ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Adab as-Salat: The Disciplines of the Prayer Second Revised Edition Dedication In The Name Of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful I dedicate Ādāb as-Salat the book from which I had no benefit except regret because of my failure and negligence of the days on which I could have made myself, and except contrition and remorse during old age, being empty-handed, with a heavy burden, and a long way to go, with a lame leg, while the call of departure is ever resounding in my ears to my dear son, Ahmad.

He is in the prime of life, and thus, he may, inshā' Allāhu Ta'āla (if Allah, the Exalted, wills), avail himself of its contents, which are taken from the Glorious Book, the Noble Sunnah (The Prophet's traditions) and the statements of the distinguished.

Haply he will succeed in finding his way to the real ascension through the guidance of “the people of knowledge” [ ahl - i ma'rifat ], and tear off his heart from this dark dungeon, and head for the original destination of humanity, along the road on which the great prophets, the noble “holy men” [ awliyā' ] may Allah's blessing and peace be upon them all and the “people of Allah” [ ahlullāh ] trod, and to which they invited the others. O my son!

Hasten to comprehend yourself, which is fermented in “the divine disposition” [ fitratullāh ]. Save yourself from the ruining whirlpool of the formidable waves of self-conceit and selfishness. Get on board Noah's Ark, which is the light of “Allah's guardianship” [ wilāyatullāh ], because: “Whoever got on board it was safe, and whoever stayed behind it perished.” O my son! Try hard to be moving along the Straight Path which is the path of Allah even with a limping leg.

Try to tinge the movements and the stillness of your heart and body with the divine spiritual tint, and to serve the creatures (just) because of their being Allah's creatures. The great prophets and the close “friends” [ awliyā' ] of Allah, despite their daily works like others, were never on good terms with the world, because they worked with Allah and for Allah.

The Last Messenger may Allah bless him and his household and give them peace is quoted to have said: “My heart is sometimes covered (as if with unmindfulness), so I ask forgiveness from Allah seventy times every day.”[^1] He probably regarded discerning Allah in multiplicity as opacity [with respect to Allah]. O my son!