By Asma Arshad Of all the ways a Muslim can get closer to Allah (SWT), prayer occupies the most central position. It is the finest method of communicating with the Creator and seeking His blessings and mercy and forgiveness. However, a prayer is not just a set of rituals and bodily movements – standing, bending, and prostrating – but a means of establishing an abiding bond between man and God. Salah
What’s the Need???
The creation of this bond starts with sincere intention; if the intention of the person is just to perform a short physical act and not to seek the pleasure of Allah (SWT), his prayer will not impact him the way it should. Similarly, if a person is unable to understand the verses he or his imam is reciting in the prayer, his act of praying will have little or no effect on him although he may well be fulfilling an obligation. It is for this reason that the Quran repeatedly warns us against neglecting our Salah and following our desires (Mariam: 59).
The Prophet (PBUH) has said that there are people among us who recite the Quran in their prayers but the verses they recite do not go “beyond their throats”. (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 9, 6931)
One way to reap the maximum out of the prayer is to learn the language of the prayer, Arabic, at least to the extent that one is able to comprehend what is recited in the prayer. Moreover, concentration and devotion are two important qualities that can make the prayer a joyful act, an act that enables the person to forget the woes and worries of the world and those of his own life by establishing a connection with the supreme Comforter, Allah.
So Remember Me, and I will remember you… (Al-Baqara: 152)
Furthermore, a prayer is considerably devalued when it loses what is referred to as ‘khushu’, an essential feature that connects a person’s heart to the Creator. When this state is achieved, which is unfortunately very rare, the person begins to understand and enjoy his prayer and finds peace and tranquility in it. His delight is so much that he becomes immersed in his prayer and even the thought of delaying it or abandoning it aches his heart. It is for this reason that people who frequent the masjid and pray five times a day and supplement their devotional acts with additional optional prayers are much more contented and pleased than those who miss their prayers or do not pray at all. It is due to the fact that true, inner happiness lies in the remembrance of Allah. Salah
As Muslims, we all know that the purpose of life is to worship Allah (SWT) alone, and there is no better form of worship than Salah with its endless physical and spiritual benefits. The foremost of these benefits is communication and connection with none other than the Creator Himself, which requires sincerity of intention, the correctness of the rituals, complete devotion, and concentration besides comprehension of the verses. It is only after achieving these prerequisites that a person can truly enjoy his prayer and establish a lasting bond with his Creator.
