In our daily prayer...

In our daily prayer, we address the Holy Prophet (s) as follows: السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ. Peace be unto you O Prophet and may Allah's Mercy and Blessings be on you.[^23] This statement presumes the presence of the mukhatab (the addressee). And therefore we believe that the Prophet (s) is present and can behold our presence too.

One of the important etiquette of entering the shrine of the Holy Prophet (s) and the infallible Imams of the ('a) is to read the well-known idhn al-dukhul (recital of permission to enter). The za'ir (visitor) adopts a very humble attitude, and appreciating the presence of the Holy Prophet (s) seeks his permission to enter his hospice.

In this well-known recital, we say: ...واَعْلَمُ اَنَّ رَسُولَكَ وَخُلَفَائَكَ عَلَيْهِمُ السّلام اَحْياَء عندك يُرزَقون، يَرونَ مَقَامِي وَيَسْمَعُوْنَ كَلاَمِي، وَيَرُدّوْنَ سَلاَمِي... .

…and I know that Your Apostle and vicegerents (upon whom be peace) are alive, receiving sustenance in Your neighborhood, they see where I stand presently, and hear my speech and respond to my salutation…[^24] Unlike those who consider the human being as an entity which perishes after this worldly death, Islam teaches mankind that death is a purgatory and bridge to the realm beyond. In fact, to be more accurate, death is "tearing of some veils" from the final result of the reality of every thing.

Great people like Imam 'Ali ('a), due to their intense purity, could boldly claim that they can behold the ultimate form of the reality of this world while they still exist in this earthly abode. In one of his famous dictums, Imam 'Ali ('a) is reported to have said: لَوْ كُشِفَ الغطاء مَا ازْدَدْتُ يقينًا.

If the curtains were unveiled nothing would be added to my conviction.[^25] The tearing of veils, however, should not be considered as being limited to the Prophets (upon whom be peace) and infallible Imams ('a). Those human beings who are entirely submissive to the laws of Almighty Allah and have purified their hearts can also enjoy such exalted positions.

In fact, Almighty Allah calls the human beings to appreciate the kernel of this word in the following verse: أَوَلَمْ يَنْظُرُوا فِي مَلَكُوتِ السَّماواتِ وَالارْضِ. And do they not look into the kernel of the heavens and the earth?[^26] Hence there is an invitation to tear the veils that we have created for ourselves by sinning.

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