Understanding Salat — Page 161
Jilsah 161 If a person remains deprived of fasting, but his heart is filled with pain and wishes that he were healthy so that he could observe fasting, and his heart weeps for this, then angels will observe fasts on his behalf. ( Fiqah Ahmadiyya, pp. 294) We can only make up for the loss of fasting if we know what we are being deprived of. Similarly, if our health does not allow us to perform Sajdah , then we will be deprived of the blessings in this posture. There is a unique blessing in placing our head on the ground and prostrating our body for Allah Almighty. The special experience of observing this posture cannot be replaced. The feeling that it creates in the heart cannot be found in any other posture. If a person observes prayers while sitting in a chair, then he offers a symbol of prostration while sitting, but he cannot benefit from per- forming this posture. The only way to make up for this loss is to pray with the awareness and pain of what he is deprived of. When we say ‘grant me health’ ( ْ عَافِنِي ), we should pray that Allah Almighty grant us health so that we are not deprived of the blessings in the physical acts of worship that Islam has taught. ________ O _________