More on Prayer

“The best prayer is one that springs from one’s sorrows.”
-Al Qushayri's Epistle on Tassawuf.

The Destitute Ones have their Lord

In reference to the previous post "Prayer of the needy", the ayat of the Quran mentioned by Imam Junayd al Baghdadi is discussed: 


"He Who answers the constrained, when he calls unto Him, and removes the evil". (27:62)


There are quite a few different translations for this verse due to the richness of the Arabic language and the difficulty of translation. Some tranlsations use the word "Constrained" while others use "destitute", "desperate", and "distressed".


One particular translation of this verse is by the Royal Aal-Al-Bayt institute project:

"Or He Who answers the desperate one when he calls to Him and Who removes [his] distress and makes you successors in the earth. Is there a god with God? Little do you remember."


Regardless of the translation, the subject of this verse is the seeking of help from God in a state of utter desperation for relief. And Imam Junayd's anecdote beautifully illustrates its meaning.

However, here is a commentary from Sahl al Tustari:


"Sahl was asked, ‘Who is the destitute one (muḍṭarr)?’ He replied:It is the person who, when he raises his hands [in prayer], does not see himself having any good deeds other than the profession of God’s oneness (tawḥīd), and even considers himself in danger [of losing that]. On another occasion he said:The destitute person (muḍṭarr) is the one who has washed his hands of all power (ḥawl), strength (quwwa) and reprehensible means (asbāb madhmūma). Supplication (daʿwa) from mankind is of two kinds, and is answered, without doubt, whether it be from a believer or unbeliever: the supplication of the destitute (muḍṭarr) and the supplication of the oppressed (maẓlūm); for God says, Exalted is He: Or [is] He who answers the destitute one when he calls to Him… [better]?, and He also says, and who provides for you from the heavens and [from] the earth [27:64]. The supplication of the oppressed is raised above the veil, and God, Exalted is He, responds with the words; ‘By My glory and majesty, I will come to your aid though it may be after a while.’"

Prayer of the needy

"He Who answers the constrained, when he calls unto Him, and removes the evil". (27:62)


Sahl b. Abdallah said: “The prayer most likely to be answered [by God] is that of one’s spiritual state (hal). The prayer of the spiritual state is the prayer of a man who is forced to pray to God in order to fulfill his need.”

Abu Abdallah al-Makanisi say: “I was with al-Junayd one day, when a woman came to him. She said: ‘Pray to God so that my son be returned to me. For I have a son, who has gone missing.’ Al-Junayd told her: ‘Go away and be patient!’ She came back after a while, and pleaded with him once again. Again, he told her: ‘Go away and be patient!’ She left only to return again and again, but al-Junayd would keep saying: ‘Go away and be patient!’ Finally, she exclaimed: ‘My patience has come to an end. I am no longer able to persevere. Pray to God on my behalf!’ Al-Junayd told her: ‘If this is true, then go away, for your son has returned!’ Indeed, she went home and found her son there. She then returned in order to thank him for this. Someone asked al-Junayd: ‘How could you possibly have
known this?’ He answered: ‘Didn’t God Most High say: “He Who answers the constrained, when he calls unto Him, and removes the evil”.’

Al Qushayri's Epistle on Tassawuf.

The Holy Five

1. Umar ra is quoted by Tibrani that the Holy Prophet (Sall Allahu‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim) said: “The sons of every mother are recognized by the relation with their respective fathers except the sons of Fatima (Radhi Allahu anha). For surely they shall be related to me. I am their father.”

2. Tibrani narrates from Fatima az-Zahra (Radhi Allahu anha) that she quoted, the Holy Prophet of Islam to have said: “The sons of every mother are referred to by their relation to their father except the sons of Fatima (Radhi Allahu anha). I am their guardian and they are related to me (as sons).”


3. Tibrani quotes Jabir to have heard Umar ibn al Khattab Radhi Allahu anhu saying on the occasion of the marriage of the daughter of Sayyidinaa ‘Ali (Karam Allahu wajhahu): “Will you not allow me to wish and congratulate? Because I have heard the Messenger of Allah (Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim) say, “Every relationship and ancestry shall be severed on the day of Qiyamat except my relationship and ancestry.”

4. Daylami has also mentioned the following tradition of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim.) through Sayyidinaa ‘Ali (Karam Allahu wajhahu): “Teach your children three habits; to love your Prophet, to love his (Prophet's) household and to recite the Quran; because the carrier of the Quran will be in the shade of Allah along with His Prophet and the chosen ones on the day when there will be no shade except that of Allah's.”


