Thefollowingisasampletranslation.

Thepieceisanexcerptfromtheworkentitled
mizabalrahmahalrabbaniyyahfialtarbiyahbialtariqahaltijaniyyah(TheChannels
ofMercy:SpiritualEducationintheTijaniWay).Thistext,authoredbyShaykhUbayda
ibnMuhammadalSaghiralTashitofMauritania,isamanualdetailingthemeansof
spiritualtraininginthehafiziyyahbranchoftheTijanisufitradition.Beingaclose
discussionofthemethodologyofthispath,itdealswiththereligioninitsthreeaspectsof
islam(submission),iman(faith)andihsan(spirituality)andthereforediscussesissuesof
law,oftheologyandofspiritualexcellence.TheArabicisahighclassicalArabic,often
verycomplex,denseandallusive.Thefollowingsampleisadiscussionoftheprayer
consideredinitsvariousdimensions(thelegal,thetheological,thespiritual).Translations
oftheQuranaretakenfromArberrysTheKoranInterpreted.

ItisasiftheTruth,mayHebeExalted,wantedtoremovefromitallillusionandso
questioneditwithregardstowhatitconsideredtobetherealityofthestraightpath.Itis
asifheaskedit,sayingtoit:Whatis'thepathofthosewhomYouhaveblessed'?And
itwasasifitansweredhimonly,OAllah!MakesteadyandsureourstepstoYouon
thispathofthosewhomYouhaveblessed,untilwereachYou,throughYou.
WhereuponitisasifAllah,mayHebeExalted,responded,WhoarethosewhomIhave
blessed?Anditrespondedsaying:TheyarethosetowardswhomYouhaveturnedin
yourMercy,andhaveaddressedwithYourSpeech.Amongtheseareyourprophets,
saints,thosemartyredwhilestrivinginyourway,andthepious.Notthoseuponwhom
Youhavepouredyourwrath:andtheyaretheJewswhomYouhavecastout,northose
whoareastray,andthosearetheChristianswhomYouhavealsocastout,keepingonly
thosewhorememberyouofyourslaves.
AndtheselastayahsareapportionedtothoseofuttercertaintyintheTruthinthatthey
areinitaskingforcompletesurenessandafirmgrasponcertainty.
InthiswaytheFatihacoversthewholerangeoftravellinginthepath,forthefirstthirdis
concernedaswehavepointedout,withIslamthatis,meresubmissionevenifitbe
underthreatoftheswordorthelike.AndthesecondthirdisconcernedwithImanthat
is,withfaithitselfwhichissincerityinslavehoodandseekingitthrougheffortexpended
inattemptingtopurifyone'sheart.
ThefinalthirdisthentheissueofIhsanorexcellencewhichisconcernedwith
becomingrootedindivinelyinspiredknowledgeandfirminotherwordlyilluminations.It
isatthispointthattheGuardianAngelscryoutAmen!toyourprayers,andhewhose
amenscoincidewiththoseofangels,hisprayerissurelyansweredandhissinsforgiven.
Andifyouareanimamthenyourtongueisthetongueofthecongregation,soifyouread
aftertheFatihaasuratheninvokeinyourhearttherealisationthatAllah,mayHebe
Exalted,hasturnedtoyouandspokentoyou,sostrivetohavemaintainfullpresenceof
mindandlistenattentivelytoHisSpeechwiththeearofyourheartandnotonlytheear
onyourhead.ForHeissometimesimpartingtoyouknowledgeofHisOnenessand
sometimesitistheknowledgeofhowtocalluponHim.SometimesHeisgivingyou
goodtidingsandsometimeswarningyouofHispunishment.Manytimes,whatHeis
grantingisknowledgeofthevirtuesofhisProphet,andmanytimesAllahisisalerting
youtothewondersofHiscreation.
