From The Publisher

Foreword

Dedication

Author’s Preface

Introduction

Preface

Discourse One

Chapter 1: Cordial Disciplines

Chapter 2: The Stages Of The Stations Of The People Of Sulūk

Chapter 3: Concerning Submissiveness [Khushū‘]

Chapter 4: Tranquility

Chapter 5: Protecting The Worships From Satan’s Intrusion

Chapter 6: On Vivacity and Cheerfulness

Chapter 7: On Informing The Heart

Chapter 8: On The Presence Of Heart

Chapter 9: Hadiths Concerning The Presence Of Heart

Chapter 10: On Calling To Acquiring The Presence Of Heart

Chapter 11: On Curing The Wandering Imagination

Chapter 12: Explaining That Loving This World Causes Distraction Of The Mind

Completion: On Turning The Soul Away From The World

Discourse Two

Objective One : Purification

Chapter 1: On Purification In General

Chapter 2: Concerning The Stages Of Purification

Chapter 3: The Cordial Disciplines Of The Sālik When Coming To Water For Purification

Chapter 4: Concerning The Purifier

Chapter 5: Some Disciplines Of The Wudu’ (Ritual Ablution) In Respect Of The Interior And The Heart

Chapter 6: Concerning The Ghusl And Its Cordial Disciplines

Chapter 7: Some Cordial Disciplines For Removing Filth And Purifying Impurities

Objective Two: Some Disciplines Concerning the Clothes

Chapter 1: The Secret Of The Purity Of Clothing

Chapter 2: Concerning Cordial Considerations Of Covering The Nakedness

Objective Three: On the Cordial Disciplines Concerning the Place of the Musallī

Objective Four : On the Cordial Disciplines of the Time

Objective Five: On Some Disciplines Concerning Orientation

Discourse Three: The Affinities [Muqārināt] Of The Salat

Section One: On Some Disciplines of the Adhān and Iqāmah

Chapter 1: General Secret And Disciplines Of The Adhān And Iqāmah

Chapter 2: Some Disciplines And Secrets Of Takbīrs In The Adhān And Iqāmah

Chapter 3: Some Disciplines Concerning Testifying Divinity And Its Connection With The Adhān And The Salat

Chapter 4: Some Disciplines Of Testifying To The (Prophet’s) Messengership Implying Testifying To The Guardianship

Section Two:Concerning the Qiyām (the Standing Position in the Salat)

Section Three: On the Secret of the Niyyah [Intention]

Section Four: The Discipline Of Reverence

Section Five: Brief Hints At The Objectives, Subjects And Contents Of The Glorious Divine Book

Section Six: How To Be Benefited By The Qur’an

Section Seven: The Obstacles And Barriers Preventing Being Benefited By The Qur’an

Section Eight: Meditation

Section Nine: Application To One’s Own Condition

Conclusion

Degrees Of Recitation And The Groups Of Reciters

Some Disciplines Of Isti‘adhah

On The Four Pillars Of Isti‘adhah

On Some Disciplines Of Naming [Tasmiyah]

A Brief Exegesis Of The Blessed Sūrah Of Al-Hamd And Some Disciplines Of Praising And Recitation

Some Exegesis Of The Blessed Sūrah Of At-Tawhīd

Some Comments On The Blessed Sūrah Of Al-Qadr As Much As They Suit These Papers

On The Takbīr Before The Rukū

Concerning The Disciplines Of Bowing In Rukū‘

The Rukū‘of the Salāt of The Messenger’s Mi‘rāj

Delicacies And Secrets Of The Rukū, Sujūd And Their Cordial Disciplines

General Secret Of The Sujūd

Disciplines Of The Sujūd

Contents And Meaning Of The Form, Mood And Invocation Of The Sujūd

The Moods Of The Sājid During The Sujūd

Meaning And Effect Of Testifying To The Tawhīd And The Messengership (Of The Prophet)

The Disciplines Of Tashahhud

State Of The Musallī During Utterance Of The Salām, And The Condition For The Salām To Be Truthful

Concerning The Meaning And The Secret Of The Salām And Its Disciplines

The Secrets And The Cordial Disciplines Of The Four Tasbīhs

Concerning The Cordial Disciplines Of The Qūnūt

After-The-Salāt Invocation

Conclusion And Invocation (Du‘a’)

Glossary

Final Note by Imam Khomeini

A detailed explanation of the strict disciplines and moral secrets of
prayer, written by Imam Khomeini for the general public.


Adab as-Salat: The Disciplines of the Prayer Second Revised Edition

Concerning The Disciplines Of Bowing In Rukū‘
=============================================

Know that the principal positions of the *salāt* are three. The other
acts and deeds are preliminary and preparatory:

**First:** *qiyām*;  
**Second:** *rukū'*;  
**Third:** *sujūd*.

The people of knowledge regard these three positions to be a hint at the
three Unities [*tawhīdāt*]*.* We, in *The Secret of the Salāt*, referred
to these stages in terms of the gnostic taste. Now, we explain them in
other terms suitable to the common people.

So, we say that as the *salāt* is the believer's perfective *mi'rāj*,
and the bringer of the pious people to Allah's proximity, it stands on
two bases, the one is the preliminary to the other.

The first is abandoning self-conceit and selfishness, as it is the truth
and the inside of *taqwā* (piety).  
 The second is seeking Allah and being in quest of the *Haqq*, as this
is the truth of the *mi'rāj* and proximity. Hence, it is in the noble
narratives that: “The *salāt* is the means of proximity for every pious
person,”[^1] the same as the Qur'an is a light of guidance, but for the
pious:

*“**This is the Book; there is no doubt in it. It is a guide for the
muttaqīn*** ***(the pious).”***[^2]  
 In short, in these three states: the states of *qiyām*, *rukū'*, and
*sujūd*, the said two states (bases) take shape gradually. So, in the
state of *qiyām*, self-conceitedness is forsaken according to the state
of Activity [*fā'iliyyat*], and regarding Allah to be the Absolute
Factor and Eternal. In the state of *rukū'*, self-conceitedness is
forsaken according to the state of Attributes and Names, considering the
state of Allah's Attributes and Names.

In the *sujūd*, the self-conceitedness is forsaken altogether, and it is
entirely Allah seeking and being in quest of the *Haqq*. All the stages
of the *sālik*s are of the affairs [*shu'ūn*] of these three states, as
it is quite obvious to the people of insight, the gnostics and the
*sālik*s.

When the *sālik* along these three states realizes that the secret of
these acts is the three Unities, he will have to pay more attention to
that state which is nicer and more delicate. Naturally, the danger of
the state is greater and it is more slippery. Then, in the state of
*rukū'*, the *sālik* claims that in the house of existence [*dār-i
wujūd*] there is no knowledge, power, life nor will except from Allah a
claim so great and a state so delicate, which we are not (qualified) to
put forth.

We should inwardly turn to the Holy Threshold of Allah, showing
supplication, distress and humility, asking forgiveness for our faults
and failures, and, with seeing eyes and witnessing conscience, admitting
our shortcomings, that perhaps His Sacred Holiness may show kindness to,
and care for, us, and may He, in the time of necessity, extend a hand of
help to us.

*“**Or, who answers the distressed one when he calls upon Him, and
removes the evil…?”***[^3]

[^1]: Furū' al-Kāfī, vol. 3, p. 265, “The Book of as-Salāt,” ch. on “The
Merit of as-Salāt,” hadīth 6.

[^2]: Sūrah al-Baqarah 2:2.

[^3]: Sūrah an-Naml 27:62.


