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…

Ask yourself: Why do I pray? Is it just because we have to? Is it just to get this daily duty out of the way and over with? Or maybe it’s because everyone just does it so we do it too?

Time to make a change. We need to start praying out of sincere Love. Pray.. out of longing to be with the one you love. Pray.. for the peace and comfort that comes from being with the one you love. There are 3 reasons which make you love someone:

1. Either because that someone is beautiful!

2. Or because that someone always deals kindly with you.

3. Or because that someone has done many favors for you.

Think of Allah now. He is all of the above and more, isn’t He? Doesn’t He then deserve to be the most worthy of our love over everything and anyone else? To truly love Allah is to truly taste the greatest love in existence! It is to truly taste the beauty of faith:

- As to Allah’s beauty, look around at all that is beautiful in creation, be it inner or outer beauty.. It is all but a small hint to the ultimate beauty He beholds. If every person was created with the beauty of Prophet Yusuf and this total beauty was combined with the beauty of everything we see around us… all this in comparison to the beauty of Allah, would be like that of a weak candle light to the brightness of the sun! And Allah’s beauty is unique, for it’s coupled with everlasting glory!

- And just think.. He sets this Most Beautiful, Glorious Face to yours when you stand in prayer! (Prophet Musa once asked to see Allah. Allah said “you cannot see me. If this mountain can withstand me then you will be able to see me.” To this, Allah revealed His Majesty to the mountain, and the mountain fell in total annihilation. Musa fainted.) (see 7:143)

- As to Allah’s kindness and favors upon us, just close your eyes momentarily to appreciate just the gift of sight alone. If we were to count His favors upon us, never will we be able to number them. And sometimes we gripe when a favor has not been granted us. Don’t we then realize in hindsight, that it was much better for us this way?… the denial of this favor, we realize later, was a favor in itself.. For Allah has nothing but good.

- And Imagine… When we dare and sin against Him, we sin using the very gifts and blessings He has given us! But out of His love and mercy for us, He continues to guard over us and protect us, even while we’re in the act! You will not find anyone more kind; you will not find anyone more giving. You will not find anyone more worthy of your love than He.

- Remember this: The sweetness of this life lies in remembering Him, the sweetness of the next life lies… in seeing Him!

Next time you proceed for prayer, go because you love Him, go because you miss Him and long to be with Him. Feel your heart flutter. Only then, will you be on your way to attaining that inner peace and comfort Salat was prescribed for.

Next: What happens when you announce “Allahu Akbar”?

- But before we go into what really happens… Ever wonder why we start our prayer with “Allahu Akbar”? Why don’t we say “Subhanallah”, for instance? “Allahu Akbar” is the key phrase because with it we affirm that Allah, before Whom we are about to stand, is greater than anything occupying us at that moment. He is greater than our job, greater than our business, greater than our sleep, our bills, our family and our children, greater than all that troubles or preoccupies us… And why do we raise our hands with it? We raise our hands to throw all of that behind us. We raise our hands, as a gesture of complete surrender..

- When one stands to pray Allah commands, “Raise the veils from between Me and my servant!” From the instant you proclaim “Allahu Akbar”, Allah now sets His Beautiful Glorious Face to yours ready and engaged, with you. And He doesn’t turn away from you… unless you do- That’s when either you turn away with your head/sight, or drift in heart and mind back to worldly matters. And if you turn or drift, He calls to you: “(you turn) To what’s greater than I??” and orders for the veils, to draw back down..

- When you announce “Allahu Akbar”, imagine that you’re before the cameras and the red “ON THE AIR” button has now been switched on. But it’s not the ordinary people who are watching you now, it’s The King Himself.. The King of Kings has permitted you in, and is now focused on you! In His hands is everything you are and everything you will ever be. In His hands is the entire universe, running in perfect order. Nothing, however big or small, escapes His control. How will you stand? Feel your heart race!

