Rediscovering 2/22/2017. Importance of Salat. Focus of the heart بسم هللا الرحمن الرحیم. Focus. Comprehension. Greatness. Shame. Awe/fear.

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Rediscovering 2/22/2017. Importance of Salat. Focus of the heart بسم هللا الرحمن الرحیم. Focus. Comprehension. Greatness. Shame. Awe/fear."

Osborn Mason
5 years ago
Views:

بسم هللا الرحمن الرحیم Rediscovering Focus Comprehension Greatness Shame Awe/fear Hope Sincerity Importance of Salat الصالة عمود الدین مثلها کمثل عمود الفسطاط اذا ثبت العمود ثبتت االوتاد االطناب و

If the pillar is stably fixed, the pegs and ropes remain stable, but if the pillar inclines and breaks, neither peg nor rope remains fixed.

It is the first thing to be considered from amongst the deeds of man, so if his prayer is valid, the rest of his deeds will be considered, and if his prayer is void, then the rest of his deeds will

1 بسم هللا الرحمن الرحیم Rediscovering Focus Comprehension Greatness Shame Awe/fear Hope Sincerity Importance of Salat الصالة عمود الدین مثلها کمثل عمود الفسطاط اذا ثبت العمود ثبتت االوتاد االطناب و اذا مال العمود و انکسر لم یثبت وتد و الطنب Prayer is the pillar of religion, its likeness is as the likeness of the pillar of a tent. If the pillar is stably fixed, the pegs and ropes remain stable, but if the pillar inclines and breaks, neither peg nor rope remains fixed. - Imam al-baqir (as) Importance of Salat إن عمود الدین الصالة وهي أو ل ما ی نظر فیه من عمل ابن آدم فإن صحت ن ظر في عمله وإن لم تصح لم ی نظر في بقیة عمله Verily the pillar of religion is the prayer. It is the first thing to be considered from amongst the deeds of man, so if his prayer is valid, the rest of his deeds will be considered, and if his prayer is void, then the rest of his deeds will not be taken into consideration. -The Prophet (s) Qalb center for cognition emotion Ḥuthūr al-qalb focus of mind and heart Dhihn center for cognition Presence of mind focus of mind only الیقبل هللا صالة عبد الیحضر قلبه مع بدنه Allah does not accept the prayer of that servant of his whose heart is not present along with his body. 1

ان العبد لیصلی الصالة ال یکتب له سدسها و العشرها و انما یکتب للعبد من صالته ما عقل منها Sometimes it occurs that a servant offers a full prayer but neither a sixth of the prayer, not even a tenth of

2 ان العبد لیصلی الصالة ال یکتب له سدسها و العشرها و انما یکتب للعبد من صالته ما عقل منها Sometimes it occurs that a servant offers a full prayer but neither a sixth of the prayer, not even a tenth of the prayer, is written for him. The amount of reward is written for the servant for his prayer commensurate with his focus. Salat legally valid No punishment No spiritual impact Prohibiting evil Ascension to God إ ن ني أ ن ا ا لل ال إ ل ه إ ال أ نا ف اعب دني و أ ق م الص الة ل ذ كري ركعتان خفیفتان فی تفكر خیر من قیام لیلة Two very quick and easy units of prayer done with focus is better than praying the whole night. Indeed I am Allah there is no god except Me. So worship Me, and maintain the prayer for My remembrance. Ṭā Hā, 14 ف و یل ل لم ص لین Woe to them who pray ال ذین ه م ع ن ص الت ه م ساهون those who are heedless of their prayers Al-Mā ūn, 4-5 یا أ ی ه ا ال ذین آم نوا ال ت قر ب وا الص الة و أ نت م س كارى ح ت ى ت عل موا ما ت قولون O you who have faith! Do not approach prayer when you are intoxicated, [not] until you know what you are saying al-nisā, 43 2

for my ummah is that of a stream flowing at your doors, then what does one of you

would there remain any filth on his body?

