Why Does Man Need to Allaah: He left his warm bed to go But is man really as strong and

out into the chilly night, he made great as his ego tells him? The
Pray…? ablution in the icy water of the Qur`aan tells us the reality of man’s
stream, and then he ascended the nature: It is Allaah Who created you in
After a long and hectic day at high minaret of the mosque to a state of weakness, then gave you strength
work, how difficult it is for a tired glorify Him Whom he truly serves: “I after weakness, then after strength, gave
person to go out to the mosque and bear witness that there is none you weakness and a hoary head: He creates
worthy of worship except Allaah. I what He wills, and He is the All-knowing,
concentrate on his prayers to
bear witness that Muhammad is the the All-powerful (Soorah 30:54)
Allaah, the Almighty. Snuggled up in
a warm and cozy bed, how difficult Messenger of Allaah.” Ibn Sina
records: “I learned the essence of Weakness in the beginning and weakness in
it is to get up at the call of the the end: This is the essence of man. He is so
Mu`azzin: “Come to prayer! Come to true love, that love which results in
weak and helpless at birth that his entire
success!” complete obedience.” The love of
existence depends on his parents and his
Allaah demands total and family. If he were to be abandoned in these
The famous doctor and unconditional obedience. Allaah, the first crucial years, he could not survive on his
philosopher, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Almighty says: Say [oh, own. He needs a gentle and loving hand, not
recalls such a moment in his life. Muhammad!]: “If you love only in his infancy, but in his childhood and
One cold and icy night, he and his Allaah, follow me: Allaah will even in his teenage years. As this child enters
slave were resting at an inn in a forgive you your sins, for Allaah the years of youth and independence, he begins
remote part of Khuraasaan. During is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful to take control of his own life. He looks with
the night, he felt thirsty, so he (Soorah 3:31) pride at his strong physique, his handsome
called to his slave to bring him features and his many talents. He begins to
some water. The slave had no desire Prayer: A Cry of the Inner despise those of lesser abilities, even scorning
his parents, who exhausted their own health to
to leave his warm bed, so he Soul nurture him. He becomes unjust and cruel,
pretended not to hear Ibn Sina’s
using his strength and vigour to dominate
call. But finally, after repeated calls, His arrogance and pride have others. He thinks he is master, free to act as he
he reluctantly got up and went to often led man to behave as an wills. But does this youth, these good looks
fetch the water. A little while later, oppressor and a tyrant. Some men last forever? In only a few decades, he begins
the melodious sound of the azaan have been carried away by their to lose his strength…his youth is replaced by
(call to prayer) filled the air. Ibn Sina own self-importance that they have old age. Weakness in the beginning, weakness
began to think about the person even claimed divinity. Pharoah, the in the end.” The message is clear: The real
calling the people to prayer. “My ruler of Egypt, was among those Master is Allaah. He Alone is Mighty, He
slave, ‘Abdullaah, he mused, has who announced: “I am your Alone, is Great. He Alone is never tired, never
always respected me and admired supreme Lord!” With his sense of needs rest, is never dependent upon anyone.
me. He seizes any opportunity to greatness and pride, Pharoah Allaahu Akbar! - Allaah is the Greatest! In our
lavish praise and affection on me, subjugated the Israelites and made everyday lives, we say a warm thank you for
but tonight he preferred his own their lives wretched and miserable. the small acts of kindness which others do for
comfort to my needs. On the other us. So what about thanking Allaah, Who, in
hand, look at this Persian slave of His infinite Mercy, has provided for every
single one of our needs. Just observe the Muslim recites Soorah Al-Faatihah: polytheism and disbelief is
beauty and perfection of the earth around you This recitation is not a dull abandoning prayer.” (Narrated by
and fall down in gratitude to your Lord. monologue by the Believer, but Muslim)
Allaah promises that it is a
Prayer: The Ascension for a Believer conversation between Him and the Allaah says, concerning the plight
worshipper. The Messenger of Allaah of the disbelievers on the Day of
After the Messenger of Allaah reported that Allaah, the Almighty Judgement, that they will be asked
was commissioned for Prophethood, says: ‘When my slave says in his
the first thing he was commanded prayer: “All praise is for Allaah, the
to do by Allaah was to pray. The Lord of the worlds,” I say: “My slave
angel Jibreel came to him and a has praised Me” When he says: “The
spring of water gushed out of the Merciful, the Compassionate, Master
rocks in front of them. Jibreel then of the Day of Judgement,” I say: “My
showed Allaah’s Messenger how slave has glorified Me.” When he
to make ablution. He then showed says: “You Alone we worship and by the Believers: “What led you
him how to offer prayers to Allaah. your Aid we seek,” I say: “This is into the Hell-fire?” They will
He began to pray two rak`ah twice a between Me and My slave.” When say: “We were not of those who
day, once in the morning and once he says: “Show us the Straight prayed.” (Soorah 74:42-43).
in the evening. He then went home Path,” I say: “This is for My slave, Allaah also says: Successful
and showed his wife Khadeejah and I give My slave what he wants.” indeed are the Believers, those
what he had learnt from the angel who humble themselves in their
Jibreel . The Messenger of Allaah once prayers (Soorah 23:1-2), and:
said: “Prayer is the pillar of And those who guard [strictly]
From that time, the Prophet religion.” (Narrated by Al-Baihaqi) their worship, such will be the
never went through a day without He also informed us that Islaam is honoured ones in the Gardens
praying. Just before his migration to built upon five pillars, the second [of Bliss] (Soorah 70: 34-35).
Madinah, he was taken on a night being to establish prayer five times
journey to Jerusalem and then to the a day. (Narrated by Al-Bukhaari) This Allaah has emphasized the need
heavens (Mi`raaj). During this makes the image very clear: Islaam for humility and concentration in
journey, Allaah, Almighty, ordered is like a building supported by five prayers. There is no doubt that
him to pray five times a day. This columns; remove just one column Satan is the most bitter enemy of
prayer was a gift given to every and the entire building weakens. In man; he always tries to disturb the
Believer to enable him to the same way, when a person stops Believer’s prayers. He (the
experience a spiritual ascension five praying, his faith becomes weak, worshipper) finds his mind suddenly
times a day. The Prophet said: and the mildest blows can cause it engulfed with memories, problems,
“The prayer is the Mi`raaj of the to crumble. The prayer is so very worries, work and his family… and
Believer.” It gives every Muslim the important that the Prophet said: he will often find himself wondering
chance to communicate with his “Verily, between man and whether he has prayed three rak`ah
Lord. During each prayer, the or four. This is how Satan steals the
prayer. Man was created only to
worship Allaah. He says: I
created not the jinns and
mankind except to worship me
(Soorah 51:56). Man is to live in this
world as a worshipper of Allaah and
prayer is the best for of worship. On Zayed Centre for New Muslims
the Day of Judgement, man will P.O. Box 16090,
have to answer for his deeds. Allaah Al-Ain, U.A.E.,
Phone (9713) 829191
says: Then shall you be Fax (9713) 810633
questioned about the joy [you
indulged in] (Soorah 102:8)

(Abridged from: “Why Do We Pray?”

Why Do We
Pray…?
(5)