- Upon “Allahu Akbar” and as we proceed to recite; any bad deeds committed by our faculties suddenly begin to float up… up until they reach our head and shoulders. Subsequently, with every ruku (bow) and sujood (prostration) we move to, these sins fall off and away, scattered and gone! (All the more reason for us to hold in those humbling positions longer before our Lord.)

- With “Allahu Akbar”, things we were permitted to do just moments before suddenly become forbidden… Like food, drink, talk, unnecessary movement. What happened? What’s different now? Well.. these acts are not befitting of a meeting of this nature… for the servant has answered the call and now stands in humility before his Master. You’re on a much higher level now. Focus.

- Are you still drifting? This is why we repeat these great words, “Allahu Akbar” as we move to each position. It is a reminder, and a new chance to refocus.

Till our next email, have you observed any change in your prayer yet? There’s much more! Stay tuned..

Now you have officially entered Salat when you proclaimed “Allahu Akbar”. You lower your gaze to the place of your sujood (prostration) and you now place your hands right over left and close to your heart/lower chest. Why?

- Imagine that you have walked into a royal palace and you enter upon a group of people standing in the distance. Some in the group fix their gaze boldly at you with their arms comfortably at their sides. The other group stands with their gaze to the ground and their hands clasped in front of them. Just from the way they stand, you will easily be able to distinguish the royalty from the palace servants, wouldn’t you?

- It is not befitting of us, as servants, but to stand in a position of humility when we face Our Lord. It is humbling when we remember who we really are before Him. But let us remember that the humility due Allah is a dignifying humility because, in essence, it liberates us from the undue humility to fellow man. As the Prophet (pbuh) said, “The one who humbles himself before Allah is elevated (by Allah) in honor!”

It is only proper now, to salute The King:

- “How perfect You are O Allah, praise be to You. Blessed is Your name and lofty is Your position and non has the right to be worshiped except You.”

- There are several salutes to choose from which the Prophet has taught us. Each one adds a unique aspect to our prayer. Varying our salute with each prayer aids in better focus and concentration during these sacred moments.

Expelling the Intruder:

- As you stand in Allah’s hands, during such sacred moments, during such a grand encounter, no one is more envious of you now than Shaitan (Satan). So his mission is to steal every sweet moment you might have with The One you love, to steal every reward! So that you will finish your prayer, but only 1/3rd has been accepted, or 1/5th or 1/9th or 1/10th since the sobering reality of the matter is: Only the parts of salat you are mindful of are accepted by Allah. (One will come on the Day of Judgment with over 90 years of salat under his belt, but to his devastating surprise, only 6 years will have been recorded to his name…)

- It is because of Satan that we begin to drift. Do you not notice that every worldly thought, matter, issue, predicament suddenly makes its way to your thoughts in salat? Items you have lost for days or months are suddenly remembered and maybe even found! Even the designs on the prayer rug start to tell all sorts of entertaining stories! What do you do? You try to fight him and refocus. But he comes back. You fight him again. He comes back.. like a fly that will not leave you alone.

- What is the solution for we are so weak!? We seek the help of our Beloved from the evils of his creature. With His Name is barakah! With His Name is total protection from all harm. Thus, before we proceed in our prayer any further, we formally express with confidence: “Aoothu billahi mina-shaitan arrajeem” (I seek Allah’s protection from Satan the accursed). Feel its power as you say it!

And only now are we ready for the essence and heart of Salat… Next!

Every people have their own method of seeking comfort, relaxation and escape. Some use music, some use exercises like Yoga, and some unfortunately.. alcohol. But for us Muslims, we attain the benefits of all of the above and more, from salat. We resort to the source of all solutions and the source of all peace and relief.. Our Beloved.. Our Creator.

Now we have guarded ourselves from Satan’s ways and ready to enter upon the most sacred part of our salat, the essence of it all.. The Fatiha! The greatest Surah in the Quran! The segment of salat without which you cannot have prayed and your prayer would be nullified. The segment where Allah actually answers back to us at every verse!.. How can we ever drift in this part of the prayer??