Now,havingfinishedyourrecitationindeepthoughtandmeditationinthemannerwe
havementioned,bowtoyourLorddeeplyandlong.Thiswillincreaseyouinaweand
humility,insubmissionandinjoy,atthefactthattheKinghasgrantedyoupermissionto
enterinuponHispresencedespiteyourlowlinessandyourbeingunworthy.Foryoudo
notdeservethis,neitherinyourselfnorthroughyouractions.Itisonlythroughthe
favourandmercyofyourLordthatitcametobe,andsoyousay,Gloriousbeyondall

creationismyLord,andHimIpraise,bringingtomindthedivineMightandMajesty.
Itisthesamealsouponstraighteningfromyourbow.YoumustkeepinmindthatAllah,
mayHebeExalted,desiresforyouclosenesstoHim,and,whenyouutterthewords
AllahhearsthosewhopraiseHimyoumustbringtoyourhearttheconvictionthatHe
hasheardyourpraise,andhasacceptedit.Anditisforthisthatyoumustfollowwiththe
words,OurLord!ToyouallthanksareduemeaningbyitHowmanyareYour
blessingsuponme,andsomyLord,allthanksareduetoyouasisdeservingofthe
MajestyofYourFace,andgreatnessofYourpower.
Whereuponyouprostrateyourself,beingawareofyourextremeclosenesstoHim,
rememberingthatitwasHewhosaid,Prostrateyourself,andcomenigh,andthe
sayingoftheProphet(saws),NeveristheslaveasclosetoAllah,asheiswhenheisin
prostration.SoaskAllahinthatmomentwhatyouwill.Askhimtobringyouclose,and
thatHebepleasedwithyou.AskalsoforforgivenessusingthewordsofAdam,Oour
Lord!Wehavebeenunjusttoourselves,andifYoudonotforgiveusandhavemercyon
us,verilyweshallbeamongthelosers.OrsayGlorytoyou,MyLord,Ihavebeen
unjusttomyselfandhavedonewrong,soforgiveme.
Forifyoudoso,Satanshallfleefromyou,withaloudcry,saying:Woeisme!Theson
ofAdamwascommandedtoprostrate,andhehasdoneso,andhasbeengiventhe
Gardenandforgiveness.AndI,Iwascommandedtoprostrate,andIrefrainedandsothe
Firewasmadeincumbentuponme,andshame.
Continuethentofinishtherestoftheritualprayer,completingitsintegralsaswehave
alreadymentioned,andasoursheikhadvised,mayAllahbepleasedwithhim.Every
timeyoucompleteaunitofprayer,youmuststand,hurryingtothankAllah,Most
Glorious,whoguidedyoutoobeyinghiscommandandperformingthoseactswhichHe
hasmadeobligatoryuponyou.
SorecitetheFatihainthemannerwhichwehavementioned,becauserecitingitinthis
manner,withdeepmeditationonitsmeanings,turnstheheartawayfromthewhisperings
ofSatan.Evenifthewhisperingsforcethemselvesuponyou,persevere!Forineachand
everyayahisawonderfulpower,asthereisalsointhemightofyourLord,topushback
thesewhisperingsandcastthemoutofyourheart.Now,ifthesewhisperingscomeupon
youduringyourbowingandprostrationthenbringtomindthemightofyourLordasyou
utterthewordsAllahisGreatest.
Makesurealsothatifyouperceiveinyourselfarroganceorostentation,toremind
yourselfthat'AllahisGreatest'meansthatHeseesyou,andthatitalsomeansthat
successisonlythoughHim.Foritisonlypossibleforhumanbeingstobearrogantorto
haveostentationintheirheartiftheyimaginethattheirobediencetotheirLordisdueto
theirownabilitiesortheirownstrength.

