Leaving People at the Door in Prayer
Prayer, the greatest pillar of Islam, is not merely a physical act consisting of outward movements. True prayer is the servant’s detachment from all worldly ties and direct communion with their Lord. Abdülkadir Geylânî (may Allah be pleased with him) reveals the secret of a perfect prayer with this startling warning: “When you stand for prayer, cut off your connection with the people. Be with The Real.” When a person steps onto their prayer rug, they must leave behind the business calculations in their mind, family worries, and fleeting fears outside the mosque or room. Having hands folded and standing in reverence before Allah, if love of the world or creation exists in the heart, it is the greatest rudeness to that sacred presence.
Finding Divine Proximity in Prostration
The pinnacle of prayer is the moment of prostration, when a person detaches themselves most from their ego and confesses their nothingness. Geylânî (may Allah be pleased with him) reminds us of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)’s tremendous promise: “The closest a servant is to Allah is in the state of prostration.” When a person lays their head on the ground, mountains of pride are destroyed, and the truth ‘I am nothing, only You exist, O Lord’ is inscribed on the heart. The tranquility in bowing (ruku) and prostration is actually the moment when external noises cease and the heart opens to divine grace. If the prayer that a person performs does not create this tremor and submission within their inner world, then that prayer remains nothing more than the body going up and down and does not restrain one from evil.
The Transition of Worship from Form to Essence
Perfect believers are in a spiritual state of prayer (presence) not only during obligatory times but at every moment of their lives. According to the saying, “Even if fire rains down from the sky, those who are devoted to prayer will be protected by Allah’s umbrella of mercy.” Prayer is the heart detaching itself from the external world and turning completely inward (to The Real). The servant who manages to leave behind everything other than Allah’s essence (masiva) while standing in congregation outwardly has ascended to the heavens. Those who distort religion according to their own desires, those who prostrate for show, are forever deprived of the pleasure of this exalted station.