Why was prayer a light, and an explanation of the hadith of Abu Hurayrah al-Qudsi: "I divided the prayer between Me and My servant into two halves..."
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The Shaykh : Why, my brothers?
I hope you will turn your thoughts over to this: why was it a light?
Because through it, a person connects with Allah (Mighty and Majestic). When you stand to pray, do you not know that you are conversing with your Lord (Mighty and Majestic), and He is on His Throne, hearing you and answering you, as Allah the Exalted said in the hadith al-Qudsi:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2953Sahih (Darussalam).
Pay attention, O heedless one.
Mishkat al-Masabih 823.
By Allah, if we were to feel the weight of this noble meaning, the distracting thoughts would not come to us from every side when we enter into prayer. Allah the Exalted said:.
فإذا قال: إياك نعبد وإياك نستعين، قال الله: هذا بيني وبين عبدي نصفين، فإذا قال: اهدنا الصراط المستقيم، قال الله: هذا لعبدي ولعبدي ما سأل.
By Allah, the effect of this conversation is a great effect that nothing equals. But we complain to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) of the heedlessness and playfulness we find in our hearts, especially when we stand before Him in prayer. We do not find the whispers and distracting thoughts, which are considered idle talk of the mind, except when we enter into prayer. For in that state, Satan strives with utmost effort to turn us away from Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and from the connection with Him. It is for the sake of this connection that prayer is a light, by which a person acquires light in his heart, and this appears on his face, then in his grave and his gathering.
The rest of the discussion on the effects and fruits of prayer will come, if Allah wills, in the next lesson, with the help and guidance and will of Allah the Exalted.
We now turn to the questions, as it appears that we have questions. We ask Allah to grant us success in them to the truth.
I hope you will turn your thoughts over to this: why was it a light?
Because through it, a person connects with Allah (Mighty and Majestic). When you stand to pray, do you not know that you are conversing with your Lord (Mighty and Majestic), and He is on His Throne, hearing you and answering you, as Allah the Exalted said in the hadith al-Qudsi:
I have divided the Salat between Myself and My slaves into two halves
قسمت صلاة بيني وبين عبدي نصفينPay attention, O heedless one.
I have divided the prayer into two halves between me and my servant, and my servant will receive what he asks.” When the servant says, “Praise be to God the Lord of the universe,” God most high says, “My servant has
قسمت صلاة بيني وبين عبدي نصفين، فإذا قال: الحمد لله رب العالمين، _استمع للجواب _ قال الله: حمدني عبديBy Allah, if we were to feel the weight of this noble meaning, the distracting thoughts would not come to us from every side when we enter into prayer. Allah the Exalted said:
My servant praised Me
حمدني عبديSo when he says: "The Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy," Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says: "My servant praised Me." When he says: "Master of the Day of Judgment," Allah says: "My servant glorified Me." _Conversation_ When he says: "You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help," Allah says: "This is between Me and My servant, and My servant gets what he asked for." When he says: "Guide us to the straight path," Allah says: "This is for My servant, and for My servant is what he asked for"
فإذا قال: الرحمن الرحيم ، قال الله عز وجل: أثنى علي عبدي، فإذا قال: مالك يوم الدين، قال الله: مجدني عبدي. _ مناجاة_فإذا قال: إياك نعبد وإياك نستعين، قال الله: هذا بيني وبين عبدي نصفين، فإذا قال: اهدنا الصراط المستقيم، قال الله: هذا لعبدي ولعبدي ما سأل
By Allah, the effect of this conversation is a great effect that nothing equals. But we complain to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) of the heedlessness and playfulness we find in our hearts, especially when we stand before Him in prayer. We do not find the whispers and distracting thoughts, which are considered idle talk of the mind, except when we enter into prayer. For in that state, Satan strives with utmost effort to turn us away from Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and from the connection with Him. It is for the sake of this connection that prayer is a light, by which a person acquires light in his heart, and this appears on his face, then in his grave and his gathering.
The rest of the discussion on the effects and fruits of prayer will come, if Allah wills, in the next lesson, with the help and guidance and will of Allah the Exalted.
We now turn to the questions, as it appears that we have questions. We ask Allah to grant us success in them to the truth.