Focus on what is most important to you distractions Realize prayer is a priority

not a priority easily distracted by other things Increase conviction in the DofJ

salvation Sheikh Bahjat (r) Prioritize in practice Designate specific times for prayer

3 Prayer vs. Other acts of worship charity words fasting acts martyrdom The rank of the five prayers for my ummah is that of a stream flowing at your doors, then what does one of you suppose if there was dirt on his body and he then washes in that river five times a day, would there remain any filth on his body? So too, by God, is the five prayers to my ummah. Focus on what is most important to you distractions Realize prayer is a priority Strengthen awareness of God Why can t we focus in prayer? not a priority easily distracted by other things Increase conviction in the DofJ Recognize it s the only effective way to attain proximity no secret alleyway to salvation Sheikh Bahjat (r) Prioritize in practice Designate specific times for prayer in your daily schedule Hadith Focus on what is most important to you distractions Pray on time willfully delaying shows lack of commitment bad effect on spiritual development Think about importance we give in other areas of life Why can t we focus in prayer? not a priority easily distracted by other things 3

General distractions material world م ا الح یاة الد

nothing but the means for deceiving us General

الد نیا Know that the life of this world is just ل

و ت فاخ ر ب ین ك م and mutual vainglory among you و

surroundings Visual Inter nal mind Q: Why is

4 General distractions material world م ا الح یاة الد نیا إ ال م تا ع الغ رو ر The life of this world is nothing but the means for deceiving us General distractions material world اعل موا أ ن م ا الح یاة الد نیا Know that the life of this world is just ل ع ب و ل هو play and diversion, و زین ة and glitter, و ت فاخ ر ب ین ك م and mutual vainglory among you و ت كاث ر ف ي األ موا ل و األ وال د and covetousness for wealth and children. General Specific distractions Specific Exter nal surroundings Visual Inter nal mind Q: Why is congregational prayer encouraged so much? to focus on Allah in real situations Visual 4

Visual qīyam place of sajda Where to look?

of hands Other engagements کان رسول هللا یحدثنا ونحدثه فاذا حضرت الصاله فکانه لم یعرفنا

As soon as it was prayer time, it was as though the Prophet no longer knew us and we no

وكانت فاطمة علیها السالم تنهج فى الصالة ىف خیفة هللا تعالى وکان اذا اخذ یف الوضوء یتغیر

5 Visual qīyam place of sajda Where to look? rukū between feet sujūd downward around tip of nose Audible julūs into lap qunūt center of hands Other engagements کان رسول هللا یحدثنا ونحدثه فاذا حضرت الصاله فکانه لم یعرفنا و لم نعرفه The messenger of Allah used to speak with us and we spoke with him. As soon as it was prayer time, it was as though the Prophet no longer knew us and we no longer knew him. وكانت فاطمة علیها السالم تنهج فى الصالة ىف خیفة هللا تعالى وکان اذا اخذ یف الوضوء یتغیر وجهه من خیفة هللا تعالی When he (Imam Ali) would start to do the wuḍū, his countenance would change because of his fear of Allah. Lady Fatima (as) would feel a shortness of breath in prayer because of fear of Allah. 5

6 إذا فرغ من وضوئه تغیر لونه فقیل (ع)كان الحسن و له يف ذلك فقال حق على ذي العرش نأ یتغیر لونه When Husain (as) finished his wuḍū [and went for prayer], the color of his face would change. He was asked about it and he replied, It is appropriate for someone who is about to approach a person who sits on a throne that his color should change. ask Allah for help ادعوني أ ست ج ب ل ك م ask the Ahlul Bayt for help Intercession Beautiful du a before prayer اللهم إني أتوجه إلیك بمحمد وآل محمد O Allah I turn towards You through Muhammad and the family of Muhammad واقدمهم بین یدي صالتي and I present them before my prayer وأتقرب بهم إلیك and through them I seek nearness to You فاجعلني بهم وجیها يف الدنیا واآلخرة ومن المقربین So for their sake give me honor in this world and in the Hereafter, and [make me] among those who are close to You مننت علي بمعرفتهم فاختم يل بطاعتهم ومعرفتهم ووالیتهم You have bestowed a great favor on me by letting me know them. So seal [this favor over me] with obedience to them, recognition of them, and loyalty to them, فإنها السعادة واختم يل بها فإنك على كل شئ قدیر because indeed this is true happiness. So complete my life with these, for You have power over all things. think about the hereafter [Prayer] is first thing to be considered from amongst the deeds of man try to see Allah How ال تدرکه العیون بمشاهده العیان أن تعبد هللا كأنك تراه فإن و لکن تدرکه القلوب بحقائق لم تكن تراه فإنه یراك االیمان - Imam Ali (as) 6

7 Focus Comprehension Greatness Shame Awe/fear Hope Sincerity 7

The Virtues of Surah An-Nasr

The Virtues of Surah An-Nasr Revealed in Makkah It has been mentioned previously that - it (Surah An-Nasr) is equivalent to one-fourth of the Qur'an and that - Surah Az-Zalzalah is equivalent to one-fourth