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Book of Namaz

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with performing namâz correctly!<br />

When beginning namâz, saying “Allahu akbar” means to<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>ess that “Allahu ta’âlâ does not need the prayer <strong>of</strong> any <strong>of</strong> His<br />

creatures; He does not need anything in any respect; men’s<br />

performing namâz does not give Him a benefit.” And the takbîrs<br />

(saying “Allahu akbar”) that are in namâz signify that, “we are not<br />

capable <strong>of</strong> doing the worship worthy <strong>of</strong> Allahu ta’âlâ.” Since the<br />

tasbîhs in rukû’ (bowing when performing namâz) have this same<br />

meaning, we are not commanded to say “Allahu akbar” when<br />

straightening up after rukû’. However, we are commanded to say<br />

it after the tasbîhs <strong>of</strong> sajda (prostrating), for sajda is the lowest<br />

grade <strong>of</strong> humility, inferiority and degradation. By doing this one<br />

may suppose that one has worshipped properly and perfectly. In<br />

order to protect one against this supposition, it is not only a sunnat<br />

to say the takbîr when prostrating and straightening up during<br />

these sajdas, but also we are commanded to say “a’lâ” in the<br />

tasbîhs <strong>of</strong> sajda. Because namâz is the mi’râj <strong>of</strong> a believer, we are<br />

commanded to say the words “Attahiyyâtu...” which our Prophet<br />

was honored with saying on the Night <strong>of</strong> Mi’râj. Then, a person<br />

who performs namâz should make the namâz a mi’râj for himself.<br />

He should look for the ultimate in closeness to Allahu ta’âlâ in<br />

namâz.<br />

Our Prophet (alayhissalâm) declared: “The time when man is<br />

closest to his Allah is the time when he performs namâz.” A<br />

person who performs namâz speaks to his Allah, entreats Him,<br />

and sees that everything other than Him is equal to nothing.<br />

Therefore, because there will be fear, terror and fright in namâz, it<br />

has been commanded that we give selâms twice at the end <strong>of</strong><br />

namâz so that we might be consoled and relieved.<br />

Our Prophet commanded, in a hadîth-i sherîf, to recite: “33<br />

tasbîh (subhanallah), 33 tahmîd (elhamdulillah), 33 takbîr (Allahu<br />

akbar) and one tahlîl (‘Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh’) after every fard namâz.”<br />

The reason for this is that the defects in performing namâz are<br />

covered with tasbîh. In this way it is pr<strong>of</strong>essed that not a worthy or<br />

perfect worship could be done. Knowing that being blessed with<br />

performing namâz is through His help and His making it possible,<br />

He is thanked for this great blessing by saying tahmîd. And by<br />

saying takbîr, it is pr<strong>of</strong>essed that no one besides Him is worthy <strong>of</strong><br />

being worshipped.<br />

When one performs the namâz in accordance with its<br />

conditions and adabs, and thus, the faults that have been made are<br />

– 168 –

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