Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 39
! ! 39 For example , they say, “ H ow can I keep my clothes clean to offer Salāt when I have a baby ?” Is it so difficult to keep your clothes clean that it cannot be done? Of course not ! If one is careful , then clothes can be kept clean, but if one cannot be careful , the n is it not possible to have an outfit made specifically for offering Salāt ? And if someone is so poor that she cannot make another outfit, even then she is not exempt from Salāt. S he should merely offer it in soiled clothes. Frankly, i t is human instinct for one to remain clean and pure. T herefore, if a garment becomes dirty , one should clean it. However , let us assume that there is a situation in which it cannot be cleaned, even then Salāt cannot be neglected. There are very few women who offer Salāt and those who do offer it, do so in a strange manner. Almost as soon as they begin, they go into r uk ū‘ , and then without standing up again, t hey sit down. They go through the procedures of Salāt so quickly, that it is incomprehensible [to me] what they might be reciting. Such women should remember that they do not stand for amusement’s sake, but for offering Salāt. Salāt is offered to demonstrate ultimate sincerity and humility in the presence of God Almighty and it is offered in order to supplicat e to Him for the fulfillment of one’s needs. Is this h ow we behave when we implore someone for something? Not at all. Rather , such a person is shown great respect and regard and i s flattered and beseeched. W hy is it then that whilst they stand in front of God Almighty ostensibly to ask for something, they lack respect in their movement ; fear is not generated in th eir hearts, and they are void of any modesty and humility. They act instead as if God Almighty needs them, despite the fact that God is not dependent on anyone. We are all dependent upon Him. Therefore , we should be particularly respectful to Him. We should cultivate a fear of Him in our hearts and appeal to Him with extreme humility and meekness. There are many men who also do not offer Salāt in the co r rect manner, however when it comes to women, most of them are such that they consider Salāt to be a burden and they wish to cast it from around their neck s as soon as possible , even though Salāt is to their own advantage and not for Allah ’s benefit. Thus , Salāt should be offered in