Salāh (Prayer)

The Ninth Word

The absolute power of Allah requires that a servant, by recognizing both his own helplessness and that of all creation, respond to the magnificent works of His power with reverence and admiration. Declaring Allāhu Akbar, he bows in humility and, through tawakkul, takes refuge in Him.

The inexhaustible gifts of Allah’s mercy require that a servant express both his own neediness and that of all creation through supplication, and proclaim the gifts and favours of his Lord through the declaration Alhamdulillāh.

Since the movements and recitations of the prayer encompass these meanings, they have been placed within the prayer by Allah.

The Third Point

Just as man is a miniature example of the universe, and the noble Sūrah al-Fātiha is a radiant summary of the Qur’an, so too is prayer a comprehensive and blessed summary of all forms of worship, pointing to the various forms of worship manifested by the different classes of created beings.

The Fourth Point

Just as in a clock that measures a week, the second, minute, hour, and day hands are connected to one another, follow one another, and reflect one another, so too is this world a vast clock. Its alternation of day and night is like seconds, its years are like minutes, the stages of human life are like hours, and the epochs of the world's existence are like days. All of these correspond to one another, follow one another, and remind one of another.

For example:

The time of Fajr, between dawn and sunrise, reminds man of early spring, the moment of conception in the womb, the first day of the six days of creation of the heavens and the earth, and the Divine acts manifested therein.

The time of Zuhr reminds man of midsummer, the prime of youth, the period in the life of the world when mankind was created, and the manifestations of Divine mercy and abundance of blessings found therein.

The time of Asr reminds man of autumn, old age, the blessed age of the Prophet of the End Times (saw), and the Divine acts and bestowals of the Most Merciful manifested therein.

The time of Maghrib reminds man of the disappearance of many creatures at the end of autumn, the death of man, and the destruction of the world at the onset of the Final Hour. In this way, the majestic acts of Allah are displayed, and man is awakened with admonition from the sleep of heedlessness.

The time of Ishā reminds man of the night covering all that is seen during the day with its black shroud, of winter covering the lifeless face of the earth with its white burial cloth, of the complete closing of this world of trial, and of the traces left behind by the dead disappearing behind the veil of forgetfulness. Thus are displayed the awe-inspiring acts of Qahhār-i Dhul-Djalāl.