Jurisprudence

Description of Prayer

So far we have mentioned all the rules regarding prayer and have explained how to perform prayer. Now we will briefly explain the truth of prayer. The briefest logical explanation of prayer, which must always be kept in your mind, is prayer is nothing except the wilayat of Ameerul Momineen (as). As Moula Ali (as) Himself said, "Anna salatul momineen". (I am the prayer of momin). Now we will discuss every aspect of prayer briefly.

Adhan and Iqama

As you have read, while saying adhan and iqama, we call prayer by three names; salat, falah, and khair ul amal. As you know in Ghadeer when people were called towards the wilayat of Moula Ali (as), they were called by saying " Hayya ala khair ul amal". This khair ul amal is wilayat of Ameerul Momineen (as) as well as a name for prayer. So it has been proven prayer and wilayat of Moula Ali (as) are the same thing. This is the reason Moula Ali (as) said, "One who establishes My wilayat has certainly established prayer." Moula Ali (as) said further, " I am "hayya ala salah . I am "hayya ala falah . I am "hayya khair ul amal ."

Another very important aspect is when you say the iqama, you say these words: "Qadqama tis salah". Its translation is "Certainly prayer has begun". Even though you have not made your niyyat, said takbir, nor read your prayer, so you must think how is it possible without doing any of these acts the prayer has begun? Its quite clear that at the time you testify to the wilayat of Ameerul Momineen (as) the prayer is established. After reading that whatever you do is simply obeying the orders of Allah.

Facing towards Kaaba

Kaaba is a house made of rocks and cement. It is called the House of Allah. In Arabic there are two words which are used for house; "darr" and "beit". Darr is used for every building. Beit is that house in which a person has spent at least three nights. If you think about this, you will realize Allah is houseless nor can you even imagine a house for Him. Then who is He who spent three nights in Kaaba and this is why it is called "Beit" (House of Allah)? The history of Kaaba is itself a witness as to why Allah calls this house as His.

No one else except our Moula (as) and His Holy Mother (as) has spent three nights in the Holy Kaaba. The Kaaba is not the house of Allah because He is far above the need of a house. This is the house of Moula Ali (as). This is the will of Allah that when we face Kaaba in prayer, we must keep remembering Moula Ali (as) in our minds during prayer.

Absolute Attention

This word "tawajja is made from wajja. Wajja means face. If you talk to someone and you turn your face in another direction, it is a very huge insult. Whenever we speak with someone we turn our face towards them. This act is called attention. It means you look at the face of the person who is in front of you.

During prayer, we talk to Allah. Its wajib to turn our face towards the face of Allah. Every person on this earth knows "W ahjullah" (face of Allah) is Moula Ali (as). If you do not pay absolute attention towards Moula Ali (as) in your prayer, then you will be declared an insulter and disobedient towards Allah. Your prayer will be thr own back in your face.

Niyyat (Intention)

When you make your niyyat for pr ayer and say "qurbatan ilallah , it means "for the nearness of Allah". W hen you say this , it means you are performing this prayer to gain the nearness of Allah. Ever y single person is aware of the fact that inorder for you to be near or far from someone, they must be in a particular place for you to be near or far from. However we cannot even imagine a specific place for Allah. Doing so is absolute kufr (disbelief).

Before making your intention for prayer, you must think what is that place of Allah which is the reason for our reading this prayer to become close to Him. If you read Ziarat e Jamiah, it is clearly stated that the place of Allah is our Twelve Imams (as). Imam Muhammad Baqir (as) said, "I swear by Allah, there are seventy lines of angels in the heavens. If all the people who live on this earth, wished to count them, they will be unable to do so. They all gain the nearness of Allah through Our wilayat." So "qurbatan ilallah means to gain the nearness of Imam Zamana (ajf). If your prayer brings you close to Ahlul Bayt (as), then certainly this is the true and real prayer. If your prayer takes you far from Ahlul Bayt (as), then certainly such a prayer will take him into the hell.

Qayyam

Qayyam in prayer reminds us that when Imam Zamana (ajf) will reappear, He will stand and fight against munafiqeen. The purpose of qayyam in prayer is to prepare for jihad and show our Imam (ajf)we are ready to help.

Recitation

The meaning of "salat is dua. If we ponder, we will see in all of the wajib acts of prayer, this is that act where we make dua. The dua is "Ahadena Siratul Mustaqeem". "O my Lord! Keep me on the true path." The Sir atul Mustaqeem is the wilayat of Moula Ali (as).

Rukoo

During qayyam we stand and during sajda we place ourselves on the ground. Rukoo is an act between these two conditions. Quran called Ahlul Bayt (as) as "Ummah tul Wasta". It means the sacred personalities are wasila between Creator and creation. Rukoo reminds us about Ahlul Bayt (as).

Sajda

Who is such a momin on this earth who performs sajda and does not remember the last sajda of Imam Hussain (as) in Karbala? This is proof the spirit and truth of our sajdas to remember that sajda which saved tawheed until the day of judgment. May our live be sacrificed on the shaheed e Karbala and the one who was brutally murdered on the plains of Karbala.

We briefly have explained all the aspects of prayer n this book. If you want to read the details, then pleas e read our book "Kashaful Masail". I pray to Imam Zamana (ajf) may He accept this ordinary attempt and make this book useful for the youth of my nation. So that they become momin and a part of Imam (ajf) s army and helpers. I pray may Allah protect all the momineen and mominat from the tricks of shaitan and the doubts which munafiqeen have created will not take their iman from them. Ameen.

This book "Kashaful Salat" is completed today 11th of August 2006. 15 Rajab 1427 Hijra. on Friday at 5 pm. With the help of Allah and the blessings of Imam Zamana (ajf).

"Alhamdulilah al alameen wa salatul wa salamu ala khatimaul nabiyeen wa alihi al tayyibeen al tahireen al Masoomeen al Mazloomeen wa lanatul lahi ahadaihim ajmaeen min youmina haza al youmul deen.

Adopted from the book: "Kashaful Salat" by: "Seyyed Baqir Nisar Zaidi"