But first, let us remind ourselves.. Again, what brought us to stand here right now? Oh yes, our endless love and deep longing to be with Allah. And when one meets up with his beloved, what is he first most likely to utter? It is the sweet sound of his Beloved’s name! But this is no ordinary name.. This is a name that blesses everything around it! Everything it falls upon! This is a name that lifts away any evil, harm and ache.. With it we start, and with it we finish, and with it we taste the sweetness of this life and the sweetness of the next… “Bismillah- Arrahman Arraheem..” (In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful..) Feel it soothing your heart as it gently rolls off your lips.. “To Him (Allah) belong the most beautiful names..” (59:24)

And when you love someone, you savor in how perfect they are. Don’t you? No one deserves this more than Allah.. For only He, is truly perfect!.. “Alhamdulillahi- Rabbil-alameen!” (All praise is due to Allah, The Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds!).

In praising Him, we are in essence establishing Allah’s undeniable perfection. The Prophet (pbuh) told us, “Alhamdulillah” fills the scale! Let gratitude fill our hearts when we utter it, He has blessed us with so much… and always keep in mind that when we thank anyone in this world, we are in fact, thanking Allah Himself. He is the ultimate source, isn’t He? Let’s take it to another depth, when we say “Alhamdulillah”, we are even praising and thanking Allah for blessing us with the ability to praise and thank Him.. as even this ability is from Him! So in reality, Allah establishes praise for Himself, through us.. Glorified is He… feel your dependence and need for Him, feel the healing effects of the gift of remembering and praising Him…

Next: A journey beyond our limits..

Now, most of us have received- at least once- that Power Point email which zooms us out in powers of 10 from the cell world of a tiny plant leaf… all the way out to the planets, stars and galaxies that make up what lies beyond our planet earth, in this breathtaking universe! Now instead of starting out with that small leaf, start the zoom out process with the image of yourself as you stand before Allah in salat.

As you ponder over this image, think first of all of the physiological systems within your own body running in beautiful order to sustain you (blood system, immune system, nervous system, hormones, heart beats, respiration, firing neurons, skin cells, liver cells, spleen, kidneys, etc..). Move out now to what’s around you.. The marvels of our plant world, the animal world, the seven seas, the insect world, the microbial world…

Further out to what surrounds you.. The miraculous precision of the planets and our sun- our solar system, our galaxy. Further out still.. To the infinite star constellations, nebulas, galaxies.. Now what about the world of the unseen?.. The world of the angels, the jinn and whatever life that lies out there that we have not been able to reach..

This may not be the end of it, but we have reached the limits of our knowledge, so start zooming back down… back through all of that… and back to where you were standing in prayer. Would you say you’re just a speck in Allah’s canvas above? Nowhere even close… You are no longer even visible in relation to the magnificent size of Allah’s universe! And imagine, this is just our heaven.. The Quran tells us there are 6 more! And Allah presides above all of that! And He is The One and Only, orchestrating the perfect order and function of it all!

How do you feel now as you stand before Him, praising Him and speaking to Him? How do you feel now being answered by Him with every verse? Do you still have it in you to defy some of His commands? Can you imagine yourself ever daring to commit another wrong against such Majesty and Might? Against such Omnipotence and such sovereignty? How about against such *Love*? How much love must He have for us to select us out, given our insignificance in the canvas of His creation, for this beautiful exchange and these beautiful terms of endearment that are in salat?… After all, He has blessed us with the ability to answer the call to prayer and stand before Him. That’s an honor unlike any other! How can we not give of our best that which is due Our Majesty?..Can we ever turn our backs on prayer again knowing we are missing out on such a privilege!?

The Prophet (pbuh) tries to help us understand the Grandeur before which we stand… He says (pbuh) that the foot of Allah’s Throne (Al Kursi) extends over the heavens and the earth (see 2:255). And the seven heavens in comparison to Allah’s Kursi, is like a small ring cast in the spans of a desert!.. And The Kursi, in comparison to the Throne itself, is a measure like it!

