5-Endless Bliss Fifth Fascicle - Hakikat Kitabevi

depends on various conditions: Halâl food must be eaten. The
prayer of the person who eats harâm food will not be accepted
for forty days. Prayer is the key to satisfying one’s needs and
providing happiness. The cogs of this key is the halâl food.
Secondly, the clothing should be tîb. Property which is not
forbidden it is called halâl. Property which is not of doubtful
origin is called tîb. While praying the heart should be awake
and one must believe that one’s prayers will be accepted. The
prayers of an ignorant person who is not aware of what he says
will not be accepted. Before praying, one should repent and ask
Allâhu ta’âlâ for forgiveness. One should not be impatient for
the acceptance of prayers. Praying should continue and one
should not flag. Allahu ta’âlâ likes prayers and the person who
prays. His way of giving to those whom He loves is to delay the
thing requested, even though the prayer has been accepted, in
order to protract the prayer and thus to increase its thawâb. The
prayer should be repeated at least seven times. Anyone who
prays more at times of comfort and ease will have his prayers
accepted sooner at times of trouble and misfortune. Before
praying, first give thanksgiving to Allahu ta’âlâ and send “salât
and salâm” to Rasulullah. Rasulullah (sallallahu ’alaihi
wasallam) used to say, “Subhâna rabbiyel aliyyil a’lel
wahhab,” when he started his prayers. First one should make
tawba for one’s sins, then pray for the health and happiness of
all Muslim Believers, and then request wholeheartedly for
whatever one wishes. Things that are inconsistent with both
rational behaviour and religious rules should not be requested.
For example, a prayer such as “Donate to me a white chalet on
the right-hand side of heaven” should not be made. The
blessed thing requested should be heart-felt and the meaning of
the prayer should be known. A prayer should not be wishful
thinking, and one must stick to the means which will lead to the
end. That is to say, first one must hold tight to ’ ibâdât and good
deeds, then pray and expect the consent of Allah. Good deeds
and worships are the means of love. Without sticking to the
means, the prayers will not be accepted. This will not be called
a prayer. It is called a useless wish. Any request which is not
expected to be fulfilled is called a wish. To ask for something
expected is called a rejâ (request). One must invoke (Him) for
the attainment of the means for what is wished. It is stated in a
hadîth-i sherîf, “Anyone who prays without working for it, is
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