| The
Quran Clarifies the Concept:Instead of `going
astray' and `being lost' in the ineffable practices, the best
and the easiest way is what the Quran has prescribed and the
Prophet (Peace be upon him) established in his practice. Ibrahim
(Peace be upon him) had directly submitted to Allah, seeking
His Guidance to show `the practices' leading to Him:
“Our
Lord-Master-Owner (Allah)!
And make us submissive unto You, and
Of our off-spring a nation submissive unto You,
And show us our ways of worship,
and relent toward us.
Verily, You, only You are
the Ever-All-Relenting, the Ever All-Merciful.”
(2-128)
Allah has
clarified that the ‘practices’ are those which
were taught by the Prophet (Peace be upon him).
“Allah did confer a great favour on the
believers,
when He sent among them,
a Messenger from among themselves ,
rehearsing unto them, the Signs (Aayaat) of Allah,
sanctifying them, and instructing them, in Scripture
and wisdom.
While before that, they had been in manifest error.”
3-164
“To every people have We (Allah)appointed
rites and ceremonies, which they must follow:
Let them not then dispute with you in the matter.
But you do invite (them) to your Lord-Master-Sustainer;
for, you are assuredly on the Right Way.”22-67,
“Say:
`Truly, my prayer, and
my service of sacrifice, my life and my death,
are (all) for Allah,
the Cherisher-Sustainer-Lord-Master of the worlds”.
6-162
The Quran
very clearly prescribes the `practices’ on the Right
Path and the Traditions elaborate the same as established
by the Prophet (Peace be upon him) in actual detail. Therefore
the safest way is to be guided by the Quran and the established
practice of the Diin.
"Then
Adam received from his Lord-Master-Sustainer (Allah)
Words (Guidance),
And He (Allah) relented toward him.
Verily, He (Allah) it is, Who is
The Ever All-Relenting, The Ever All-Merciful".
2-37
In above verse
the words `Fa-ta-laqqaa Aadamu', present a connotation that
Adam presented-surrendered himself submissively in the Presence-Audience-Meeting
with his Lord-Master-Owner, and then he received His Pardon.
This seems to be one of the best illustrations of communion
of a slave with his Lord-Master-Owner. We only know about
the `Light' coming `out side' `Hira', but what about the secrets
unfolded upon the mind `inside'? All that was manifested over
the horizon and in the heavens, we really don’t know
much!
Allah
Prescribes Easy Steps and Practices for Drawing Closest and
Still Closer:Deep love and devotion drives
man for drawing still closer! If his quest continues, Allah
Himself, draws such a sincere slave closer to Him:
Come back to your Lord-Master-Owner
(Allah),
well pleased- well pleasing". 89-28
Allah does favour upon favour. He does special
favour to call man to come nearer in submission. He graciously
desires that not only one should come back, but also that
he should not be afraid, but well-pleased,
and well-pleasing. Can one imagine the Ever High
Exalted Greatness, limitless Benevolence and Mercy of Allah,
that He wants His mortal creature also to remain `pleased’
with Him! That means Allah graciously assures that if he comes
back well-pleasing with a goodly righteous conduct, he will
get so many favours, blessings, and bounties (much above common
greed of mortal man in mundane matters which remain insatiable),
that he will definitely be satisfied and pleased. He explains
Himself how to achieve that in further course of coming closer!
"And
to thy Lord-Master-Owner, Turn thy (all) attention."
94-8
"Fall
Prostrate and Draw Near (
to Allah )". 96-19
“So
worship Him (Alone) and
be constant and patient in His worship.”
(19-65)
From above,
it becomes clear that for the shortest and the easiest course,
basic and necessary steps (practices) are: Turn (submit) to
Allah: willingly, pleasing and pleased, not afraid, with hope
and not in despair or despondency, Fall prostrate (in humility
and lowliness) unto Him, in adoration., Concentrate effort
to come closer. (It is not just touching the ground with forehead,
but the very spirit and purpose of prostrating has to be achieved
with full concentration of all thought and effort to draw
closer.) It has to be continued with patience and constancy.