Whenyoureachthetestificationoffaith,recallthatyouarepresentbeforeAllahandHis
Messengerandrememberthecontextofthetestificationanditssecret,whichistheNight
JourneyoftheProphet.WhenheknewthathewasnighuntoHisLord,hehailedHim,
saying,SalutationstoAllah!indicatingtherebythatonlyAllahisdeservingofbeing
salutedthus,asbefittinghisgrandeur,andnoneother.HementionsthenAllah'sattributes
ofperfection,andHisblessings,andAllahrespondstoHisMessenger,Peacebeupon
you,OProphet,andtheMercyofAllahandhisBlessings.
ItwasherethattheProphet(saws)askedforsecurityandpeaceforhimselfandthe
righteousfromamonghispeoplebysayingtoHim,Peacebeuponusandtherighteous
slavesofAllah.NowwhentheAngeloftheVeilheardthisintimateconversation
betweentheProphetandhisLord,heborewitnesstotheGodhoodofAllahandtothe
ProphethoodofhisProphet,saying,ItestifythatthereisnogodbutAllah,alone,
withoutpartner,andthatMuhammadisHisslaveandhisMessenger.Sorecallthis
communionanddonotallowtheAngeltobequickerthanyouintheresponse,andsay,
bywayofbeingcomplete,AndItestifythatwhatMuhammadhascomewithisthe
truth:thattheGardenistruth,theFireistruth,thattheHouriscomingwithoutadoubt,
andthatAllahraisesthosewhoareinthegraves.
YouaretofollowthiswiththanksfortheProphet'sroleasintermediary,foritishewho
leadsthewaytothePresenceandwhosavesfromconfusion.Soyoushouldinvoke
Allah'sblessingsuponhim,imagininghisnobleimagebeforeyoureyes,intendingtobe
thankfulforthatwhichwasgrantedyoubyaskingAllahtoprayuponourMaster
Muhammad.Thisistobefollowedbyaskingforblessingsuponhisbrothersfrom
amongtheprophets,andupontheangelsandthosebroughtnigh.Youthenendthe
testificationthroughyouprayingthatAllahforgiveyou,yourparents,theumma,andby
repeatingtheprayerofpeaceuponyourProphetandtherighteousslavesofAllah.
Finally,yousaythewordsofendingtheprayer,Assalamualaykumholdingontothe
beliefthatAllah,MostHigh,hastherebygivenHispeaceandsecuritytotheProphetand
thepeopleofrighteousnessandtheAngelwhowasgiventheresponsibilityof
maintainingtheVeilandthattheProphethasthereforemaintaineditinhissunnahoping
thatAllahwillgivehisumma,also,thispeace,andthissecurityfromHiswrathfive
timesaday.
Now,onewhoprayshastwowaysofseeinghisrelationshiptothedivine.Thefirstis
foundedongnosis:sothatonedoesnotseeoneselfdoingactions,seeingonlywhatAllah
doestoone,suchasmakingactionseasy,ormakingonecapableandappropriateforthe
task.SafetyfromAllah'swrathforsuchapersonisisbutanincreaseingoodtidingsand
aperfectionofhappinessinthegiftsofAllah.Thesecondisthepersonwho,uponacting,
seetheactitself,andthatAllahhasmadeitincumbentuponhim,andstrivestodoit,
sincerely,andwithfullpresenceofheart,knowingheisstandingbeforeAllah,Most
High.Itisbecauseoftheseveryqualitiesthatheseeshimselfasbeingdeficientwith
regardstohisworks,neglectfulofhisduties.SafetyfromAllah'swrathforsuchaperson
isnothingbutaneasingofhisheart'sfear,thathemighthopeofhisLord'spardon,anda

wayforhisLordtoprovethatHeisasHisslave'sgoodopinionholdsHimtobe.
Sowhatisindicatedby'Peacebeuponyou'hereisthatAllahhasgivenyousecurityfrom
theconsequencesofyourshortcomings,insofarasHehasgrantedthatHewillnottake
youtoaccountforthem.Hehasdonethisbecauseofyourweaknessandincapacitytoto
keepyourheartsteadyinHisworshipwiththecondition,ofcourse,thatyoureffortsare
genuineandnotaccompaniedbyheedlessnessandthetakingofpleasureininternal
chatter,mayAllahgrantusrefugefromit.
