Understanding Salat — Page 185
Qa‘dah 185 to observe S al ā t in the same spirit with which the Seal of the Prophets sas would recite it. Our S al ā t is blessed if it carries the impression of his sas seal. We pray in the second person because S al ā t reminds us of him sas in such a way that we feel as if he sas is in front of us. In Qa‘dah, when we sit in a posture of tranquillity and contentment because of what we have gained from Allah Almighty in prostration, we express our happiness and gratitude to Allah. Then, we express our grat- itude and love for the Holy Prophet sas by praying for him in a uniquely personal way, in the second person. In one way, the general Dur ū d [O Allah, bless Muhammad and his people] is more personal because we refer to the Holy Prophet sas by his name, but it is less personal because we refer to him in the third person. This specific Dur ū d in Qa‘dah is less personal because we refer to the Holy Prophet sas by his status of Prophet, but it is more personal because we refer to him in the second person. Hadrat Ghulām Rasūl Rājīkī ra explained that there is a reason for using the words ‘O prophet’ rather than ‘O Muhammad’, and for having it in the second person. When a believer reaches the final part of S al ā t, he has reached that lofty status of spirituality for which prayer has been called the ascension of the believer. Now he does not just see the person of Muhammad sas , he sees Muhammad sas in the glory of prophethood. Witnessing the light of prophethood, he sees the truth of the secret of prophethood as if it is in front of him, and he expresses this state by speaking in the second