Salat - The Muslim Prayer Book — Page 7
S al a t —The Muslim Prayer Book 7 of the Prayer being alive, meaningful and fruitful. Otherwise, just a performance of formality is not enough to benefit man. That would be obeying an order without one’s heart being in it. That is why it is highly essential that every beginner should keep this noble objective before him and always try to make his Prayers come alive. The S al a t combines all forms and degrees expressive of humility and submission. The worshippers stand in rows and respectfully behind the Im a m. All the worshippers who line up behind the Im a m must follow his movements at his call. The call for every movement is All a hu Akbar except when the Im a m straightens himself from the position of Ruk u‘ , i. e. the bowing position, when instead of saying All a hu Akbar , he says Sami‘all a hu Liman H amidah which means 'most certainly God listens to those who praise Him. ' At this call, all the followers also straighten up with arms by their sides, saying Rabban a Wa Lakal H amd , H amdan Kath i ran T ayyiban Mub a rakan F i hi. Sincerity and humility are the essence of prayer. Allah enjoins believers: ۙ ا ﺆﻣﻨﻮن ا ﺢ َُُِْْْﻗﺪ ََْمل ََْﻓﻠ ﺻﻼِﻢ ىف ﻫﻢ َََُِِْْْْاﻟﺬ ﻦ َِّۙﻳ َُِْﻌﻮن ٰﺧﺸ Surely, success does come to the believers, Who are humble in their Prayers, (23:2-3)