Soiftheoneatprayerpresentsaprayerthatisrichwithdeepmeditationonthegreat
signsofAllahandtheproofsinHisbook,andifhecomestoAllahgratefulforthe
guidancehehasfoundinthatbook,andgratefulthathehasbeengivenaheartthatis
occupiedwithunderstandingthemeaningsfoundtherein,thensuchaservanthasacted
uponwhatheknows.Lethimthenaskforknowledgeofthatwhichheknowsnot,
redoublinghiseffortsagainsthisinternalchatterandthewhisperingsofhisdevilfora
heartcannotbeattentivetotheseandbealsoinintimatecommunionwithitsLord.The
hearthasonlyoneface,anditisturnedeithertowardscreatedthings,ortowardsthe
creatorofthings.WeaskAllahthatHemaketheturningofourheartstowardsHis
contentment,andthatHeoccupyus,throughHisremembrance,fromallthatisotherthen
Him,foronlyHeistrulydeservingofthis.

Beconscientiouswithregardstothosespokenformulaswhichfollowtheritualprayers.
Donotdoasthecommonpeopledo,andswiftlycountthemoutwithyourfingersasone
inarace.Instead,besensitivetotheirmeaning,forthereisawisdomintheirbeing
legislated:namely,thattheycompensateyouforwhateverlackofpresencewhichyou
mayhaveshowedduringyourprayer.Payheedalsotothenonobligatoryprayersbefore
andafteryourprayerproper,forthesesupererogatoryprayerscompletetheobligatory
prayers.
Makeoffullpresenceofmindinyourablutionsanaidinyourprayer,forhaving
presenceofmindinonehelpsachievepresenceofmindintheother.Infact,beingaware
ofAllahwhennotmakingablutions,aidsoneinbeingawareofHimduringablution.
ThiswayofprayeristheclosestofwaystotheTijaniapproach,aswehavealready
stated.Thisisbecauseofwhatitcontainsintermsofpraisewiththetongue,whichisone
oftheintegralsofthankfulness.Thisismanifestinseveralaspectsoftheprayer.One
beginsforexample,withtheopeningglorification,anditisasifoneissaying,implicitly,
GreaterthanallcreationisHewhohasguidedustothis,andwithoutHisguidancewe
couldnothavebeenguided.ForHe,MostHigh,hassaidinHisbook,
2:185AndmagnifyGodthatHehasguidedyou
OnethenrecitestheFatiha,whichbeginswithanexplicitformulaofpraise.Following
thisisbowing,whichisaccompaniedwithexpressionsofpraise,suchas,Gloriousismy

LordaboveallelseandinHispraise!Uponstandingtoo,thereispraisewiththetongue,
AllahhearshewhopraisesHim!whichisfollowedby,OurLord!ToYouisall
praise!Afterthiscomestheprostration,duringwhichonespeaksthewords,Gloryto
myLord,MostHigh,andinHispraise.Andsoonfortherestofthemotionsofthe
prayer,untilonecomestothetestificationoffaith,whichasweshallseecontainswithin
itallthatisintheFatiha.
Forsaying,atthebeginningofthetestification,SalutationstoAllah!indicatesthose
phraseswhichpointoutthatdominionisforAllah,andthiscontainsthoseDivine
perfectionsthatbelongtoAllahaloneandwhichbringaboutpraise.Inthisway,itisasif
whatismeantissimply,PraisebetoAllah.
Asforsaying,alzakiyat,(pureacts):thisindicatesthosegoodworksandactions
proceedingfromtheslaveinprayer,withwhichhemeetsthetwoblessingsofexistence
andbeingsustained,whicharenurturedbytheLordofalltheworlds.Itishereasifhe
saidsimply,PraisebetotheLordofalltheworldsWhohascreatedthem,andnurtured
them,thenguidedthem!
