Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 28
Malf uza t - English translation of Urdu Volume 9 28 certain sin they are caught up in, but despite making a thousand attempts they cannot overcome it. Although nafs-e-laww a mah [the reproving self ] reproaches, they still falter. From this it is learnt that it is only God Almighty who can purify man from sin. No one can do this through their personal ability, though it is true that it is essential that one must strive for it. Thus, for the inside that is filled with sins and has strayed far from the cognition and closeness of God Almighty, Prayer can purify it and bring it near from afar. Through this means, evils are eradicated and replaced with pure sentiments. This is the underlying reason why it is said that Prayer repels evil or that it restrains from indecency and abomination. What then is Prayer ? It is a supplication in which there is full anguish and fervour. This is the very reason that it is named S al a t , for a plea is made with burning, yearning and anguish, that Almighty Allah may remove ill intentions and evil pas- sions from within, and in their place engender a pristine love through His universal grace. The word صلٰوۃ صلٰوۃ [ S al a t ] attests to the fact that mere words and supplication alone are not sufficient; rather, it is imperative that a burning, tenderness and anguish accompany it. God Almighty does not listen to any supplication until the supplicant reaches up to the point of death. To pray is a difficult matter, and people are completely unaware of its true essence. Many people address letters to me saying that they supplicated at a certain time for a certain matter, but it had no effect. In this way they become sceptical of God Almighty and are lost out of despair. They fail to realize that so long as the requisites of prayer do not accompany it, that prayer cannot be of any benefit. Among the requisites of prayer is that the heart melt and the soul fall upon the threshold of the One True God like water, and an agony and anguish develop within it, and at the same