-The Dead Become Alive by the Grace of the Holy Five by Imam Jalaludin Suyuti

At-Talaq

And whosoever fears God, He will appoint for him a way out,and He will provide for him from whence he never reckoned. And whosoever puts his trust in God, He shall suffice him. God attains his purpose. God has appointed a measure for everything.[65:3]

This verse was revealed about 'Awf ibn Malik al-Ashja'i whose son was imprisoned by the idolaters. He went to the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, and complained to him about his poverty, saying: “The enemy has imprisoned my son and his mother is very distressed, what do you advise me to do?” The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said to him: “Be fearful of Allah and be patient. I also command you and your wife to often repeat 'there is no strength or might except by Allah' ” - la hawla wala quwwata illa billah. So he went home and said to his wife: “The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, commanded both of us to often repeat 'there is no strength or might except by Allah' ”. She said: “How good is that with which he has commanded us!” And they both started saying it straightaway. It happened that the enemy became distracted from their son and the latter led their sheep away and fled. He brought these sheep to his father; they were four thousand heads.

Asbab Al-Nuzul by Al-Wahidi

A Source of Healing

In order for the Qur’an to heal us, we need to read it with that understanding, and with the intention of receiving guidance. Sheikh ash-Sha’rawi in his book of tafseer (commentary on the Qur’an) quoted a beautiful statement of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq, who he said was the most knowledgeable of the secrets of the Qur’an:

“I am amazed at the one who has been afflicted with fear, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah:

‘Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs’ [hasbunallahu wa ni'mal wakeel] for verily Allah has said after it

‘So they returned with favor from Allah and bounty, no harm having touched them.’ (Qur’an, 3:173-174)

And I am amazed at the person who is afflicted with sadness, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah:

‘There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers,’ [la ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz zalimin] for verily Allah has said after it

‘So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.’ (Qur’an, 21:87-88)

And I am amazed at the person who is afflicted with betrayal and deception by people, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah:

‘I entrust my affair to Allah. Indeed, Allah is Seeing of [His] servants’ for verily Allah has said after it:

‘So Allah protected him from the evils they plotted, and the people of Pharaoh were enveloped by the worst of punishment.’ (Qur’an, 40:44-45)

And I am amazed at the person who is afflicted with sickness, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah:

‘Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful,’ for verily Allah has said after it:

‘So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers [of Allah].’” (Qur’an, 21:83-84)

http://www.suhaibwebb.com/islam-studies/quran/a-source-of-healing/

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers"

“I speak on behalf of the Anṣār and answer on their behalf.  Traverse wherever you please. Attach the ropes of whom you please and break the ropes of whom you please.  Take from our properties whatever you please and give us whatever you please.  It is dearer to us that you take from us than you give to us.  You will not command us except that we will fulfill your command.  By God, even if you set forth until you reached the far off corners of Yemen ( al-bark min al-ghimd) we will go with you.  Even if you set off to the ocean to cross it, we will cross it with you.”
-Saʿd b. Muʿādh 
(Background to the speech)

Broken Hearts

"I am with those whose hearts are broken for My sake."

In gratitude for the security of Quraysh - Quran [106:1]

Umm Hani’ bint Abi Talib who reported that the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said:

“Allah has favoured the Quraysh with seven characteristics which he has never given to anyone before them and will never give to anyone after them:
The post of the Caliph (al-Khilafah) is given to one among them, the custody of the Sacred House (al-Hijabah) is assumed by someone from amongst them, giving water to the pilgrims (al-Siqayah) during Hajj is undertaken by someone amongst them, prophethood is given to someone amongst them, they were given victory over the army of elephants, they worshipped Allah for seven years during which none worshipped Him, and a Surah has been revealed about them in which none but them was mentioned (For the taming of Quraysh…)”.

The Ascetic

A dervish once entered the presence of a king.
The king addressed him, “Oh, ascetic.”
“You are the ascetic,” the dervish answered.
“How can I be an ascetic,” the king demanded,
“since the whole world belongs to me?”
“Ah, you see things the opposite of what they
are,” replied the dervish. “This world and the
next and all that there is to possess, these all
belong to me. I have seized the whole world. It is
you who have become satisfied with a mouthful and a rag.”

Fi hi ma fi hi (It is what it is)
Maulana Rumi

Delivered or delivered from!

