Page 42 - The Vision of Islam

The Four Pillars

desires. These shall assuredly be lost” (19:59).
The most sublime state of prayer occurs when remembrance of
God has become ingrained in one’s nature. That is when one feels
that one is truly drawing nearer to the Almighty. The Quran says,
“Prostrate yourself and draw nearer” (96:19).
“Worship your Lord until certainty comes to you” (15:99).
Some commentators take this stage of ‘certainty’ mentioned in
the Quran to refer to the most sublime state of prayer. But this
does not mean that when one reaches this stage, one should stop
praying. This feeling of ‘certainty’ only marks the beginning of
prayer in its highest form. How can prayer end at that point? It
is, in reality, a description of the ultimate state of prayer. Having
reached this state does not mean that prayer is subsequently
rendered unnecessary.
The true nature of this state of “nearness” and “certainty”
cannot be explained in words. When one crosses that threshold,
it is as if beholding, with absolute certainty, an unseen reality.
Something which was infinitely remote has, it appears, drawn very
near. Love wells up inside one for that most awesome of beings.
Prostration is the physical expression of the ultimate state of
prayer in which the believer is in the closest proximity to God.
But, seen in its true light, it is a posture which expresses man’s
helplessness before his Maker, and his total surrender to Him, the
Infinite and Perfect Being. When one places one’s forehead on
the ground, it is as if one has formed an indissoluble bond at the
psychological level with the Almighty.
What is meant by the constant remembrance of God which true
prayer entails? It is not something which can be materially analysed.
Remembrance is a reciprocal act, with man at one extreme and
God at the other. When one thinks of God, standing and sitting,
sleeping and waking (3:191), one merits God’s attention, and that
is when He engenders in one the state of true remembrance. He
inspires in one the words with which to express this remembrance.
In fact, one is constantly receiving spiritual replenishment from
the Lord. As Mary said, “God gives without measure to whom He
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