In this text, Muhsin Qara'ati explains in detail the meaning of Worship and Intention, as well as how different stages of worship are acquired. He then goes on to explain the different actions of Prayer in detail, such as the first Takbir, and the recitation of the Suras. The author explains each step thoroughly, outlining its importance and our understanding of the action.
The Radiance of the Secrets of Prayer
Author: Muhsin Qara’ati
Translator and typesetter: Mansoor Limba
Project supervisor: Translation Unit, Cultural Affairs Department, The Ahl al-Bayt (as) World Assembly (ABWA)
Editor: Sayyidah Effat Shah
Publisher: ABWA Publishing and Printing Center
First Printing: 2009
Printed by: Neinava Press
Copies: 5,000
© The Ahl al-Bayt (as) World Assembly (ABWA)
www.ahl-ul-bayt.org
[email protected]
ISBN: 978-964-529-434-0
All rights reserved
نام كتاب: پرتوى از اسرار نماز
نويسنده: محسن قرائتى
مترجم: منصور ليمبا
زبان ترجمه: انگليسى
- The Radiance of the Secrets of Prayer
- Foreword
- Preface
- Worship (‘ibadah)
- Why worship (‘ibadah)?
- Reasons for worship
- Role of worship
- Dimensions of worship
- How we should worship
- Dangers threatening worship
- Ways of avoiding pride and self-conceit (‘ujb)
- 1. Have we really worshipped?
- 2. Have our acts of worship been accepted?
- 3. Futile acts of worship
- 4. Will we achieve redemption?
- 5. Comparing acts of worship and blessings
- 6. Comparing acts of worship and complacencies
- 7. Comparing acts of worship and needs
- 8. Comparing our state of worship with that of the divine saints (awliya’)
- Invalid acts of worship
- Servitude (‘ubudiyyah) and not worship (‘ibadah)
- Constancy in worship
- Opportunity to engage in worship
- Enduring difficulties of worship
- Promotion of worship
- Duty and its conditions
- Conditions for the soundness of worship
- Motives behind changing the form of worship
- Conditions for the acceptance of acts worship
- Signs of acceptance
- Conditions for the perfection of worship
- 1. Making greater effort
- 2. Concentrating on what is more important
- 3. Concentrating on what has lasting value
- 4. Acting in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (S)
- 5. Having precedence in meritorious works
- 6. Performing devotional acts under difficult circumstances
- 7. Fervor and constancy
- 8. Humility
- 9. Possessing insight
- Philosophy of worship
- Submission as the greatest philosophy of responsibility
- Pretext or research?
- An encounter
- Prayer (Salah)
- Let’s Welcome Prayer!
- Intention (niyyah)
- Intention (niyyah) as the criterion of value
- Examples of sincerity (ikhlas)
- Sincerity in worship (‘ibadah)
- Worldly effects of intention
- Intention as an action (‘amal)
- Intention as compensation for deficiencies
- Ways of acquiring sincerity
- 1. Attention to values
- 2. Reflecting on creation
- 3. Attention to the Attributes of God
- 4. Attention to His blessings
- 5. Attention to the sure gain
- 6. Attention to worthlessness of the world
- 7. Attention to impotence of created beings
- 8. Learning from the experiences of others
- 9. Attention to final end of hypocrites in the hereafter
- Sound intentions
- The University of Wisdom (hikmah)
- The root of sincerity
- Signs of sincerity
- 1. Not expecting anything from others
- 2. Focusing on duty, not title
- 3. Having no regrets
- 4. Treating receptivity and heedlessness as one
- 5. Consistency of motive and action
- 6. Lack of wealth and position does not hinder
- 7. Oneness of the apparent and the hidden
- 8. Without factional bigotry
- 9. Pursuit of important works undone
- 10. Desisting from error
- Outcome of sincerity
- Sincerity in the context of society
- Let’s Engage in Prayer!
- “Allahu Akbar” (God is the greatest)
- Surah al-Hamd
- Bismillahi’r-rahmani’r-rahim (In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful)
- “Al-hamdulillahi rabbi’l-’alamin” (All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds)
- “Ar-rahmani’r-rahim” (the All-beneficent, the All-merciful)
- “Maliki yawmi’d-din” (Master of the Day of Retribution)
- “Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’in” (You (alone) do we worship and to You (alone) do we turn for help)
- “Ihdina’s-sirat al-mustaqim” (Guide us on the straight path)
- Sirat alladhina an’amta ‘alayhim (The path of those whom You have blessed)
- Ghayri’l-maghdhubi ‘alayhim wa ladh-dhallin” (Such as have not incurred Your wrath, nor are astray)
- Surah at-Tawhid
- To be calm while reciting
- Ruku’ (Bowing)
- Ruku’ of the saints of God
- In the company of angels
- Sujud (prostration)
- Sujud of all created beings to God
- Sujud of the saints of God
- Effects of sujud
- Prostration on the soil of Karbala’
- Meaning of “subhan Allah” (Glory be to Allah)
- Tasbih as the most oft-repeated command
- Qunut
- Tashahhud
- Salam
- The Post-prayer Supererogatory Devotional Acts (ta’qibat wa nawafil)
- Congregational Prayer (salat al-jama’ah), Etc.
- Other Prayers
- Friday congregational prayer (salat al-jum’ah)
- Manner of offering Friday congregational prayer
- Importance of Friday congregational prayer
- Life conduct (sirah) of the holy saints (awliya’)
- ‘Id prayers
- ‘Id al-Fitr Prayer
- Divine gift
- ‘Id al-Fitr as a scene of the Day of Resurrection (qiyamah)
- ‘Id al-Adhha prayer
- ‘Id prayer as a prerogative of the leader
- Salat al-Ayat (Prayer for the Signs)
- Salat al-Ayat as a lesson on monotheism (tawhid)
- Manner of performing Salat al-Ayat
- Salat al-Mayyit (ritual prayer for the dead)
- Prayer for rain (salat al-istisqa’)
- Reason behind the absence of rain
- Manner of performing the prayer for rain
- Historical precedence of the prayer for rain
- Other prayers
- Bibliography