Hissaying,altayyibat,(orallgoodorwholesomethings)isareferencetothose
beautifulnamesofAllah,andthosemosthighdivineattributesthehighestofwhichare
theattributesofultimateMercyandultimateCompassion.Soitisasifhesaid,TheAll
Merciful,theAllCompassionate.
Next,onesays,alsalawat,(meaning,prayers),thatis,thosefiveritualprayerswhich
arethefirstactswhichAllahwillaskHisslaveaboutontheDayofRecompense,inthe
mannerthatallkingslookupontheirsubjects'actswithacceptanceorrejectionandthere
isnootherkingonthatDay,savetheKingofKings.Soitisasifhesaid,TheKingof
theDayofJudgment.
Onenextsays,Peacebeuponyou...untiltheendofthephrase.Inthisofcoursethere
isaturningawayfromabsencetopresencethroughtheaskingforsecurity,mercyand
gracefortheMeanstoAllah,theMasterofexistence,saws,whohassteadiedthehearts
oftheseekeruntilhewasboldenoughtoseekthedivinepresencethroughspeakingthe
words,YouweworshipandtoYouweturnforaid.Theslavethusasksforpeacefor
thismeanstoAllahfromamongthemyriadmeanstoHim,andforthisGodfromamong
all'gods'whohavebeenworshipped.
Inhissaying,PeacebeuponusandtherighteousslavesofAllahheisaskingfor
securityforhimselfandthoseofhiskindorotherthanhiskind.Thisincludesthathis
desiretobemadesecureintheirwayandtobeoneoftheirnumber.Itisinfactasifhe
said,GrantustheStraightPath,thepathofthosewhomYouhaveblessed.
AsforutteringthewordsThereisnogodbutAllah,MuhammadistheMessengerof
Allah,thereisarealisationinitofallthathasbeenmentioned,anditmakesexplicitall

thatwhichisinwhatwehavewritten,forrealizingtheDivineUnityistheendpointof
theseeker'squest.Allah,MostHigh,hassaid,
98:5They were commanded only to worship God, making the religion His sincerely
ToworshipheremeanstoseetheabsoluteunityofAllah,makingthatutteranceofthe
shahadatheultimateutteranceofGodfearingnessandofsincerity,aswellasbeingthe
meansforreachingthatsincerity.
Finally,theslavespeaksthewordswhichendhisprayer,Assalamualaykum(Peacebe
uponyou).Thiscanbeseeneitherasfurthergoodtidingsandjoyorarequestforpardon
fromhewhoisprayingforhisfailuretototallysafeguardhisownheartfromthe
whisperingsofthedevil.Bothoftheseareblessingsthatrequirethanksandpraise.Sohe
endshisprayerwithablessings,justashebeganitwiththanksandpraiseforblessings.
Thelaterrecallstheearlier,forbybeingfullyawareoftheprayerforpeaceandpardon,
thereisbroughttomindtheearliergratitude.Onenecessitatestheother,andattractsthe
other,andthismutualattractionisanaidforthosewhoareneedofmuchaid.
Theuseuseofthepluralmustalsobeconsidered.Forexample,onesays,Youwe
worshipandFromYouweseekaidintheFatiha.Again,onesaysGuideusinthe
testification,orsays,Peacebeuponusattheendoftheprayer.Thismakesconcreteto
theworshipperthatheispartofacongregationofthebelievers.Thisiscentral,forthe
prayerisastationofhumilityandnotastationofprideandaggrandizementoftheself.It
issimilartothelegislatedcry,duringthecalltoprayers,ofHurrytoSalvation,for
thereisnooratorassignedbyakingoverapeopleorindividualssavethatthematterbe
oneofgraveimportance.Thismatterbesimplytherenewingofwhatisclear,suchasthe
commandtoperformthoseactionsalreadylegislated,orareminderthatitistimefora
particularaction.ButitisonlyduringtheFridayprayerthatthematterismadeabsolutely
explicit:come,strivetowardstheremembranceofAllahandleavebehindyourbuying
andselling.
