Prayer

'The heart is the door that leads to life, and love is the key that opens the door.'

Prayer is one of the most important aspects of Islam, the importance of Prayer is of such magnitude that prayer is called ' The Pillar of Religion', and in reality it is the mark of Islam and of faith. The Holy Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon Him) told Hazrat Ali Ibn Abi-Talib (Peace be upon him) ‘O' Ali! The five prayers are like a stream for my followers that run by the door of each one of you. What he thinks who is unclean but bathes in a stream five times: does he remain unclean? I swear by God that for my followers the five prayers are such.’

Prayer as mentioned above, is the 'mark of Islam and faith' and it has been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an (Al-Nisa,4:103) 'For such prayers are enjoined on Believers at stated times.'

In the book Al-Salat, by the 41st Master of the School, Molana Shah Maghsoud Sadegh Angha, it has been stated that the above verse means that 'prayer is solely for the believers and the necessary condition for faith'.

Imam Reza (Peace be upon him) has said: ‘Prayer is total attentiveness, for all the attention is due to Him’ .The outward movements of prayer also have an inner and spiritual reality. If the rites of prayer are devoid of inner meaning, remembrance is nothing but recitation of words and movements.

Required Elements Of Prayer

A vital element of prayer is Presence of Heart and it has been said by the Holy Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon Him): ‘Prayer without presence of heart is devoid of truth.’ Presence of heart means presence in the heart with all inner powers and all mental and spiritual faculties so that in seeking God, one is steadfast and no thoughts, good or bad, can interfere, and one is fully committed to the intent of seeking God1.

Zekr (or remembrance) is also another important aspect to prayer it is stated in the Holy Quran (Al-Hadid, 57:16) 'Has not the time arrived for the believers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of God?' In the Holy Quran (Al-ra’d,13:28) it has also been stated that 'Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of God do hearts find satisfaction.’Ali-ibn- Sahl Tostari has stated: ‘Zekr is leaving the sphere of neglect to the realm of cognition in awe and intensity of love.’ 2

In addition to Zekr and Presence of Heart, Salat also includes:

  • Knowledge and awareness (Tafaghoh and (Tafahom)
  • Reverence (Ta'zim)
  • Awe and Fear (Heybat and Khauf)
  • Hope (Reja)
  • Humility (khoshu)3

‘O loved one, gather your inner powers and use them in your devotion; remember death at all times; with the strength of dhikr keep the ka’ba (alter) of the heart free from all other than God; prepare the heart for the acceptance of God’s trust; and labour for the purification of the heart so that it may witness the presence of God.’ 4

  1. Hazrat Shahmaghsoud Sadegh Angha – Al-Salat, pg.4
  2. Hazrat Shahmaghsoud Sadegh Angha – Al-Salat, pg.3
  3. Hazrat Shahmaghsoud Sadegh Angha – Al-Salat, pg.4
  4. Hazrat Shahmaghsoud Sadegh Angha – Al-Salat, pg.9