The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 229
Prayer 229 but the foolish supplicant does not recognize the hidden favour that God does to him and begins to complain on account of his ignorance and unawareness. He does not appreciate the verse: عسى أن تكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَى أَنْ تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ وَ اللهُ يَعْلَمُ وَ انْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ 3 73. That is, it may be that you dislike a thing, which is really good for you, and it may also be that you like something, but it may be the worse for you. Allāh knows the reality of all things and you know not. [Brāhīn-e-Ahmadiyya, Rūḥānī Khazā'in, vol. 1, pp. 430-431, footnote 11]. Acceptance of Prayer Demands Eagerness. God Almighty has taught such an excellent method of prayer in the Surah Fatihah than which nothing better is possible and which comprises all those matters which are necessary for inspiring the heart with eagerness in prayer. . For the acceptance of prayer; it is necessary that there should be eagerness in it for the prayer that lacks eagerness is mere words and is not true prayer. It is obvious, however, that it is not the choice of a person that his prayer should be inspired by eagerness at all times. It is necessary that at the time of prayer the matters that inspire eagerness should be present in the mind of the supplicant. Every sensible person knows that the heart is inspired with eagerness in consequence of two feelings. . First, that the worshipper should contemplate God as. Perfect and Powerful and possessing all perfect attributes, and to consider His mercies and His benevolence as essential from the beginning to the end for his own 73 Al-Baqarah, 2:217 [Publisher]