Outofscrupulousnessinthematterofprayer,ourshaykh,mayAllahbepleasedwith
him,insistedontheperformanceofthefiveritualprayersincongregationandbehindan
imam.Itislikelythathewanted,byinsistingonthis,tofreehisstudentsfromthe
disagreementsbetweenthescholarsregardingwhethercongregatingfortheritualprayer
isobligatoryorsunna.Hechosetheformer,ofcourse,becausesincetheritualprayerisa
pillarofthereligion,onemustalwaystakethestricterpathintermsofitsapplicationin
one'slife.InthisregardtheauthorofTheGems:OnAwakeningtheInnerVisionhas
mentionedthatAbdullahb.UmmMaktumaskedtheProphetforpermissiontoprayin
hisownhome,sincehewasblind,saying,Betweenmeandyourmosque,isavalley.
TheProphetansweredhimsaying,Doyouhearthecalltoprayer?Abdullahanswered,
YesandtheProphettoldhim,Thenyoumustcometothemosque.Now,iftheirhad
beenalicensetobegiveninthematterofthecongregationalprayer,surelyitwouldhave
beengiventoAbdullahb.UmmMaktum.

ThereisanarrationalsoreferringtoGabriel,thatheappearedbeforetheProphetsaying
wordswiththefollowingmeaning:OMuhammad!Ifamanfromyourumma,whoprays
theprayerofyourumma,givesthecharityofyourumma,makesthepilgrimageasdothe
menofyourumma,andreadsallthatAllahhasrevealed,andyethedoesnotstand
amongthecongregationasitprays,hewillbeasked,'Wherehaveyoubeen,andwhat
haveyoudone?'HewillthenbecastintotheFireuntilAllahinhismercypluckshimout
ofit.OMuhammad!Thecryof'AllahisGreater!'whichopensthecongregationalprayer
isgreaterthanathousandcamelswhichyouslaughterandusetofeedthoseinneed.He
whopraysonedawnprayeratthemosquewiththecongregationisasonewhohasfought
athousandbattlessidebysidewiththeprophets.Hewhohasprayedthenonprayerin
congregationisgivenwitheachtwounitsofprayer,thelikesofsixtyofthegreater
pilgrimage,andsixtyofthelesserpilgrimage.Hewhohasprayedtheafternoonprayerin
thecongregationisgivenwitheachunitoftheprayer,thelikesofayearofworship.He
whohasprayedthesunsetprayerincongregationisgivenwitheachunitoftheprayerthe
likesofonewhohasfreedaslavefromamongthechildrenofIshmael,andeachofthose
isworthtenofthosenotdescendedfromthatprophet.Hewhopraystheeveningprayer
incongregation,itisasifhestoodhalfthenightinprayer,andinsomenarrations,he
saiditisasifhestoodthewholenightinprayer.
Gabrielcontinues:Ifthecongregationiscomposedoftwoworshippers,thentheir
prayeriscountedasonehundredandfiftyprayers;iftheyarethreethenitiscountedas
threehundredprayers;iftheyarefourthenthentheyhavetotheircreditsixhundred
prayers;iftherearefiveworshippersthentheyhavewhatamountstoonethousandand
twohundredprayers;ifsixgathertopraytogetherthentheyhavetotheircredittwo
thousandandfourhundredprayers;ifsevengather,thentheirprayerisequaltofour
thousandandeighthundredprayers;iftheyareeight,thentheirprayerisworthnine
thousandandsixhundredprayers;ifnine,thennineteenthousandandtwohundred
prayers;iften,theneighthundredandthirtythousandandfourhundredprayers;if
eleven,thenseventysixthousandandeighthundredprayers;iftwelve,thenonehundred
andfiftythreethousandandsixhundredprayers.
