The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 312
312. Essence of Islam II earnestness. Șalāt should not be neglected because of lack of delight in it, but should be on that account multiplied and intensified, as an alcoholic does not give up drinking because he cannot get drunk but goes on drinking till he begins to feel the effect and delight that he desires in liquor. Thus a worshipper who finds the. Salāt insipid should multiply the Ṣalāt and should not become weary of it. In the end his insipidity will be turned into delight. A person who starts digging a well in his search for water has to continue digging till he reaches water. Those who give up digging before water is reached deprive themselves altogether, but those who persist and do not become weary reach water in the end. . To find delight in Ṣalāt what is needed is Istighfar, regular Ṣalāt, persistent supplication, eagerness, and steadfastness. [Malfūzāt, vol. V, p. 432]. The weapons for our achieving supremacy are Istighfär, repentance, knowledge of the faith, the upholding of the. Majesty of God Almighty and observance of Ṣalāt five times a day. Ṣalāt is the key to the acceptance of prayer. . Supplicate throughout Ṣalāt and do not be neglectful. . Shun every vice whether it relates to the obligations due to God or to the obligations due to your fellow beings. [Malfūzāt, vol. V, p. 303]. In order to estimate the degree of a person's fear of God it is enough to observe his regularity in Ṣalāt. I am convinced that a person who observes Ṣalāt diligently and is not held back from it by fear or sickness or worldly trials undoubtedly believes truly in God Almighty. But this degree of faith is bestowed mainly upon the poor. Few of the wealthy partake of this bounty. [Izāla-e-Auhām, Rūḥānī Khazā'in, vol. 3, p. 540]