2006, IV - The Muslim Sunrise

The Significance and Philosophy of PrayerSummary of Friday Sermon, delivered byHadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Head of theAhmadiyya Muslim Community deliveredSeptember 22, 2006.Ahmad said it is incumbent fora believer who has perfectbelief in Allah to seek fromAllah at every time of need,even when one is in need ofsomething as minor as a shoelace.Ahmad advised everyone to pray to Allahfor safeguard from evil and to be enabled todo good, for without His grace and mercyneither can one be protected from evil norcan one attain the Paradise in this world andthe Hereafter. How necessary does it thenbecome to remember Him at all times andto ever seek from Him.Citing verse 78 of Surah Al Furqan(25:78) Ahmad said the Promised Messiah(on whom be peace) has explained to us thatit is Allah’s law that His special grace isgranted to one who sincerely adopts Unityof God and prayer; Allah has no needs; ifwe do not take on good ways and do notspend time in His remembrance, He has nocare. This verse elucidates the otherQur’anic verse that unfolds the purpose forthe creation of man (51:57) and proves thatAllah is not hasty in destroying those whoare not negligent towards religion. ThePromised Messiah (on whom be peace)urged that this was a most importantcommandment. Allah listens to and acceptsthe prayer that is made with completesincerity, made to seek His pleasure and withreliance in Him.Citing verse 61 of Surah Al Mu’min(40:51) again Ahmad explained in the wordsof the Promised Messiah (on whom bepeace) that it is a matter of principle thatone who has not understood the essence andthe reality of prayer would be in the loss.God and His servants have the mutual powerof fusion/imbibing; at the time of prayer thisquality creates a singular ambience. Asincere servant of God, as if perishes in hisperfect devotion to his God and this is thestage when he attains remarkable Divinecloseness and his being totally submits itselfto his God.Ahmad said if one is aware of thequintessence of prayer then one must alsobe aware of its capacity of acceptance. Inthe mutual capacity of fusion/imbibingbetween God and His servant it is God WhoHadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim CommunityAhmad advised everyone to pray to Allah forsafeguard from evil and to be enabled to dogood, for without His grace and mercy neithercan one be protected from evil nor can oneattain the Paradise in this world and theHereafter. How necessary does it then becometo remember Him at all times and to ever seekfrom Him.precedes by means of manifestation of Hisattribute of Rahmaniyyat (Divine quality ofbeing Gracious) and endows man withinnumerable blessings at every step. WhenHis servant becomes devoted to his Godpurely for the sake of God and withcomplete sincerity, Allah gets closer still.When God gets so close to His servant thatthe stage of fusion/imbibing isaccomplished, it is then that prayers aregranted miraculous acceptance. Ahmadexplained that even in everyday life whenan ordinary person calls on God in distress,he does so in a state of great humility anddue to his troubles and therefore witnessesacceptance of prayer.Ahmad said it is by virtue of the Divinequality of Rahmaniyyat that God puts allearthly and heavenly means at the service10 MuslimSunrise