The next time you stand for prayer, view yourself from above and far away, so you can truly taste the meanings behind “Rabbil Aalameen” (Lord of the worlds!)

Next: We continue to unravel the secrets of Al-Fatiha!

Picture this scenario. You happened to be at the scene of a crime and there is an ongoing investigation. The trial begins and though you are innocent, the judge summons you for questioning. He proceeds to question you in one of two manners:

He at once bombards you with interrogation! (Why were you at the scene of the crime? What were you doing? At what time did you arrive? What did you see? Etc..).. When your heart nearly stops and your nerves can no longer stand it, the judge then reassures you, “by the way, we know you are innocent but we are collecting as much information as we can.”
Or, he declares to you from the beginning that “we know you are innocent, but we appreciate all the information you can help us with”, and then proceeds with his questions.

You would be much more relaxed and comfortable in the second scenario, wouldn’t you?

So what does “Arrahmaan Arraheem” have to do with “Maliki Yaumi-Deen” and why does it come before it? To remind us that it is “Arrahmaan Arraheem” who will judge us on Judgment Day. These 2 names should kindle within us that sense of relief and reassurance in salat when we are reminded of our stand before Allah on that terrifying day- Judgment Day. (Let us always strive to remain.. worthy of this Mercy..)

“Arrahman Arraheem” declares that Allah’s sovereignty is that of an all-encompassing Mercy (not Wrath). In this life, He is there for everyone- believers and non-believers, the righteous and the wrongdoers. He feeds, clothes, heals, provides, for all. He’s not quick to punish but provides ample time for people to return to Him- a whole lifetime!

And Allah’s Mercy is manifested either through His giving (of favors) or through His withholding of them. And when He sometimes withholds a favor from us, this in reality is the heart of giving, for we have been given of knowledge but so very little to immediately realize the wisdom.. Again, it’s a mercy in disguise! “Does He not know those whom He created..?” (67:14) “…But it may well be that you hate a thing the while it is good for you, and it may well be that you love a thing the while it is bad for you, and God knows, whereas you do not know.”(2:216)

When we say “Arrahmaan”: this form of “Merciful” is in the Arabic form that implies “to the fullest extent”, like ghadbaan vs. ghaadeb (angry) or joo’aan vs. jaa’e’ (hungry). The former form implies the fullest extent of hunger and anger in comparison to the latter form. Thus Allah is truly the Most Merciful, to the fullest extent of the word!

In fact, “Arrahmaan” is the most all encompassing of His names. Just remember by which name He chose to preside over His Throne.. “Arrhamaan, above the Throne presides!” (20:5).. His most all-encompassing name is always coupled in the Quran, with his most all-encompassing creation- His Throne!

And this name only belongs to Him- You will never find anyone named “Arrahmaan”, except Allah, but instead people will name “Abdul-Rahmaan” (the servant of the Most Merciful). By the way, you will also never find anyone with the name “Allah” besides Allah. These two names are His, exclusively!

Now “Arraheem” is the One who delivers His mercy to His creation. You will see this name used in the Quran when Allah speaks of His mercy to believers, specifically.

If we knew well the true nature of Allah and the true nature of people, we would prefer without an instant of hesitation to deal with Allah, over having to deal with people. It suffices us to know that Allah’s Mercy for us far exceeds the mercy of our own mothers for us.. So “Alhamdulillah” for the kind of sovereignty He reigns by.

Feel the rhythm of Arrhamaan Arraheem lift the heaviness off your heart..

Next: Prepare for a little shake-up..

We now come to “Maaliki Yaumi-Deen”(Master of the Day of Judgment!)…

Why does Allah choose the word “Maalik” (Master, Lord, sovereign)? This is because any authority or power that was granted to creation in this life will be neutralized completely then! All dominion and power will now belong to the real King! In fact, no one can even utter a word or intercede for anyone else until He permits it. There are two recitations for this word: Maaliki (from ownership) and Maliki (from the sovereignty of a king)- Two meanings to demonstrate Allah’s sole and absolute control and authority on that dreaded day..

