The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 296
296. Essence of Islām II the reality of prayer. . It should be well understood that Prayer is an entreaty which a worshipper makes to God at the time of his separation from Him in torment and with a melting heart that he may be granted a meeting with God, inasmuch as no one can be purified unless God purifies him and no one can meet with God until God brings about a meeting. . Man is held in a diversity of chains and collars. He desires to get rid of them but they persist. Despite man's intense desire to be purified his Reproaching Self (Nafse-Lawwāmah) does sometimes stumble. It is for God to purify a person from sin. There is no power that can purify you by force. God has prescribed Prayer for the generation of pure sentiments. Șalāt is a prayer which is submitted to God in travail and burning with a heart aflame, so that vicious thoughts and evil designs may be got rid of and a holy love and a pure relationship may be established and one may be enabled to keep God's commandments. The word Ṣalāt indicates that true. Prayer is not offered only with the tongue but must be accompanied by burning and sizzling and being consumed by fire. God Almighty does not accept Prayer until the worshipper at the time of prayer arrives a kind of death. . . . Şalāt is prayer at a very high level, but people do not appreciate it duly. In this age many Muslims are devoted to frequent repetition of pious formulas, as, for instance, the Naushāhīs and Naqshbandis, etc. It is a pity that none of these is free from innovations. These people are unaware of the reality of Ṣalāt and defame God's commandments. For a seeker none of these innovations is of any benefit compared with the Ṣalāt. The way of the. Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be on him)