It is advisable, easier and safer to follow the
`way’ prescribed by Allah Himself, for drawing closer
to Him, than going into hazy, hallucinating and controversial,
so called, `other practices’.
"And
when My (Allah's) servants ask you, concerning Me, then
I am indeed close. I respond to the invocation
of the suppliant,
When he calls on Me." 2-186
The Holy Prophet
(Peace be upon him) said: "A servant is closest
to his Lord-Master-Owner (Allah), when he is in prostration".
There is a
Hadiith from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the
Prophet (Peace be upon him) used to perform prostrations to
Allah, fully absorbed in submission, while weeping, that she
used to worry about him due to prolongation and assimilation
in prostrations. In order to safeguard against interruptions
and gaps that may affect closeness and connectivity, a clear
prescription is made:
“Therefore, when you are free,
(from your immediate task),
still labour hard.” (7)
“And to your Lord-Master-Owner-Sustainer,
turn (all) your attention.” (8) 94- 7 &
8.(Translation Abdullah Yusuf Ali).
Dr M.M.Khan
and Dr Hilali, have translated same verses as:
“So
when you have finished (your occupation),
devote your self for Allah’s
worship” (7)
“And to your Lord-Master-Owner-Sustainer
(Alone),
turn (all your) intentions and hopes.”(8)
94- 7 & 8.
The
Deeper the Devotion, the Closer the Contact:Prayer
is the minimum required of every muslim and what really
brings him closer to Allah is the supererogatory prayer
(beyond what is obligatory), specially late after-midnight
when people enjoy deep sleep but His servant shuns slumber
and seeks His pleasure:
"Their sides keep away from their beds,
and they call on their Lord-Master-Owner,
in fear and hope." 32-16
"And
wake up for it (the Quran),
in the latter part of the night,
as a supererogatory service for you.
It may be that your Lord-Master-Owner (Allah),
will raise you in an exalted status." 17-79
"O you
wrapped up in garments!(1)
Stand all night, except a little-(2)
Half of it or a little less than that,(3)
Or a little more.
And recite the Quran in a measured-pleasant-rhythmic
tone.(4)
Verily, We (Allah) shall send down to you a weighty
Word.(5)
Verily, the rising by night is most potent for
governing (the `self’),
and most suitable for the Word.(6)
Verily, there is for you by day
prolonged occupation with chain of duties.(7)
And remember the Name of your Lord-Master-Owner
and
Devote yourself to Him with a complete devotion."(8)
( 73 - 1 to 8 )
Also see Surah
74, which in conjunction with Surah 73, amply clarifies that
it is not just a prayer but the practical Path of clean conduct.
They both, jointly, hold the Syllabus and the Time Table for
preparation and training of the believer for his right conduct
on the Right Path for the high ideals for which he was granted
commission on the earth, fully equipped with superior faculties
like awareness, consciousness, knowledge, intuition, instinct,
all the required resources, etc, etc., and further reinforced
by Revelation. For the prescribed conduct
and the supererogatory effort for excellence, the Quran ensures.
"And
who does good beyond what is obligatory,
surely, then, Allah is Ever-Appreciating, Ever
All-Knowing." 2-158
The Holy Prophet
said: "Allah says:
`Whoever is at enmity with whom I befriend should
be aware of having to do battle with Me. When a servant of
Mine seeks to approach Me through that what I like best out
of what I have made obligatory on him, and continues to advance
towards Me by dint of voluntary effort beyond the prescribed,
then I begin to love him. When I love him, I become his ears
of which he hears, and his eyes with which he sees and his
hands with which he grasps and his feet with which he walks.
When he asks Me, I bestow upon him and when he seeks
protection, I protect him." (Dr Abdul Karim,"Supplication
to Allah", The Dawn, January 10, 2002 )
About remembering, praising and approaching Allah
with confidence, thanks and satisfaction of mind, see following
verses also: 2-21, 19-65, 29-56, 43-64, 69-52, 56-74, 56-96,
33-41, 15-98 & 99, 33-42, 40-55, 50-39 & 40, 52-48
& 49, 5-35, 43-36, 13-28 & 29, 2-152, 31-12, 14-7.
|
