Understanding Salat — Page 183
Qa‘dah 183 results in disbelief in God. ( Anw ā rul ‘Ul ū m, vol. 4, pp. 628- 629, Taqd ī re Il ā hi ) That person is the Holy Prophet sas. We have recognized our Allah by following the example of the Holy Prophet sas. When we recognize the Holy Prophet sas as our spiritual father and realize the blessings we have received through him sas , then a love for him sas is born that is greater than we could ever have for our parents. Every reward from Allah Almighty is a reminder that He gave this to us through our following the example of the Holy Prophet sas , and if we had rejected him sas , we would never have received it. When we recite the prayers in Qa‘dah, we should remem- ber the stages of verbal worship, physical worship, and finan- cial sacrifice that we have gone through. First, our heart is moved to express itself through verbal worship. When we say, ‘Peace be on you, O prophet,’ we think of the effort we have made to make all of our verbal worship only for Allah, and then we pray that any reward of that effort descend as peace ( ُ اَلسَّالَم ) on the Holy Prophet sas. Second, our heart is moved to express itself through physical acts of worship, and this is more difficult. When we say, ‘and the mercy of Allah,’ we think of the greater effort we have made to make all of our physical worship only for Allah, and then we pray that any reward of that effort descend as mercy ( ُ رَحْمَة ) on the Holy Prophet sas. Third, our heart is moved to express itself through financial sacrifice, and this is more difficult. When we say, ‘and His blessings,’ we think of the even greater