Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume II — Page 61
61 such and such renowned official attended the Eid [Muslim holiday] p rayers. Yet, did some other God command Eid and Jum u ‘ a h p rayers ? That God who commanded Eid and Jum u ‘ ah prayers is that very God W ho has commanded the five daily p rayers. T hen why is it that they follow the commandment of Eid and Jum u ‘ a h p rayers , but do not follow the commandment of the five daily prayers ? Since many people attend Jum u ‘ a h and Eid p rayers, well kno wn officials also attend to gain some publicity. There are some who do offer congregational p rayers, however these are only a few. The majority only go there to put a veil over their actions. This vice is usually found in men but is particularly found in women. Women say, “What can we do? We have children and household chores, so we cannot say our prayers. ” Honestly, i s there any house that is without children; or any woman who does not have household chores? Men work outside and women work inside the house. This is not something that should keep you from offering your Sal ā t. Thus, I advise you that Sal ā t is spiritual nutrition. I am not the one saying t hat you should observe Sal ā t. This c ommandment is already present within the Holy Qur’an. I am not telling you to observe the fast. This command ment is already given in the Holy Qur’an. I am no t telling you to pay Zakat or perform Hajj. Y ou are already aware of these commandments. Therefore, if you already know of them and knowingly do not follow them , then I do not have a solution for this. I w ish to only tell you one thing ; that Sal ā t , fasting, Zakat , Hajj , a nd remembrance of Allah are all forms of spiritual nutrition. Just as your body cannot survive without food, similarly your soul cannot survive without nutrition. Certainly yo ur body will continue to l iv e [without spiritual nutrition] , but your soul will never develop the ability to meet God Almighty. Those blessings which are common to all, like being blessed with food, are another matter altogether. The special love with God Almighty is achieved by being able to establish such a special relationship with Him , that He manifests His wishes in one way or another. This type of relationship can not be attained without doing the [ above ] practices , because a dead person cannot do the things a living person can. So, I would like to advise you of one thing and that is you should improve the nutritional status of your soul. Just as you would like your body to live and whenever you are sick and weak , you take medic ine ,