Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech

Prayer And One Who Stands For Prayer

Prayer and one who stands for Prayer-الصلوة والقائم

1. Prayer is the better of the two means of [attaining] nearness [to Allah].

1ـ اَلصَّلاةُ أفْضَلُ القُرْبَتَيْنِ.

2. Prayer is a fortress [that protects] from the influences of Satan.

2ـ اَلصَّلاةُ حِصْنٌ مِنْ سَطَواتِ الشَّيْطانِ.

3. Prayer is the fortress of the all-Merciful and the instrument for expelling Satan.

3ـ اَلصَّلاةُ حِصْنُ الرَّحْمنِ، ومِدْحَرَةُ الشَّيْطانِ.

4. Prayer causes [divine] mercy to descend.

4ـ اَلصَّلاةُ تَسْتَنْزِلُ الرَّحْمَةَ.

5. When one of you stands to perform prayer, then let him pray the prayer of one who is bidding farewell (i.e. he should assume that it is the last prayer he will perform in his lifetime).

5ـ إذا قامَ أحَدُكُمْ إلَى الصَّلاةِ فَلْيُصَلِّ صَلاةَ مُوَدِّع.

6. And prayer [was prescribed] as a purification from arrogance.

6ـ والصَّلاةَ تَنْزيهاً عَنِ الكِبْرِ.

7. How many of those who stand [to perform prayer] have nothing in their prayer but [physical] effort.

7ـ كَمْ مِنْ قائِم لَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ قِيامِهِ إلاّ العَناءُ.

8. If the one who offers prayer knew how much divine mercy is descending upon him, he would surely not raise his head from prostration.

8ـ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ المُصَلّي ما يَغْشاهُ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ لَما رَفَعَ

9. I am not worried by a wrongdoing in which I am given time so that I can offer two units of prayer [and seek forgiveness].

9ـ ما أهَمَّني ذَنْبٌ أُمْهِلْتُ فيهِ حَتّى أُصَلِّـيَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ.