The conscious mind
We have a wealth of knowledge available to us about Islam and understand that Islam is a system for a comprehensive way of life. Despite this, for many, Islam is not truly implemented in one's life.
Salah is the method of implementation of Islam into daily life. Millions of Muslims offer salah regularly. Salat may bring us hope, peace and momentarily tranquillity and is Islam being implemented into one’s daily life and activities.
The dearest action to Allahﷻ
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas’oud (may Allah be satisfied with him):
I asked the Prophetﷺ: “Which deed is the dearest to Allahﷻ” He replied: “To offer the prayers at their stated fixed times.” I asked: “What is the next (in goodness)?” He replied: “To be good and dutiful to your parents.” I again asked: “What is the next (in goodness)?” He replied: “To participate in jihad (striving in Allah’s cause).” Abdullah added: “These were told to me by Allah’s Messengerﷺ and if I had asked more, he would have told me more.” (Bukhari)
Salat, the regular contact prayer, is the ultimate hublot watches replica connection and communication of mankind, the created with the Creatorﷻ. It is the direct conversation between mankind with Allahﷻ. Yet most fail to include a vital element in salat, and without understanding this key element one is simply not able to seek and attain the complete benefit from it. This key element is consciousness or being present in salat, the essential conversation in one's life.
It is assumed as a fundamental point in any conversation that the parties are able to communicate. It is an essential condition that the person speaking will be required to speak words whilst understanding what those words mean; so at what level is one communicating with the Creatorﷻ in salat? The fact is that without understanding and having a level of consciousness of what one is saying celine 61072 unisex trendy jackets communication does not exist.
The conscious salat
There are two essential elements of consciousness during prayer. The first is to:
Be conscious of Allahﷻ, and the second to:
Be conscious of our conversation with Allahﷻ
To be conscious of Allahﷻ during prayer.
Surah 23: Al-Mu'minoon (the believers) Ayat 1-2
Qad aflaha almu/minoon
Successful indeed are the believers.
Allatheena hum fee salatihimkhashiaaoon
Those who with their salat (prayers) are khashi’un.
These glorious verses are in the beginning of Surah Al-Mu’minoon, which takes its name from the first verse. The name of the Surah reflects its theme and defines its subject.
Ayat 1: Success
“Successful indeed are the believers.”
This is a Divine promise and a clear declaration of success to the believers.
The believers are those who have accepted the message of Muhammadﷺ, acknowledged him as their guide and followed his example. It is this right guidance that will lead to true success either as individuals or collectively, resulting in tranquillity in this world and everlasting bliss in the hereafter.
Ayat 2: Khasi'un
Alibin AbI Talhah reported that ibn `Abbas said: “(Khashi’un) means those with fear and with tranquillity.” This was also narrated from Mujahid, Al-Hasan, Qatadah and Az-Zuhri. It was reported from Ali bin AbuTalib (ra) that khushu` means the khushu` of the heart. This was also the view of Ibrahim An-Nakha`i. Al-Hasan al-BasrI said, “Their khushu` was in their hearts.” So they lowered their gaze and were humble towards others. Khushu` in prayer is only attained by the one who has emptied his heart totally, who does not pay attention to anything else besides it, and who prefers it above all else. At this point salat becomes a delight and a joy to one’s eye, as in the hadith:
Imam Ahmad and An-Nasa'I from Anas, said that the messenger of Allahﷺ said:
“Fragrance and women have been made dear to me, and salah was made the joy of my eye.”
Be conscious of our conversation with Allahﷻ .
Salat is the dearest action of man to the Creator and there is undoubtedly greatness in salat, but how does one attain this benefit? The awareness of Allahﷻ with a conscious mind during salat is an absolutely essential condition in one’s offering of salat prayers. Once one achieves this awareness, one recites the salat prayer in Arabic.
It is well known and understood by Muslims that specific words are to be recited in salat and that these words must be recited in their original Arabic form. These words are usually memorised at a tender age and great emphasis is correctly placed on their exact method of recitation. Yet the meaning of the words is not emphasised to the same level. The memorised words are often not even translated or understood and certainly not given the same importance as the recitation alone.
Just imagine having a conversation while speaking in a foreign tongue that one does not understand. How meaningful will that conversation be to oneself if one is speaking words that one simply does not understand? That could not possibly be considered a sensible conversation. The conversation that one has with the Lord, the King ﷻ of kings, is the highest and the most significant of conversations that one could possibly have; surely it is imperative that one understands the meaning of the words that one is saying in this conversation.
