Here, this discussion will suffice and leaving the details...

Here, this discussion will suffice and leaving the details for some other place, we proceed with our main discussion. The subject of our discussion was the importance, status and significance of Salat . And before coming to the main topic, we discussed the importance of meeting with Allah ( leqaaullah ) and also stated that for a believer, there is no aim and goal higher and greater than it. Now, let us proceed to the importance and significance of Salat .

Salat which has been made obligatory on His servants by Allah the Almighty and has not allowed them to forsake it in the worst of circumstances, is the moment of ‘divine meeting’ and proximity with Allah. It is during Salat that a pious and abstentious believer attains great heights of divine recognition. Salat is attention towards Allah and His remembrance. He says, اُذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ.

“You remember Me, I will remember you.” (Qur’an, 2:52) In fact, Allah remembers more those who worship Him than they remember Him. Under the verse وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ ‘And Allah’s remembrance is the greatest.’ (Qur’an, 29: 45), Imam Al-Baqir (‘a) says, ذِكْرُ اللهِ لِأَهْلِ الصَّلاةِ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ ذِكْرِهِمْ إِيّاهُ.

“Allah’s remembrance of those who worship Him is greater than their remembrance of Him.” [^2] If a worshipper turns towards Allah only once, bows in front of His greatness, feels humble and lowly in His presence, Allah the Almighty will attend to him a number of times with grace, mercy and honour. How sweet, important and honourable it is for a lowly, needy and degraded servant that a Lord, High and Mighty that He is, turns to him and casts His merciful glance and also remembers him!

Thus, O servants of Allah! Don’t consider your Salat as insignificant and do not be negligent in its performance. For Salat it is that helps a servant to reach unto his Master and provides satisfaction to him.

Amir al Mu’minin, Ali (‘a) explains the meaning of ‘Indeed the prayers have been established’ ( qad qamat al-Salat) thus: حَانَ وَقْتُ الزِّيَارَةِ وَ الْمُنَاجَاةِ وَ قَضَاءِ الْحَوَائِجِ وَ دَرْكِ الْمُنى وَ الْوُصُولِ إِلى اللهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ، وَإِلى كَرَامَتِهِ وَ عَفْوِهِ وَ رِضْوانِهِ وَ غُفْرَانِهِ.

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