Understanding Salat — Page 97
Ruku’ 97 begin to derive pleasure from his weeping and crying in S al ā t. Before he experiences that condition in his S al ā t , he must persist in S al ā t as he swallows bitter medicine to restore his health. In the same way, he must persist in S al ā t and in making his supplications while he derives no pleasure from them. In such a condition, seeking pleasure and delight in S al ā t , he should supplicate: “Allah! You know how blind and sightless I am, and at the moment, I am like the dead. I know that in a little while, I will be called and will present myself before You and no one will be able to stop me. But my heart is blind and unenlightened. Do cause to descend upon it such a flame of light that thereby it may be inspired with Your love and devo- tion to You! Do bestow upon me such grace that I will not be raised up sightless nor join the blind!” When he supplicates in this manner and persists in the supplication, he will see that a time will come when something will descend upon him while he is engaged in this type of prayer that will melt his heart. ( Malf uzā t (10 vol edition), vol. 4, pp. 321-322) If we have no concentration in S al ā t , then our S al ā t becomes a bitter medicine. Although it is bitter, it is a medicine that has to be taken regularly. We cannot deviate from the min- imum prescription of five daily prayers and still expect to regain our health and appetite. We should resist the black