Part 1
December 31, 2008
Salam my friends,
Do you sometimes feel that your salat (prayer) is not quite having the effect it’s supposed to have on you and on your life? Ever considered that perhaps it’s because we’re not giving it its due justice? It seems we have lost (or were never taught) that ability to *connect* in salat that makes all the difference in its effect on us.
Consider the following examples of those who came before us:
- Imam Bukhari was once stung by a wasp 17 times while standing in prayer. When he finished, he felt some discomfort and asked if anyone was aware of what caused it.
- Ibn Azzubair stood firm and unflinching in his prayer while catapults fired upon the ground he stood on.
- It was said that when Ali washed in preparation for prayer, he always went pale and trembled with anxiety as he thought of himself about to stand before his Lord.
- Another companion needed an amputation. He requested that it be performed while he was engaged in salat.
- An entire wall collapsed in the mosque that one companion was praying in, but he was too engrossed to realize what happened till his prayer was completed.
How did they attain that level of pleasure and inner peace that salat is meant to inspire? Is it possible for us to reach that level too? How can we make our salat effective on our being like it should?
Till our next email…To be continued…
