome. Salah is the first deed we shall be questioned about on The Day of Judgment. No deed shall be taken into consideration beyond that, with regards that, Salah does become the measure of success for the believers.
The quality of our Salah is the scale that measures our sincerity of intentions. It is a measure of our humility and the purity of our hearts.
Where is our heart when we say Allahu Akbar and stand for prayer? Is the intention intact to meet our Rabb? Is it eager and pleased, looking forward to the meeting, or is it distracted by the pull of our Nafs and the frivolities of this Dunya?
In conclusion, Salah brings forth light and strength to the heart, increases the share of the provision in the Dunya, inspires in others the love of one who prays, the Angels, earth (with its mountains, trees & rivers) rejoice and show happiness for the one who prays.
In addition, Salah transforms into a light and abundant reward for the one who prays in the Akhirah.
What are your top 3 takeaways from this post? Let me know in the comments below In Shaa Allah.
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You can read part 1 here:
Inner Dimensions Series-Part 1 | Reflecting on Our Purpose:
INNER DIMENSION SERIES PART-1
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Until Next time.
