Malfuzat – Volume X — Page 527
17 May 1908 527 see any sincerity, you see it only after the Salat has been com- pleted. They do not understand that Salat itself is prayer, which is made with great meekness, humility, sincerity, and anguish. Prayer alone is the key to success in the greatest of great tasks. It is prayer indeed which is the first step in opening the doors to the grace of God. To perform Salat as a ritual and as a routine is of no benefit. Indeed, God has Himself cursed and rebuked such supplicants rather than accepting their Salat. God Himself says: 1 ٌلْيَوَف َنْيِّلَصُمْلِّل۠ ٌلْيَوَف َنْيِّلَصُمْلِّل۠ This pertains to those supplicants who are unaware of the real- ity of Salat and its meanings. The Companions ra [of the Holy Prophet s as ] had Arabic as their language and understood its [ Salat’s ] essence rather well, but for us it is necessary to know its meanings and thereby create delight in our Salat. But these people have misconstrued things as if another Prophet has come and has abolished Salat altogether. Look, there lies no benefit in this for God. On the contrary, it is purely for man’s own good that he be given occasion for an audience with God, and be conferred the honour of plead- ing and petitioning through which he attain salvation from many a harsh affliction. I am astounded at how those people go through life whose day passes as does night, but they have no awareness that they, in fact, have a God. Know for certain that 1. So woe to those who pray ( S u rah al-M a ‘ u n, 107:5). [Publisher]