Understanding Salat — Page 168
Understanding S al A t 168 material blessings are only a source of goodness if they are a source of good in the hereafter as well. Allah Almighty says, There are some who keep supplicating: Lord, grant us of the bounties of this world; these have no por- tion of the Hereafter. There are others who pray: Lord, grant us the best in this world as well as the best in the world to come and safeguard us against the torment of the Fire. It is these for whom there will be a goodly recompense because of that which they have earned. (2:201-202) In Jilsah, the two worldly needs we pray for are health and provisions. These two are necessary for our ability to per- form outward acts of worship. In Qa‘dah, we will say that ‘All verbal worship is due to Allah and all physical acts of worship and financial sacrifices. ’ To perform physical acts of worship, like Sajdah , or fasting, or the rites of Hajj, we need to be healthy. To make financial sacrifices, like Zakat or Sadaqah, we need provisions. If a person does not have health, he will be deprived of certain physical acts of worship. Similarly, if a person does not have provisions, he will be deprived of the opportunity to offer certain sacrifices. It is narrated in the Holy Quran that there were people who wished to go for Jihad along with the Holy Prophet sas but could not because of poor health, and