With conflicting thoughts in his mind and sense of fear and...

With conflicting thoughts in his mind and sense of fear and worry roaming over him, he was praying while he was thinking of his father’s words: “All you have learnt about religion before your puberty was wrong.” He had a pause during his prayer and was about to terminate it, but he continued his efforts in focusing on what he was saying. His father taught him to concentrate in his prayer and to pay attention to the meaning of what he says.

His father’s statement had interrupted his thoughts: “Who is God?” He was shaking, but he tried to control himself until he reached the Qunut[^2]. Then he raised his hands and uttered the following words strongly and meaningfully: “God... the Leader of the confused, the Guide of the misguided, the most Merciful, it is You Who is closer to me than my jugular vein; please save me from my confusions and guide me to the right path.” He stopped for a few moments.

He had conflicting thoughts and his heart was beating rapidly. After a while he felt better when he remembered the verse that he had always read in the mosque and suddenly felt confident: “When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he called on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way.” [^1]: Kiblah is the direction of the Kaaba that Muslims must turn their faces to during prayers.

[^2]: Qunut is a part of prayers in which a person raises his/her hands towards the heavens, supplicating the Lord. Previous…