Not many of us realise the subtle and hidden secrets that lie behind our movements in salah (prayer). Some of us may even rush through it without giving much thought to the hidden intricacies and the hidden beauty. How many people stand in salah but their mind does not stand focused? How many people bow down but their inner soul refuses to bow? How many people prostrate but their heart fails to do so? And how many people pray but a prayer has not been written for them?
The secret beauty behind rising up from Ruku’
Below are 2 passages from Ibn al-Qayyim’s book ‘Asrar al-Salat’.
“… Then it has been prescribed for the servant to extol and praise his Lord as he is rising up from ruku’ (i.e. after bowing in prayer)*, rising up and returning to his best pose**. So he exalts and praises his Lord as he returns to the best of forms because Allah has guided him to attain this humbleness which others have been prevented from attaining.
He is returned to a state of uprightness, standing up to be in his Lord’s service. He stands in front of Him just as he stood in front of Him during recitation (when reciting al-Fatiha), and for that reason it is prescribed that he praises and exalts Him just like he praised and exalted Him during the recitation.
And there is a special meaning to this rising; it is a state that reaches and penetrates the heart… It is for this reason that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) used to prolong this standing (after the ruku’) just as he prolonged the ruku‘ and sujud (prostration). He used to praise Allah much therein and exalt Him…
And when in the night prayer, he (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) used to repeatedly say during this standing after the ruku’, ‘For my Lord is all Praise, for my Lord is all Praise.’ [1]
Repetition within the Prayer
“… And it has been prescribed for the servant to repeat these actions and words (i.e. repeat recitation of al-Fatiha, ruku’, sujud etc, in the prayer) as it is a source of nourishment for the heart and soul. There is no strength in them (the heart and soul) except by this.
Repeating it is just like repeatedly eating food – mouthful after mouthful until a person eats his fill, and drinking again and again until his thirst is quenched. If a hungry person only took one mouthful of food and then pushed his food away, what will that mouthful do for him? In fact, it may even cause him to become hungrier!
For this reason, one of the Salaf said: ‘A person who prays but does not find tranquillity in his prayer is like a person who is hungry, then food is brought to him but he only takes one or two handfuls. What will it then do for him?’
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[1] Reported by Abu Dawud and al-Nasa’i; declared sahih by al-Albani
* Rifa’a ibn Rafi’ said, “One day we were praying behind the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) when the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) raised his head from ruku’ and said, ‘Allah hears the one who praises Him’ (Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah). A man behind him said, ‘Our Lord, praise belongs to You – blessed, pure and abundant praise’ (Rabbana wa laka’l-hamd kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fihi). When the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) had finished, he said, ‘Who was it who spoke just now?’ The man said, ‘I did, Messenger of Allah,’ and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘I saw more than thirty angels rushing to see which one of them would record it first.'”
** By ‘best pose’ Ibn al-Qayyim is refering to the verse in Surah al-Tin: “… And We have indeed created Man in the best of forms.” [al-Tin: 4] – i.e. with an upright posture.
Assalamualykum sis,
Jazakillahu khairaa…Why I didn`t get this post in mail..I subscribed thru feed burner too…
salaam.
Asalamu Aleykum wr wb
the way haw u have been able to summarize the information is very unique and appealing. Many elderly brothers feel a bit hesitant in reading when finding out you are a sister I.e female. but forget the amount of info conveyed through the wives of The Prophet saw. I wish the best of both worlds for u and ur parents as well as ur siblings and friends. I was thinking of asking u to post bout a particular topic but I’d rather keep it a surprise inshAllah. To all much love and happiness Aleykum Asalam wr wb
I guess I’m a bit greedy, just wanted to post this for u nd others
http://www.dhikrullah.com/quran/luhaidan.html
this brother and Yasr Ad Dowsary r intense. In Urdu “gharoontay kharey hojatein hain” Allahu Akbar fo shor
Peace, the feedburner sends out post updates after a few hours. So there’s a slight delay in receiving them.
Muhibullah, jazakallahu khayran for your du’a. I didn’t think anyone would be hesitant because of that, but it’s good to know I guess! Thank you for the Qur’anic audio, the clip of Shaykh al-Luhaydan reciting Aal-‘Imran is actually one of my all-time favourites.
walekum salaam wa rahmatuallahi wa barakatuhu ukhtee
Mashallah
Jazakallahukhair
May Allah bless all with Khushu always.
Ameen.
I realize when i read this post how our mind automatically is put on auto pilot whenever we pray so much so that the prayer is regarded as a burden rather than a blessing . . .Keep em cumin!
I love this post.
MashaAllah I like how you summarized this and got to the point- I have one written (saved) but it became so large that I have to revise it
I miss those days we were together … wish I could turn back the hands of time. Now its all just a distant memory. It seems like just yesterday when I first met u…
Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh,
It’s been a while since your last post so I just thought I’d give my salaams and hope you are well sister. Looking forward to your next post.
Assalaamu alaykum
Wow sis, you usually update at least once a month (with the exception of when you was away performing `Umrah) – but this month you haven’t updated.
Hectic western lifestyle eh?
Wa `alaykumusalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
Sorry! Had too much on my plate recently.
No, it’s not western lifestyle that’s driving me back to hectic-ness, ya Bint Husayn, it’s just life to be honest! :p
Assalamualaykum. Has this book been translated into english and if so, where can I get it from?