ON HUMILITY IN SALÂH

It is related in a Tradition that Jibra’îl came one day to the Prophet and said: “O Messenger of Allâh! I saw an angel in the heavens, sitting on a bed with 70 000 angels around him in rows, serving him. Every time this angel takes a breath, Allâh creates an angel from that breath of his. Now I saw that angel on a bare mountain, his wings broken and crying. When he saw me, he asked: ‘Will you intercede on my behalf?’ I asked: “What is your crime?” He replied: ‘I was sitting on this bed of mine on the night of mi‘râj when Muhammad passed by me, and I did not stand out of respect for him. So Allâh punished me in this way and placed me in this place as you can see.’ I submitted before Allâh and interceded on his behalf. Allâh said: ‘O Jibra’îl! He will only be forgiven when he sends salutations to Muhammad.’ So that angel sent salutations to you. Allâh pardoned him and caused his wings to grow again.”

You should know that it is related that the first thing that will be looked into from the deeds of a person on the day of resurrection is his salâh. If it is found to be complete, it and all his other deeds will be accepted from him. If it is found to be deficient, it and all his other deeds will be rejected.

The Messenger of Allâh said: “The similitude of the obligatory salâh is like that of a scale. He who fills it, it will show the full weight.”

Yazîd ar-Ruqâshî said: “The salâh of the Messenger of Allâh was complete, as though it was weighed exactly.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Two people from my ummah will stand up for salâh, their bowing and prostrating will be the same, yet the difference in their respective salâhs will be as vast as the distance between the heavens and the earth.” Referring to the difference in humility.

The Messenger of Allâh said: “On the day of resurrection, Allâh will not look at a person who does not straighten his back between the bowing and prostrating postures.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “The person who offers his salâh at its appointed time, makes a complete ablution for it, fulfils its bowing and prostrating postures completely, and fulfils it with humility, it will be raised white and luminous. It will say: ‘MayAllâh protect you as you protected me.’ The person who offers his salâh at its inappropriate time, does not make a complete ablution for it, does not fulfil its bowing and prostrating postures completely, and does not fulfil it with humility, it is raised black and dark. It will say: ‘May Allâh destroy you as you destroyed me.’ Till it goes wherever Allâh wills, it is then folded like a worn out garment and the person’s face is struck with it.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “The worst thief is he who steals from his salâh.”

Ibn Mas‘ûd said: “Salâh is a scale. The one who fills it, it will show the full weight. The one who gives less of it, he knows whatAllâh says in this regard: ‘Destruction to those who give short measure.’” [63]

Some 'ulamâ’ say: “The similitude of a person offering salâh is like that of a businessman who does not make any profit until his capital is pure. Similar with a person offering salâh. His optional salâh is not accepted until he fulfils his obligatory salâh.”

When the time of salâh used to come, Abû Bakr would say: “Stand before the fire of your Sustainer which you kindled, and extinguish it [with salâh].”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Salâh entails calmness and humility.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “The person whose salâh does not stop him from obscenity and evil only gets further away fromAllâh . And the salâh of the one who is inattentive [in his salâh] will not stop him from obscenity and evil.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Many a person standing in salâh gains nothing from it except tiredness and fatigue.” He is referring to the person who is inattentive in his salâh.

The Messenger of Allâh said: “A person does not gain anything from his salâh except that in which he was fully aware.”

People who have truly recognized Allâh said: “Salâh entails four things: (1) commencing with full knowledge and cognisance, (2) standing with humility, (3) fulfilling [the different postures] with respect [for Allâh ], (4) completing it with fear.”

A shaykh said: “The person whose salâh is not confined to the reality of salâh, his salâh becomes corrupt.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “There is a river in Paradise called al-Afyah. In it are the maidens of Paradise whom Allâh created from saffron. They play with pearls and sapphires. They glorify Allâh in 70 000 different languages. Their voices are more beautiful than the voice of Dâ’ûd . They say: ‘We are for him who offered his salâh with humility and presence of heart.’ Allâh says: ‘I will cause such a person to live in My house and I will make him from among My visitors.’”

It is related that Allâh revealed to Mûsâ saying: “O Mûsâ! When you remember Me, do so in a way that your body parts tremble. And at the time of remembering Me, you should be humble and calm. When you remember Me, let your tongue be behind your heart [subservient to your heart]. When you stand before Me, stand like a submissive slave. Converse with Me with a fearful heart and a honest tongue.”

