The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 291
VIII - Expansion of Preaching 291 It does not stop here, rather, in its various types of worship, Islām has given such teachings where the principle that in worship the actual element is the spirit, has been taken into account practically. For example, with regards to the prescribed prayer, Islām instructs that it should be offered whilst facing the Ka‘bah. However, in such circumstances where it is difficult to face the Ka‘bah, for example if someone is in a mode of transport and the direction of that transport is uncontrollable, or if the direction of the Ka‘bah cannot be deciphered due to clouds, etc. , in such cases, Islām instructs that wherever the mode of transport is facing, or whichever direction one believes that the Ka‘bah is, the Ṣalāt should be offered in that direction. For example, the positions of Qiyām , Ruku‘ , Sajdah and Qa‘dah have been declared compulsory during the Ṣalāt. However, if due to a bodily ailment, one cannot stand or there is some other disability, it is permitted that the Ṣalāt be offered whilst sitting. If one cannot even sit, then the Ṣalāt can be offered lying down. The same principle is applied to other forms of worship as well. In other words, wherever the spirit of worship and its body begin to conflict with one another due to temporary circumstances, and both cannot be fulfilled simultaneously, Islām orders that the body should be left and the spirit be adopted. This is practical evidence that in Islām, the spirit has been declared the actual purpose of worship and the body has been kept merely for its apparent participation and for the salvation of the soul – this is the intent. Hence, the allegation that by involving the body, Islām has effaced the spirit, or that by putting excessive emphasis on the body, the spirit has been weakened, is completely erroneous and baseless. Rather, in this regard, Islāmic teachings present such a superior, moderate, and attractive model which is not only above all objections, but no other religion can present its likeness. Then, as we have alluded to above, for the purpose of its worship, Islām has prescribed such positions, as no superior manner in which to keep the spirit of worship alive and progressive can be fathomed. War between the Roman and Persian Empires and the Prophecy of the Holy Prophet sa Prior to the advent of Islām and in the early era of Islām the two most powerful and largest empires among the civilized world were the Persian and Roman empires. Both of these empires were situated near Arabia. The empire of Persia was located in the North-east of Arabia and the Roman empire in the North-west. Since the borders of both these empires met, at times there would