Whilst salat is the ultimate conversation and communication with our Lordﷻ, one can only communicate during this conversation if one is able to understand the words that he/she is speaking.
It is only with the correct understanding and awareness of the spoken words that the salat communication can be understood and the conversation can only then be empowering and a means of guidance. Indeed, there will be differing levels of understanding for each of us, but at every level there must be at least a basic understanding of the words that one speaks in order for a conversation to be valid or indeed exist.
Surah 96. Al-Alaq
Iqra/ bi-ismi rabbika allathee khalaq
Read! In the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists),
Khalaqa al-insana min AAalaq
Has created man from a clot,
Iqra/ warabbuka al-akram
Read! And your Lord is the most generous,
Allathee AAallama bilqalam
Who has taught (the writing) by the pen,
AAallama al-insana ma lamyaAAlam
Has taught man that which he knew not.
For one to pray salat with full awareness of Allahﷻ, submission is required of the mind, body, heart and soul:
The mind - conscious of the meaning of the words of salah
The body - to be in a state of purity (dud) and standing facing towards qibla. To be in obedience - no voluntary movements
The heart - conscious of Allah, the supreme
The soul - submission to Allah
Salat is the key to attaining the guidance of Islam in all and every aspect of our existence, and it is my hope that in this book I can convey that which I feel is a fundamental element of this key.
This key will open the door to more of the infinite benefits from salat, leading to greater guidance, contemplation, learning and understanding of one’s own life and world. Salat is the unique means by which to bring and implement the Guidance of Islam into all aspects of one’s day-to-day life.
Surah 70: Al-Ma’Arij (the ascending stairways) Ayat19-21
Inna alinsana khuliqa halooAAan
Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient
Itha massahu alshsharru jazooAAan
Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him
Waitha massahu alkhayru manooAAan
And niggardly when good touches him
Illa almusalleena
Except those devoted to salat (prayers)
Allatheena hum AAala salatihimdaimoona
Those who remain constant in their salat (prayers)
22. Illa almusalleena (except those who are devoted to salah): this means that man is described with blameworthy characteristics except for he whom Allah protects, helps and guides to good, making it easy for him – and these are those people who perform salah.
23. Allatheena hum aaala salatihim daimoona (those who with their salah are da'imun): it has been said that this means they guard its times and the elements that are obligatory in it. This has been said by ibn Mas`ud, Masruq and Ibrahim An-nakha`i. It has also been said that it means tranquillity and humble concentration (in the prayer).
The vital issue is that one understands and concentrates on the meaning of the words that one is saying whilst standing before the Creatorﷻ in salat. This conversation thus forms the basis of contemplation during salat with one’s conscious mind, leading to guidance and with this, tranquillity.
Allahﷻ has prescribed that the words said during salat must be pronounced in Arabic. Allah is most wise and there is no doubt great significance to these words being pronounced in Arabic. Salat is not a mere ritual and it does not suffice to simply pronounce these words in Arabic without an understanding of the meaning of the words that one is uttering.
Understanding Arabic is not easy for the non-Arabic speaker. However, memorising the translation of the Arabic words in one’s own spoken language is quite possible when done at one’s own level of understanding, and this is made easier with the regularity of salat. Then whilst one is contemplating this meaning of the spoken words, the contemplation will lead to an increasingly deeper understanding of the words.
Focusing on the meaning of the words and not adding our own meaning is essential.
Following this and whilst knowing the importance and significance of the salat prayer, a deeper understanding of the essence of one’s life itself can be attained. An understanding of how dependent one is on this guidance will lead to a new perspective on our lives and what really matters to us.
One can only be in a truly conscious state of mind, i.e. aware of oneself and one’s reality, when one is present. The one that is truly present is present to one’s own greatness by Allah’sﷻ decree.
Surah al-'Isra' (the night journey) Ayat 70
Walaqad karramna banee adama
And indeed we have honoured the children of Adam
wahamalnahum fee albarrI
And we have carried them on land and sea
walbahriwarazaqnahum mina attayyibatI
And have provided them with at-taiyibat (lawful good things)
wafaddalnahumaaala katheerin mimman khalaqna tafdeela
And have preferred them above many of those whom we have created with a marked preference.