Understanding Salat — Page 165
Jilsah 165 that is of greatest comfort to him. For instance, in cold weather, he can heat water for his ablutions. If he is ill and cannot offer his prayers standing upright, he may offer them in a sitting position. In the month of Ramadan, he can eat well before dawn. Some people spend even more than usual on their food during the month of fasting. In short, in these Shar ī ‘ah related ordeals, a person seeks out a way of most comfort for himself. For this reason, it does not achieve a com- plete cleansing and initiation to the different stages of spiritual development quickly. However, the trib- ulations that come from the heavens have to be borne as man has no discretion over them. It is for this rea- son that through them a person attains nearness to God. ( Malf uzā t (10 vol edition), vol. 10, pp. 82-83) The calamities that come upon a person by Divine decree happen unexpectedly, and when they come, one has to bear them one way or another. This becomes a means of the purification of his soul. Look at martyrs, when they are killed during battle, God considers them deserving of great rewards. The status of nearness to God is given to them by Divine decree. Otherwise, if they were commanded to slit their own throats by themselves, then perhaps very few people would turn out to be martyrs. ( Tafs ī r Hadrat Mas ī h Mau’ u d, vol. 2, pp. 276-277, 2:156)