- When the sky is cleft asunder.. When the sun is folded up.. When the stars dim and fall..When the mountains vanish.. When the oceans boil over.. When the earth is pounded.. When the beasts are herded.. When the graves are overturned.. (see 81; 82; 84; 89)

- When man will flee from his own brother, and from his mother and his father, and from his spouse and his children.. (80:34)

- On that day you will see it, every nursing mother will forget the child she was nursing, and every pregnant woman will drop her load, and it will seem to you that all mankind is drunk- although they will not be drunk, but the punishment of Allah is severe!(22:2)

- On that day, the heavens will be rolled up like written scrolls! (see 21:104) ..And the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand..(39:67)

- And the trumpet will be sounded and all that are in the heavens and the earth will fall senseless… (39:68) Who’s left? The angel of the trumpet. So Allah takes his soul. Who’s left? No one. And Our Lord calls, “To Whom does the dominion belong today?!” Dead silence. “To Whom does the dominion belong today?!” No answer. “To Whom does the dominion belong today?!” No answer. Allah finally answers Himself and declares, “To Allah, The One, The Overpowering!” (40:16)

- Then a second (trumpet) is sounded, when, behold, they will stand and look on.. (39:68)

- And the earth will shine bright with the light of its Lord! (39:69)

- And your Lord stands revealed, and His angels, rank upon rank! And Hell, on that day, is brought face to face.. (89:22)

- And the sun draws near above the heads, on a day the length of which will be 50,000 years!

How can we be saved from the horrors of that day?? The answer, coming up next..

In the meantime, let’s call upon these real images with “Maaliki Yaumi-Deen”. As you recite it in your prayer, pause upon it for a while.. These words should not fall upon deaf ears and closed hearts, for a true Muslim’s heart always oscillates between hope and fear.. hope for Allah’s mercy and fear of Allah’s displeasure and punishment…

So what will save us from the horrors of that terrifying day? The answer lies in the next verse, for the next verse summarizes Sura Al-Fatiha- The greatest surah in the Book! And Al-Fatiha summarizes the Quran!.. “Iyyaka na’budu wa Iyyaka nasta’een” (You alone we worship, and unto You alone we turn for help)..

Every Prophet gave his people this key to salvation “I have come to you with a plain warning, that you worship none but Allah; for verily, I fear for you the punishment of a grievous day!”(11:26) So what should be our ultimate goal in this life? To worship Allah and nothing else. For this reason we were created. And what are our means to attaining this goal? It is through seeking Allah’s help.

And what is the most important aspect of worship? It’s sincerity of heart! That all that we are and all that we do is for Allah alone and no one else. To seek His pleasure only. Without that sincerity of intention, it would be as if you are a traveler traveling with bags of sand.. carrying a heavy load, but a completely useless load!

Make Allah alone your focus, not people, for what they think and say is irrelevant and cannot harm nor benefit you. So if you were to be asked why you did what you did for any given deed/task, you can firmly answer “for Allah!” and if asked “Sure, and for what else?” You will affirm with certainty, “for nothing else!”… “Shall we tell you who are the greatest losers in respect to their deeds? It is those whose labor has been wasted in this life while they thought they were doing good work..” (18:103)

Sincerity pure to Allah will change your life! The time has come to correct our intention in everything we do. The time has come to teach it to our children, so that every new thing they learn to do “is because Allah likes it!” and everything they are to refrain from doing “is because Allah doesn’t like it!” To learn that their rewards are with Allah alone, not with people.

Indeed however, pure sincerity of intention is not easy to attain, but it is not impossible either because we have been taught the magic words “wa Iyyaka nasta’een” (and unto You alone we turn for help). If Allah helps you, there’s nothing you can’t do. It’s all in His hands. Ask and He will grant you. After all, doesn’t He remind us that “you are all astray save for whom I guide!”

