Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 31
26 December 1906 31 Then, after this, when he appears in court, and after submit- ting statements, he is indicted for the commitment of a crime, and the witness is recorded, his trouble and agony becomes greater than before. This is akin to the time of ‘A s r [Late Afternoon] Prayer, a time when the light of the sun diminishes greatly. Late afternoon points to the great diminution in his honour and worth 1 and he has been deemed to be guilty. After this comes the Maghrib [Sunset] Prayer time. This is the time when the sun sets. This time is similar to that when the authority has announced its final verdict for him. The time of the ‘Ish a [Night] Prayer is similar to him going to jail. 2 The time of Fajr [Dawn] Prayer is that when he is released from jail. 3 Under such circumstances, the pain and agony of such a per- son will continue to increase until finally this pain and anguish brings in the time that he attains salvation. And with regards to qiy a m [standing], ruk u ‘ [bowing], and sajdah [prostrating]—as I have mentioned before—they display the image of man’s humble entreaties. He first stands upright. Advancing from this, he bows, and when he is fully consumed, he falls into prostration. Whatever I am saying is not based on tradition or custom alone; rather, I say it from my experience. In fact, everyone 1. From Badr: ‘And the soul of his light has been withdrawn. ’ ( Badr, vol. 6, nos. 1, 2, p. 13, dated 10 January 1907) 2. From Badr: ‘Because all the light has dissipated, and darkness has engulfed him from all four sides, and he is thrown into prison. ’ ( Badr, vol. 6, nos. 1, 2, p. 13, dated 10 January 1907) 3. From Badr: ‘The time of the Dawn Prayer sets in after this extended darkness when he is about to be released from prison, and a ray of light falls upon him again, and light shines around him. These five times are incumbent upon man’s circumstances, and in the expectation of these five conditions that are to come upon him, he prays daily before God Almighty that he may be saved from these difficulties. ’ ( Badr, vol. 6, nos. 1, 2, p. 13, dated 10 January 1907)