Page 21 - Perfected Faith

THE ACTS OF WORSHIP OF
PEOPLE OF PERFECTED FAITH

A man of perfected faith also distinguishes himself through the
meticulous attention he pays to his acts of worship. Throughout his
life -as long as he is able-, he zealosly performs his salat (regular
prayers), fasts, pays his alms, that is, fulfills the acts of worship Allah
made obligatory. In many verses, Allah informs us about the excite-
ment true Muslims feel while performing their acts of worship:
Those who are steadfast in seeking the face of their Lord, and
establish salat and give from the provision We have given them,
secretly and openly, and stave off evil with good, it is they who
will have the Ultimate Abode (Surat ar-Ra'd, 22)
...(Those) whose hearts quake at the mention of Allah, and who
are steadfast in the face of all that happens to them, those who
establish salat and give of what We have provided for them.
(Surat al-Hajj, 35)

The importance of salat
Salat (obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day), is one of
the most important acts of worship after faith. A believer is obliged to
perform salat, which is an act of worship prescribed at specific times,
throughout his life.
Man is prone to forgetfulness. Engrossed in everyday routines, he
may easily become distracted from the real issues to which he actu-