Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 290
/ V 290 the way which the Holy Prophet followed. It is ray personal ex- perience that nothing can make a man attain that nearness of God which can be attained through prayers. All the movements; in prayers are expressive of the deepest humbleness before God. First we stand with our hands folded on the breast, as a servant i stands respectfully before his lord and master, expressing by this attitude that like a humble servant, we are ready to obey all the | Divine commandments. Next we bend low before Him as a servant does before his master and thus express further humble- i [ ness while we praise the holiness and greatness of God. The highest degree of humbleness which is expressive of utter human / weakness in the majestic Divine presence is shown in the act of prostration. The tongue utters the praises of God and thus while the words express His glory and greatness, the heart shows its sincerity in this praise and glorification of the mighty Lord of earth and heavens by the physical act of prostration. The physical movements of the body in prayers are therefore only practical expressions of the deep humbleness of the hearfr and both the tongue and the heart, the body as well as the soul^ join in singing praises of the glory and greatness of God and expressing by words as well as practice the utter weakness and humility of man. As there is a deep significance beneath the physical move- ments of the body in the prayers, so there is a hidden meaning in the five times appointed by the Islamic law for the five daily \i' prayers. They represent the five conditions of man. They are I photographs of man's changing conditions. The life of man is subject to five different changes which he undergoes in the time of adversity. These five changes are necessary to human nature. First of all he is informed of the misfortune that is going to bafall him, as, for instance, when a warrant is issued