THE SECRETS OF SALAH
Hazrat Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said: “Performing the five daily prayers is like bathing five times a day in a flowing river which runs in front of your door (thoroughly cleansing you).” Sahih Muslim.
There are three types of creation: (1) Hayawanat (animals including humans); (2) Nabatat (vegetation including trees, plants, etc.) and (3) Jamadat (stones, minerals, inorganic nature, etc.). They all worship Allah ﷻ.
The Qiyam (standing position) in Salah (Namaz) is in the condition vegetation such as trees. The Ruku (bowing position) is in the appearance of animals such as tigers, bears, etc. who have four legs. The Sujood (prostration) and Jalsa (sitting) is in the condition of the stones, minerals, etc. as they are close to the ground.
The Salah (Namaz) is the greatest worship because it includes the worship of all of creation and when performed, it is as if the entire creation has worshipped Allah ﷻ.
(Ref: Israr us Salat of Hazrat Hasan Dost Hakim Farhatullah Shah QSA, pg. 36)
Hazrat Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said “We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ one day, when a man appeared with very white clothes and very black hair. There were no traces of travel on him and we did not recognize him. He sat in front of the Prophet ﷺ and rested his knees by his knees and placed his hands on his thighs. The man said “O Muhammad! Tell me about Islam.”
The Prophet ﷺ said “Islam is to testify that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, to give charity, to fast in the month of Ramadan, and to perform pilgrimage to the House if a way is possible.” The man said “You have spoken truthfully.” We were astonished at his questioning and telling him ﷺ that he was truthful.
The man said “Tell me about faith.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Faith is to believe in Allah, his angels, his books, his messengers, the Last Day and to believe in fate, its good and its evil.” The man said “You have spoken truthfully.”
Then the man said “Inform me about Ihsan.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “It is to worship Allah as if you see him, for if you do not see Him, He surely sees you.” (Sahih Muslim).
When the believer makes intention (niyyah) for Salah (namaz) and says “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest), he enters into another world in the presence of Allah. The believer presents himself in the court of Allah with his hands tied and his head bowed. He submits all his wishes and needs to Allah. He also directs all his inward and outward attention to Allah.
He then bows in the Ruku position, and will present his head as a sacrifice. He will then present his head on the ground in the Sajdah position. His Salah (namaz) is complete when the state of his mind and heart are in complete submission and accepted by Allah.
The believer will then turn towards the angel on his right and say “As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa Rahmatullah” (Peace be upon you and the Mercy of Allah) and then the same towards the angel on his left. He does this as he is returning from the world of presence in front of Allah to the lower world (dunya) as he has returned with health, peace and blessings.
Hazrat Abu Abdul Rahman Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) said that he asked the Holy Prophet ﷺ “which action is loved most by Allah?” He answered, “Performing the Salah (offering prayers) in time.”
The Salah (Namaz) is a journey to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala for the believer. The Qiyam (standing position) is the first step of the journey because a person first needs to stand up for any journey.
The believer will face many obstacles on the journey to Allah, so he will get tired and bow down into the Ruku (bowing) position. He will know that he is weak and Allah is Great.
For this reason, he will say “Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem” (Glory to my Lord, the Most Great). Allah does not want to leave the believer in this position of tiredness, so Allah will tell him to stand up again.
The believer will stand up again, and will then go into the first Sajdah (prostration). He knows that he is nothing in front of Allah so he will fall and ask for forgiveness as a child falls at the feet of his parents and begs for forgiveness after a big mistake. This is a position of humility, which is loved by Allah.
The believer will perform the second Sajdah (prostration) out of thankfulness for allowing him to be a servant and worship Him. He will say “Subhana Rabbiyal a’la” (Glorified is my Lord, the Most High) because now he will know the reason for his creation which is to worship Allah.
The last position is Jalsa (sitting) as the believer has reached the end of his journey so he is sits in peace. He will thank Allah, send peace and blessings (durood) on the Prophet ﷺ and make dua (supplicate) for he has completed the journey.
Farhath E Dil De Hamay Aur Door Karde Fikhr Ay Ghair
Farhatullah Iftikar Ul Awliya Ke Wasthey
Silsila - E - Aaliya Khushhaliya !!
(Ref: Israr us Salat of Hazrat Hasan Dost Hakim Farhatullah Shah QSA, pg. 37-38)