“Iyyaka na’budu wa Iyyaka nasta’een” was a verse over which those who came before us would weep for hours.. One of them was once praying in Mecca , his friend went ahead and did the tawaf and when he returned to him, he was still at this verse, repeating it and crying.. till the sun came up..

“Iyyaka na’budu wa Iyyaka nasta’een”.. let us pause and reflect on it for a while, let it cleanse any hypocrisy that has tainted our hearts..

(Next: The greatest duaa you can ever make!)

“Ihdina-Sirat Al-Mustaqeem!” (Guide us to the straight path!)

If Allah guides us to the straight path, then He has helped us to worship Him like we should. (recall the request for help that we made in the prior verse “You alone we worship.. and unto You alone we turn for help.”)

If you notice, Surat Al-Fatiha teaches us the proper etiquette of how to ask Allah when we have a need. It teaches us the proper way to make du’aa so He will listen to us and answer..

As befits a Majesty, we begin with the glorification and praise due Our Lord.
Then… we make our request.

Now the path we need to win Allah’s pleasure is called the Siraat- the straight path. But this path is not so easy to follow without assistance:

- ..Because there are specifics to this path that we will know, and specifics which we may not know (What’s halal, what’s haram. What’s right, what’s wrong..). In fact, the specifics we don’t have enough knowledge of far outnumber the specifics we know enough about.

- And of these specifics we do know, there will be some we are physically able to carry out, and some we will not. (Like Hajj, fasting, etc..)

- And of those requirements which we are physically able to carry out, at times we will enjoy them, and at times we may find them quite burdensome (Like waking up for Fajer prayer.)

- And even when we do accomplish that ordained duty, at times we fulfill the sincerity requirement, and at times we may not. And at times we may perform it properly according to the Prophetic example necessary for its acceptance, and at times, we may not.

- And even if we fulfill all of the above: the knowledge, the ability, the right attitude, the sincerity, and the adherence to the prophetic example, we will still need one more thing.. Steadfastness.. to perform it properly every time..

Do you now see why we are so desperate for Allah’s guidance to the straight path? Do you see why we can’t do it without His help? And do you now see how comprehensive this Du’aa is?

Now as you know, there are 2 Siraats. One in this life: the one we spoke of above. The second one, is in the next life.. described to be dangerously thin with a “sword’s edge” sharpness! That is the one that spans over the fires of Hell, over which every one of us must pass if we are to reach Paradise . “Not one of you but will pass over it. This is with your Lord, a decree which must be accomplished. Then we will save those who feared Allah and leave the evildoers within it, on their knees!” (19:71-72)

If we are firm and steadfast on the first Siraat (the one in this life), then we will be firm on the second (in the next life). So stability on the second is directly related to the degree of faith and good deeds earned in this life. Our strong faith and good deeds will be our guiding light on that dreadful bridge, amidst the darkness of Judgement Day. “The day you shall see the believing men and the believing women, their light running forward before them and on their right..”(57:12)

And so accordingly, some will cross it with the quickness of lightning! Some the speed of a shooting star! Some like the wind, some like a speeding stallion, some at running speed, while others will crawl on it with hands and knees, and others… will fall and never make it… And the Prophet will stand pleading in desperate prayer “My Lord, spare them. My Lord, save them..”

The Siraat of this life leads us to Allah.

The Siraat of the next life leads us… to Jannah ( Paradise ).

Do you now feel how serious this Duaa is? “Ihdina-Siraat Al-Mustaqeem”- Our entire existence depends on it.. The “Ameen” you’ll pronounce now, after knowing the above, will be much more heartfelt, won’t it? As a matter of fact, for any duaa to be answered by Allah, the condition is that it must come from a focused, attentive heart for “Allah does not answer a supplication that comes from an absent/preoccupied heart.” (The Prophet- pbuh)

May Allah help and guide us all to His straight path, Ameen.