Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 179
179 principal attributes. He then gives expression to his conviction, resulting from the contemplation of these attributes, that He Who possesses these attributes in perfection is alone worthy of worship and is the Only Being from Whom help may be sought in all contingencies for all righteous purposes. Even for the purpose of being enabled to offer proper worship to Him, the worshipper seeks His help. He then makes his supplication that in all his affairs he may be rightly guided and may be enabled to adopt and pursue beneficent means for success: such means as would enable him to be included among those upon whom the Grace of God descends, to keep him from incurring God’s displeasure, and to safeguard him from going astray. In the Salat the worshipper repeatedly returns to contemplation of the Majesty of God, imploring Him to guide and direct his life and effort along beneficent channels. This repeated effort made in the right spirit, in humility and sincerity, must leave its impress on the mind and soul of the worshipper and cleanse him thoroughly of all dross. The Quran says that the Salat purifies a worshipper and washes him clean of all evil and misbehaviour (29:46). The Prophet has said: “If a person has a stream of pure water running at his doorstep and washes himself thoroughly in it five times a day, no impurity would even approach him. Remember, the Salat is such a stream. ”