The Inner-Perspectives of the Salat (Pt. 5): Rukoo and Sujood

Follow @AhleDhikr A summary of what Shaykh al-Islam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have Mercy on him) explained:

-Takbeer in Salat is like the Talbiyyah that is always repeated aloud, so that they the praise him and single him out in worship in every step.

-Rukoo: every situation in a persons life is a form of Rukoo; likewise there is no worship except thta it has awe and praise of Him.

-Sujood: it’s the only thing that one does twice in a Rak'ah.

This tells us that:
Allah wants us to be close and ask Him.

It’s the reason why we pray - to show submissiveness.

Its the closest form of Tawbah, so much so that the magicians made Tawbah and made Sujood right away.

-Tashahud: it prepares us to the end our lives; ending it with the words of Tawhid and Du'a.

It also teaches us the mannerism needed in making Du'a; praising and sending peace and blessings upon the Prophet before making Du'a. 

-Takbeer of movements, Khushoo and actions: its repeated as it feeds the soul bite by bite until its full.

As he can't eat in one go, had he did it in one go, how would he benefit from the food and it wouldn’t quench in fact could harm him.

In the Hadith of Abu Musa al-Ashari, "The one who prays without any tranquillity is like someone who is hungry and eats one or two dates and he doesn’t benefit it."

-The number of Rak'at: every rak'ah follows on from each other and it’s like washing the Thobe over and over until its pure.
Each Rak'ah shows thanks for the one before.

Conclusion:

All of this shows the hikmah of the Salat– even if we don’t totally understand all of them.

And Allah Knows best.

May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon the Prophet, his family and his Companions

The Inner-Perspectives of the Salat (Pt. 4): al-Fatiha and Recitation of the Quran

Follow @AhleDhikr A summary of what Shaykh al-Islam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have Mercy on him) explained:

-Recitation: he seeks refuge in his master from his master and this is the greatest form of protection and the only one that can help if the Shaytan cant be cut with the body then it can be via Dhikr and thus the heart. His heart is alive with Dhikr and liberation.

The Shaytan has no case against such a person and flees

-Fatiha: with the setting that the Shaytan is away the person can now counsel his lord with proper attention and care, he can ponder freely and increase in his Eman and feed his intellect.

He pauses at each ayah waiting for his lord to respond:

"My slave has praised me"

"My slave has exalted me"

"My slave has given Me majesty"

Here: if the prayer has no taste then he wont taste anything from it

Hamd: it fills the heavens and earth and between it – thus everything exists because of it to give it to him alone.

It is a huge favour from Allah to be allowed to praise Allah with love and affirm perfection only for Him.

Surah al-Fatihah also helps a person to prepare for the actual standing in front of him

"Master of the Day of Judgement"

-"Guide us": all the books and prophets were sent for to reach ultimate in servitude.

Thus guidance is to be shown (1) guidance and (2) accept it, (3) not led astray, (4) to act and then (5) steadfast, then call to it and then to have Subr. All of these comprise of worship. 

To be continued...

The Inner-Perspectives of the Salat (Pt. 3): Wudhoo, Takbir and the Opening Dua

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A summary of what Shaykh al-Islam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have Mercy on him) explained:

-Wudhoo is purification of the inner and outward self. It includes a cleansing of sins and turning back to Allah (internal) and the washing of the physical limbs (external).

Internal actions of worship will only be sanctioned by a worshipper when he is guided to obey his lord. This will then lead to obedience to his limbs and this perfects his servitude to his Lord. This process removes pride and any form of arrogance before his Lord.

-Takbeer Ihraam signifies that the worshipper is leaving the Dunya in his prayer, that he is present in the palace of the King, declaring His Greatness above anything else. All of this shows that ultimately he has no other objective except Him.

-Dua Istiftaah (the opening Dua) involved praise and extolling of Allah. This exemplifies good manners of the servant to his Master before he asks Him for rectification for his affairs.

To be continued...

The Inner-Perspectives of the Salat (Pt. 2): Importance and Virtues

Follow @AhleDhikr A summary of what Shaykh al-Islam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have Mercy on him) explained:

-It is the coolness of eye, it’s the benchmark of those who want to go forth with ambitions, it feeds the soul, it’s a light and strength, it expands Rizq and it protects against punishment – without any of these, the sins would weigh down the soul, starving it and the limbs. Ones pattern of thinking would follow on from his heart and soul; if the heart becomes infertile likewise the limbs will become barren.

The Wisdom of Legislated Worship

-Negligence of worship is the biggest cause of sins

-The limbs and Adhkaar confirm rectification of the heart – it goes through submissiveness and Tawbah – this can only happen if the heart is alive

-Limbs are used in three ways:

1) The one who makes a trade; he who uses them properly

2) Not using it for what it was made for.

3) They use it with ignorance, either they sin or they do good deeds but with no Ikhlas – they are dormant in action and their intention.

The Importance of Salat

-Salat is a Mercy so that we can gain Allah's Pleasure and the Akhirah.

-It is a favour that every part of out body has Ubduiyyah, but this can only benefit if the heart is there with Khushoo

-Khushoo is like the example is like a person who prepares to meet the king but when he opens the door he turns right and left.

To be continued...

The Inner-Perspectives of the Salat (Pt. 1)

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

This tab will display a series of posts taken from the treatise, 'The Inner-Perspectives of the Salat' authored by Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, may Allah have Mercy on him.

In this treatise he discusses the importance of Salat, its virtues and some of the benefits connected to each action in the prayer.

I ask Allah to make this beneficial for the author and translator when they meet Allah, and that it serves Islam and the Muslims and that he makes us all and our families steadfast upon Islam and this great act of worship.