DEVELOP HUMILITY IN SALAAH

Sister Sameh Strauch      

It is reported from Hadhrat Abu Dardaa that he said, “That may face be covered in dust for my Rabb (is most loved by me), for that is the best kind of worship for Allah.” So let none of you fear the dust, nor find it distasteful to make Sujood (plural of Sajdah, i.e. prostrate) in it, for there is no doubt that every one of you comes from it (i.e. mankind was created from dust). Nor should any of you fear an excess of it, for verily, it is by this means that one attempts to attain freedom from slavery and salvation from the Hellfire, a fire before which the fixed lofty mountains which were placed as pegs (holding the earth) could not stand, nor the seven strong heavens, built one above another, which are placed as a well graded canopy over us, nor the earth, which was placed as a dwelling for us, nor the seven seas, of which none knows their depths or their size except the One Who created them. Then what about us, with our feeble bodies, our delicate bones, our flimsy skin?

We seek refuge with Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) from the Fire of Hell! So should any of you stand in Salaah (prayers) then let him be as if he sees Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) before him, for though he may not see Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), verily, Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) sees him. It is narrated in a Hadeeth that Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) advised a man, saying: “Fear Allah as though you see Him, for verily, though you may not see Him, He sees you.”

Something similar to this wording is quoted in the Hadeeth in which the Holy Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) spoke to Archangel Jibraeel informing him about the meaning of ‘Ihsaan’, as reported by Bukhari and Muslim.

This then, is the advice of the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) to the slave in all his affairs, so what about when he performs Salaah, when he stands before Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), in a particular place, a sacred place, desiring Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and turning his face towards Him? Does not his standing, his situation in Salaah merit the same Ihsaan as all his affairs?

It says in a Hadeeth:
“Verily, the slave, when he starts his prayers, should turn his face to Allah, and he should not turn it away from Him until he leaves or turns to right and left (i.e., when he recites Salaam in the end to finish his Salaah). (Ahmad, Abu Dawood and Nasaaee).

It is also narrated in a Hadeeth: “Verily, the slave, as long as he is in Salaah, possesses three qualities:

Blessings are showered upon his head from the heavens above.

The angels sit around him, from his feet to the heavens and a caller says: ‘If the slave knew the One Who hears his whispered utterances, he would never finish his Salaah.’”

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) showers His Mercy upon the worshipper who performs Salaah in a state of humility and meekness towards Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), in fear and supplicating Him with desire (for His Pleasure), and in hope (of His Mercy), praying to his Creator, his most important consideration, dedicating his whispered utterances to Him and his standing erect in worship and his Ruku‘ (bowing down) and his Sujud (prostating), poring out his heart and his feelings and struggling to perfect his acts of worship, for he knows not whether he will offer another Salaah after it, or whether he will be overtaken (by death) before he can offer Salaah again. He stands before his Creator, earnestly, with deep feelings, hoping for its acceptance and fearing its rejection, for verily, its acceptance is a cause for joy, while its rejection is a cause for misery and wretchedness.

Nothing could be more important to us in this Salaah, or indeed in any of our actions that Allah should accept them. What is more deserving of our distress and misery, our fear — indeed our terror — we know not whether our prayer will find favor with Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) at all, nor whether any of our good deeds will be accepted. Do we know if our sins will be forgiven at all? After all this, we have no assurance that we will be spared from the punishment in Aakhirah (the Hereafter). So, who is more deserving of our tears and sadness than Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) — that He may accept from us our deeds?

In addition to this, we know not whether or not we will be awaken in the morning, nor if we will still be here in the evening, will we be given the good news of Paradise, or the bad news of the Hellfire? It is only to remind, all of us, of this terrible danger. It is not fitting that we should be happy because of our family, our wealth or our children.

It is a most amazing thing that we continue to be unmindful, chasing after vain desires, wasting our time in disregard of this most important matter, for we are being driven at a fierce pace towards death, day and night, hour by hour, like the blink of an eye. We should expect that time of our departure i.e. death may come at any moment and do not be unmindful of this great danger which may visit us. Most assuredly, we must eventually taste death. Our time may come in the morning or in the evening. We will be separated from all that we possess, either to be rewarded with Paradise or to be punished in the Hellfire. Descriptions and stories of them have become superfluous.