Moreover,wereoneoftheunitsofprayermentionedabovetobeplacedononeendof
thescaleandontheotherendwereplacedtheheavens,theearth,theGarden,theFire,
theThrone,theFootstool,andalltheangels,theoneunitofprayerwouldbeweightieron
thescale.
Andsoforonemuslimprayingwithhiscompanionitisasifheprayedseventyfive
prayers,thisincreasinginproportiontoeachnewpersonwhojoinstheprayer,untilthat
onemuslimpraysalongsidetwelveothers.Atthispointitisasifheprayedtwelve
thousandandeighthundredprayers.Itisforthisreasonitseems,andAllahknowsbest,
thattheFridayprayerwasmadeobligatory.Fortheminimumnumberrequiredforthat
prayeristwelve.Andsincewehaveseenthatthisnumberamountstomorethantwelve
thousandprayersineffect,thenweseealsothatwehavetherebyreachedthenumberof
people(thatis,twelvethousand)whichinjihadcannotretreatiftheyareattackedbythe

enemy.FortheonewhopraysisinamostdifficultbattleagainstthepartyofSatan
mentionedinthesayingoftheProphet,Wehavereturnedfromthelesserjihad,tothe
greaterjihad.
SoitisforthisreasonthattheFridaycongregationhasbeenmadeobligatoryifthereare
twelveworshippersavailable(andiftherearenotthenitisconsideredonlythenoon
prayerandistobeprayedassuchsinglyorincongregation),andAllahhasmadethe
believersdesirousofitthroughthemanymeans.HesaysinHisbook:
3:76...fight you therefore against the friends of Satan; surely the guile of Satan is ever
feeble.
And He forbade them from fleeing from the enemy by saying:
8:15 O believers, when you encounter the unbelievers marching to battle, turn not your
backs to them. Whoso turns his back that day to them, unless withdrawing to fight again
or removing to join another host, he is laden with the burden of God's anger, and his
refuge is Gehenna -- an evil homecoming!
And He has put on the tongue of His Prophet concerning the mistake of leaving the
Friday congregational prayer: Whosoever leaves the congregation, upon him is My
curse and my wrath. And abandoning the Friday prayer, leaves over the heart a rust. For
whoever leaves the Friday prayer once, there is rust over half his heart, and whoever
leaves it twice there is rust over two thirds of his heart, and whoever leaves it three times,
his whole heart is covered with rust. And this rust is a veil which comes over the heart
between it and Allah, and it is the reason for the curse which is upon the servant.
So when Allah had caused his servants to finish their prayer and to defeat the armies of
the enemy He commanded them to spread upon the earth and seek from His bounty,
saying,
62: 10 Then, when the prayer is finished, scatter in the land and seek God's bounty, and
remember God frequently; haply you will prosper.
He also commands their gratitude through informing them that, had it not been for His
championing them, the strength of their enemy would not have waned, nor would the
idolators' armies have been defeated, saying,
8: 17 You did not slay them, but God slew them; and when thou threwest, it was not
thyself that threw, but God threw, and that He might confer on the believers a fair benefit;
surely God is All-hearing, All-knowing.
And in The Gems: On Awakening the Inner Vision we find cited Abu Hurayra, who has
narrated that the Prophet, in his last sermon given from the pulpit said:

O people! Whoever prays the five prayers in congregation wherever he is, and at their
prescribed times, flickers over the Bridge lack a flash of lightning, among the first of
those who have gone ahead. He comes on the Day of Resurrection with a face like the
moon on the night when it becomes full, and for every day he has held to the
congregational prayer, he has the reward of one who was killed in the path of Allah.
We find in the same book that there is in the congregational prayer ten benefits.
The first of these is that Allah has prescribed the prayer in congregation for his servants
that He may increase for them the number of those who bear witness on their behalf on
the Day of Resurrection. For on that Day, the muslims who prayed in congregation will
bear witness on each other's behalf. Whosoever has many witnesses, has attained to a
lofty position, and whosoever is destined to a position less lofty has only his guardian
angels as witnesses.
