The Necessary Place of Prayer in Servitude
Prayer is the most concrete indication of human being, an impotent entity, seeking refuge in Allah, the Lord of infinite power, and acknowledging his servitude. Abdülkadir Geylani (q.s.) emphasizes that not praying brings a heavy burden to humans, while prayer is a tremendous concession and refuge granted by Allah to His servants. By saying, “Prayer is a breath for the drowned; it acts as a window for those in prison,” he indicates that souls struggling to drown in the sorrows of this world can only breathe and carry hope for salvation through prayer. If the world is a prison, then prayer is the single bright opening leading out of that prison.
Haste and Adab (Proper Conduct) in Prayer
Among the most important rules to be followed for a prayer to be accepted are adab (proper conduct) and patience. Human nature is inherently hasty; they desire their prayers to be fulfilled immediately, in the way they want. However, Geylani reminds us that prayer cannot be used as an instrument of dominance that transcends Divine wisdom. The Most High says, “Call on your Lord with humility and awe, and do not raise your voice in prayer; for He does not love those who exceed bounds” (Araf, 55). Exceeding the bounds is to make worldly requests with greed and insistence, as if dictating what Allah should do. The acceptable prayer is the one that leaves the outcome entirely to His compassionate will – a prayer of complete submission.
Prayer as a Means of Disciplining the Nafs (Ego)
Perfect believers aim for Allah’s pleasure rather than personal benefits when they pray. Their prayers are a reflection of an Divine command emanating from within them. Sometimes, they implore not for themselves but only for the forgiveness of the ummah or for the sake of Allah’s pleasure. Those who have reached that level of knowledge do not worry about the delay in the acceptance of their prayers or the lack of worldly reward; because their true goal is to savor the delight of being alone with their Lord while praying. They know that unanswered prayers will be treasures transformed into the greatest rewards in the Hereafter.
Prayer Supported by Repentance and Purification
For a prayer to be accepted in the sight of Allah, it is necessary for the hands and heart of the one who prays to be free from prohibitions, washed with repentance. The warning, “First, open the curtain that veils your eyes, then implore,” shows that prayers offered while swimming in rebellion cannot penetrate those curtains. First, the servant must strictly obey Allah’s commands, follow the path shown by the Quran and Sunnah (cultivate), and only then should he expect mercy (harvest). Prayers made with sincerity, a pure heart, and solely relying on Allah are Divine keys that open even the most impenetrable prison doors.