It is related that Allâh revealed to him saying: “Say to the disobedient ones from your ummah not to remember Me because I have taken an oath upon Myself that the person who remembers Me, I shall remember him. So if they [disobedient ones] remember Me, I shall remember them with curses.” This is with regard to a disobedient person who is not inattentive in his remembrance. What about that person who is both inattentive and also disobedient?!

Some Companions y said: “People will be raised on the day of resurrection in a manner similar to their appearance in salâh – as regards tranquillity, calmness, experiencing the bounty and enjoyment of salâh.”

The Prophet saw a person playing with his beard while offering salâh. So he said: “If this person’s heart had submitted [beforeAllâh in salâh] the rest of his body parts would also have submitted [by remaining still].”

The Prophet said: “The person whose heart is not submissive, his salâh is rejected.” You should know that in several versesAllâh praises those who are humble and submissive in salâh: “Who are humble in their salâh.” [64] “who are mindful of theirsalâh.”[65] “who remain constant in their salâh.” [66]

It is said that those who offer salâh are many, but those who are humble in their salâh are few. Those who perform the pilgrimage are many, but those who are devoted are few. Birds are many, but nightingales are few. 'Ulamâ’ are many, but those who practise on their knowledge are few.

Salâh is the place of submissiveness, the source of humility and submission. And this is the sign of acceptance. It should be known that there is a prerequisite for the validity of salâh and a prerequisite for the acceptance of salâh. The prerequisite for the validity of salâh is fulfilling its obligatory acts. The prerequisite for the acceptance of salâh is humility. Allâh says: “Successful indeed are the believers. Who are humble in their salâh.” [67]

The other prerequisite for the acceptance of salâh is piety (taqwâ). Allâh says: “Allâh only accepts from the pious ones.” [68]

The Messenger of Allâh said: “The person who offers two rak‘ats of salâh with his heart directed towards Allâh comes out from his sins like the day his mother gave birth to him.”

You should know that it is the preoccupying thoughts that enter the heart that distract you in salâh. These thoughts therefore have to be repulsed. These are at times repulsed by offering salâh in a dark place, or in a place that is devoid of other distractions such as sounds, carpets that have certain designs on them, and abstaining from wearing beautiful clothing which could distract a person if he were to look at them in salâh. It is related that the Prophet wore a garment having designs on it, given to him by Abû Jahm. He offered salâh with it and after his salâh he removed it saying: “Go and give it back to Abû Jahm for it just now distracted me from my salâh.” The Messenger of Allâh ordered his sandal straps to be replaced with new ones. He then looked at these new straps while he was in his salâh. He ordered that these new straps be removed and the old ones brought back. The Messenger of Allâh was wearing a gold ring before gold could be made unlawful for men. While he was sitting on the pulpit he threw it out and said: “This ring has distracted me. One moment I am looking at it and the next moment I am looking at you.”

Another person narrates that he was offering salâh in his orchard with the date-palms fully laden with fruit. He looked at the fruit and admired them. He thus forgot how many rak‘ats of salâh he offered. He mentioned this to ‘Uthmân and said: “I am giving this orchard in charity. Use it for the cause of Allâh .” ‘Uthmân then sold it for 50 000 dinars.

A pious person of the past said: “Four things are loathsome in salâh: turning around, wiping the face, levelling the ground [when there are pebbles, etc. on it], and offering salâh at a place where people will pass in front of you.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Allâh turns His attention towards a person offering salâh as long as he does not turn around.”

When Abû Bakr was in his salâh, it was as though he was a stake [that was struck into the ground]. Some of them used to remain so still in their bowing posture that birds used to sit on them as though they were inanimate objects [having no movement whatsoever]. One’s nature demands that all this should be followed when standing before a person whom you respect in this world. How then can this not be required when standing before the king of kings [Allâh ]?

The following is written in the Taurâh: “O man! Do not be incapable of standing before Me, offering salâh and crying. For I amAllâh who is very close to your heart, and through the unseen I can see My light.”

It is related that ‘Umar said the following while on the pulpit: “A person’s sideburns become grey in Islam without his perfecting a salâh for Allâh .” He was asked: “How is that?” He replied: “He does not perfect his humility in it, submissiveness in it, nor his attention to Allâh in it.”

Abû al-‘Âliyah was asked about this verse: “Who are neglectful of their salâh.” [69] He replied: “He is the one who is neglectful in his salâh in the sense that he does not know how many rak‘ats he completed, two or three, three or four.” Al-Hasan said: “He is the person who is neglectful of the time of salâh to the extent that it expires.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “Allâh says: ‘My servant cannot save himself from Me except by fulfilling what I have made incumbent upon him.’”