Malfuzat – Volume I — Page 29
Malfuzat - Volume I 29 In this supplication, man implores that his Prayer may be established and seeks to be guided to the right path so that his Prayer may be set upright. In the face of these evil whisperings, a muttaqi is like a child who implores earnestly and humbly before God. He weeps before Allah and concedes that he falls true to the following: أَخْلَدَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ But he inclined to the earth. This is the war that a muttaqi must wage with his inner self during the Prayer and this is what results in the acquisition of spiritual reward. There are some who in the Prayer desire to rid themselves of evil distractions immediately, although (He establishes the Prayer), indicates something quite the opposite. Is Allah unaware? Hazrat Sheikh Abdul-Qadir Jilani, may Allah have mercy on him, states that spiritual reward is earned only until strenu- ous efforts remain. When these efforts cease to exist, spiritual reward no longer remains either. In other words, fasting and Prayer are considered deeds only as long as one is required to struggle against evil temptation to perform them. How- ever, when these deeds attain a higher status, and the one who fasts and observes the Prayer escapes the clutches of forced effort and develops an inherent inclina- tion to virtue, fasting and observing Prayer no longer remain to be deeds. Then, Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilanit goes on to raise the question himself: 'Does this mean that such a person is exempt from observing Prayer? For spiritual re- ward was only attainable until a person was required to make a forced effort. The fact of the matter is that Prayer no longer remains to be a deed, rather, it becomes a reward in itself. This Prayer becomes the nourishment of such a person and the delight of their eyes; it is paradise on earth. On the contrary, those engaged in strenuous effort are in a state of battle, while the other has already attained salvation. This means that when a person's spiritual journey finishes, their trials also come to an end. For example, if a eunuch were to say that he has never cast a glance upon a woman, of what favour or spiritual reward is he deserving? Such a person does not even possess the characteristic of casting lustful glances. However, if a man possessing virility were to restrain his glances, he would indeed be worthy of spiritual reward. Similarly, an individual must pass through thousands of stages. In certain cases, his constant practice in- 1 al-A'raf, 7:177