The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 310
310 and other actions are without effect. Essence of Islām II [Malfūzāt, vol. VI, p. 240] Şalāt, Supplication, and Certainty of Faith Do not perform the Şalāt as a mere ceremony, but observe it with the burning and the melting of the heart and supplicate continuously in the Şalāt. It is the key to the resolving of all difficulties. In addition to the prescribed prayers and glorification supplicate much in your ver- nacular so that your heart should melt, and continue this effort till you arrive at that condition for that is the means of the achieving of all true objectives. All physical postures during the Salāt should represent the condition of the heart also. When the worshipper stands in the Şalāt his heart should also be standing erect for God's obedi- ence; when he bows down the heart should also bow down; and when he goes into prostration the heart should also prostrate itself, which means that the heart should not let go of God at any time. When he reaches that condition he will begin to get rid of sins. [Malfūzāt, vol. VI, pp. 367-368] Şalāt means Relationship between Man's Servitude and God's Providence The Holy Qur'an mentions two gardens; one of these is the garden that is bestowed in this life and that is the delight of the Salāt. The Şalāt is not a burdensome tax but is a permanent relationship between man's condition of servitude and God's Providence. God Almighty has prescribed the Şalāt for the establishment of that relationship and has charged it with delight which serves to maintain the relationship. For instance, if married couple do not find