Understanding Salat — Page 20
Understanding S al A t 20 influences can be used for righteousness. ( Anw a rul ‘Ul u m, vol. 5, pp. 554, Mal a ikatull a h ) For example, imagine our mind wanders during S al a t into thinking about what we need to put on our list of grocer- ies we’re going to get. There is nothing wrong with think- ing about groceries, but when the thought distracts us from S al a t , then it becomes wrong in that time and place. We can instead take that thought and be grateful during S al a t to Allah The Provider who has provided us with food. Our children never worry about how groceries get to the table. They take it for granted because they never think about the chain of events that ends with food appearing on their plate. Similarly, we may never think about the long chain of events that starts with Allah Almighty and ends with groceries appearing on our local store shelves. We don’t think about how fragile that chain is and how we could face food short- ages if it is disturbed. Taking a distraction in S al a t and mak- ing it into a reminder of gratitude is how a satanic influence can be used for righteousness. Thus, when we know that Allah is The Creator, then everything in ‘the heavens and the earth’ ( َ مٰوٰت ِ وَالَۡرۡض َّ اَلس ) becomes a reminder of Him. When we see a painting, we think of the painter. When we receive a gift, we think of the sender. The gift does not distract us from the sender; it reminds us of him. Hadrat Abdul Qādir Jīlānī rta said,