And when a funeral procession once passed by him the Prophet, blessings and peace upon him, said: "Delivered or delivered from!" They asked: "O Messenger of God! What is delivered, and what is delivered from?" He replied: "God's believing bondsman is delivered from the hardship of the world and its harm into His mercy. As for a depraved person: people, town, trees and animals are delivered from him."
The Lives of Man by Imam Abdallah Ibn Alawi Al-Haddad

Shaykh Badr al-Din al-Hasani

One of his students related,“He would often ask us upon completion of his prayers, ‘Do you hear the reply of the Messenger of God (PBUH) during the tashahhud(recited during the sitting of the ritual prayer) when you say, al-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuha al-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullah wa barakātuhu?’ I used to ask, ‘And is there anybody who hears such a thing?’ He would respond, ‘There are people for whom if they lost their presence of heart with the Messenger of God (Peace and Blessing be Upon Him) for one moment, they would perish.’”

Examples of Love

It is reported that in the battle of Uḥud, when attacking the Prophet (PBUH) the enemy forced him to fall into a ditch and his life was then endangered.  There was no way to save him from this situation except through forming a wall of human bodies around the ditch.  The Companions competed with each other to do this.  They stood around the ditch and exposed themselves to the arrows of the enemy who sought to destroy this human fortress while another group extracted the Prophet (PBUH).  As a result, they were unable to cause any further harm to the Prophet (PBUH).  As the bodies of this human fortress would fall one after another, new men would rush to replace them.  May God’s mercy be upon all of them who taught us the true essence of loyalty and love for the Messenger (PBUH) through their actions. 

Similarly, it is reported that a woman from the Anṣār came out after hearing that her father, brother, and husband had been slain on the Day of Uḥud.  She said, “What has happened to the Messenger of God?”  They said, “[He is] well.  Thanks be to God, he is as you would like him [to be].”  She said, “Show him to me so that I may look at him.”  After seeing him she said, “Every calamity after your [safety] is insignificant.” 

When the pagans took Zayd b. Dathna (RA) out to execute him after he had been one of their prisoners, Abū Sufyān b. Ḥarb (he was still a pagan at this time) said, “I summon you by God O Zayd.  Would you prefer that Muḥammad was in your place today so that we execute him [instead] while you are with your family, safe from getting killed?”  Zayd h said to him, “By God, I would not wish for the Prophet to get pricked with a thorn in the place that he currently is [in exchange] for me to be sitting with my family.”  Abū Sufyān said, “By God, I did not see anybody who loves another person the way the Companions of Muḥammad love Muḥammad.”  Some reports state that this question was posed to Khubayb b. ʿAdī who replied, “I would not wish that a thorn prick his foot so that I may be saved.”[2]    

The intense devotion of the Companions to the commands of the Messenger of God (PBUH) is also depicted in the incident of the “three who remained behind” from the battle of Tabūk.  When the Muslims were ordered not to speak to these three individuals, there was not a single person in the community who disobeyed, neither openly nor discretely.  As they would later recollect in their own words, the city became a ghost town for them in which there was not a single soul who would acknowledge their presence or return their greetings.

The Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) represented an examplary model of individuals for whom God and His Messenger had become dearer to them than anything in their world and they became the ultimate manifestation of the reality of this love.  When ʿAlī (RA) was asked what their love for the Messenger (PBUH) was like he answered, “The Messenger of God (PBUH) was more beloved to us than our wealth, our children, our fathers and our mothers.  He was more beloved to us than cold water during intense thirst.”

ʿUrwa b. Masʿūd al-Thaqafī said to the pagans after negotiating with Prophet (PBUH) during Ḥudaybiya, “O people, by God I have served as a representative to kings.  I have been a representative to the Caesar, Kisra, and Najāshī.  By God, I have absolutely never seen a king whose people venerate him the way the Companions of Muḥammad venerate Muḥammad.  He does not spit except that it lands in the hand of one of them who rubs it on his face and his skin.  If he commands them, they race to fulfill his command.  If he makes ablutions, they fight with each other for the remains of its water.  If they speak, they lower their voices in his presence.  And they do not gaze at him intently out of reverence for him.”[3]    

The Companions also realized that the objective in loving the Messenger of God (PBUH) was not simply to experience delight in his presence or to possess an emotional bond with him, but rather this love had to be manifested in their actions through the practice of self-discipline, submission, and following his teachings.  This is best illustrated in the words of Saʿd b. Muʿādh (RA) in which he spoke on behalf of himself and the Anṣār to the Prophet (PBUH) before the Battle of Badr saying, “I speak on behalf of the Anṣār and answer on their behalf.  Traverse wherever you please. Attach the ropes of whom you please and break the ropes of whom you please.  Take from our properties whatever you please and give us whatever you please.  It is dearer to us that you take from us than you give to us.  You will not command us except that we will fulfill your command.  By God, even if you set forth until you reached the far off corners of Yemen ( al-bark min al-ghimd) we will go with you.  Even if you set off to the ocean to cross it, we will cross it with you.”

http://www.nursacredsciences.com/and-muhammad-is-his-messenger/