Salaat is the ascension of the believers

Your letter which was addressed to this pauper out of love reached and gladdened me.  As it comprised of lofty states and great delights, it gave me pleasure upon pleasure.

 

You have written that sometimes an affinity (nisbah) comes forth i.e. a pure radiance appears and you find yourself immersed in this radiance.  The name of this affinity does not occur to you.  It is being called as radiance only because its truth is not known.  Otherwise, it is beyond description of words and speech.  It cannot be compared to anything else.  With the coming forth of this blessed state nothing is gained except resignation and astonishment.

 

My dear!  Hadhrat Mujaddid (i.e. Imam Rabbani (May Allah be well pleased with him)) has described another station above the 6 widely-accepted stations of Tasawwuf (Ta’ayunaat) and has entitled it as Absolute Radiance (Noore Mahaz).  He has also declared it to be the Reality of Ka’aba (Haqeeqate Ka’aba). 

 

If what you feel is what Hadhrat Mujaddid (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) has described, then it is felicity indeed.  If it is only a glimmer of it, even then it is to be valued.  Thus whatever it is, it is a rare treasure. 

 

It is a sign of the reality and the loftiness of this affinity that you have written that you feel it often when offering Salaat, especially in the Obligatory Salaat which is offered congregationally.  After the completion of the Salaat as long as you remain sitting on the place where the Salaat was offered, the condition remains.  Afterwards, it is hidden.

 

My dear!  Salaat is the zenith of a believer and is an illustration of the state of the Ascension.  The one who prostrates, prostrates at the feet of the Lord Almighty….You might have heard this Hadith.  It is also mentioned in Hadith:  When a slave starts offering Salaat, Allah Most High turns His attention to him (or her)…..

 

Then the specialness of the Obligatory Salaat is over and above it and then offering it congregationally is light upon light and radiance upon radiance.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  On the Day of Judgment, Allah Most High will illuminate those people with radiance who used to go to the mosques in darkness…..

 

The (spiritual) progress which occurs with the recitation of the Holy Quran occurs very less in other forms of worship, specially the recitation of the Holy Quran in Salaat with long Raka’at. 

 

Yes, this progress is a result of both recitation of the Holy Quran and Salaat.  Word is a personal direct attribute (sifate haqeeqi).  It cannot be separated from the being.  Being attached to this attribute leads to absolute closeness with the being.

 

 

[Excerpted from Maktoobaat Khaja Masoom Sirhindi Rahimahullah]