Secondly, the congregational prayer is a manifestation of the intimacy of the muslims,
one with the other.
Thirdly, it is a manifestation of the might of Islam, and the numbers of the Muslims, as a
deterrent to the enemy.
Fourthly it is a manifestation of the fact that the Muslims are the protectors of one
another, made visible through their standing shoulder to shoulder in the face of what
comes at them.
Fifthly, that they may remember, through their standing together in the act of service,
their destiny: which is to stand together, later, in the abode of bounty.
Sixthly, that they remember, through their gathering together for prayer, that they will be
gathered together to be taken to account and to be questioned as to their actions on the
Day of Gathering, by the Overpowering King. In this way, it is to be hoped that their
gathering together in servanthood will later bring about for them the generosity of
Lordship.
Seventhly, that they realise that prayer is a battle between the human being and Satan. In
the same manner that soldiers gather one to the other at the moment of war for their
Sultans, so should the people of true faith gather to do battle with devils for the sake of
Allah at certain times.
Eighthly, that they may remember, through their effort in standing in prayer, the
transparency of themselves as it will be on the day when they stand exhibited before their
Lord.
Ninthly, it is only appropriate that since the enemies of Allah have gathered in ranks to
extinguishing the light of religion, that the believers gather in ranks to make it grow ever

brighter.
Tenthly, there is the fact that whoever wishes to conquer a city and force open its gates,
gathers around him those who will aid him in this action. It is the same with opening the
gates of paradise, for they can be forced open only by service, and gathering around one
those who will aid in fulfilling its actions.
All this is with regards to the daily congregational prayer. As for the Friday
congregational prayer, it is ten times the grace. It is the best manner of being called to
one's Lord, and it is the answer to prayers. It is a way of warding off tribulation. It is a
way of being spared the Fire of the unfortunate. It is the completion of the light which
shows the way. It is as the intercession of the best of the prophets. It is an increase in
reward. It is a expiation for sins and misdeeds. It is a way of being increased in dignity
and gifts.
As for it being the best manner of being called, one sees this in His saying,
62: 9 O believers, when proclamation is made for prayer on the Day of Congregation,
hasten to God's remembrance and leave trafficking aside; that is better for you, did you
but know.
So he called them believers.
As for its being an answer to prayers, it can be seen in the Prophet's saying that on Friday
there is a moment during which if the servant asks Allah for something He will give it.
Some have said that this moment is just before the imam steps on the pulpit to give the
sermon. Others have said that it is after the Friday prayer is completed. There have been,
also, other opinions.
In terms of the Friday prayer being a way of warding off tribulation, this can be seen in
what the Prophet has narrated: Gabriel came to me, and in his hands was a bright mirror,
upon which was a black spot. So I said, 'What is this?' and he replied, 'It is Friday.'
'What is Friday,' I asked. He said, 'There is in it for you much good.' I then asked, 'What
is kept therein for us?'
He said, 'There is in it a moment when if a servant asks Allah for something which he is
destined to have, that Allah will give it to him. If it is not his destiny to have it, then is
kept for him in the Afterlife as something better than what he has asked in this one. If he
asks for refuge from something he is destined for, then a greater tribulation is lifted from
him.' I said, 'What is this black spot on it?' And Gabriel said, It is the Hour.
As for its being a pardon from the Fire of misfortune, that is made clear in the saying if
the Prophet, Allah spares on Friday a hundred of those who should by rights be
submitted to torment.

A saying of the Prophet already mentioned carries implicit in it the explanation of what is
meant by the Friday prayer being a completion of the light which shows the way. For as
we have mentioned, the Prophet has stated that to miss the Friday prayer causes a rust to
cover the heart. It may be then understood that attending it causes a gentleness to come
upon the heart, and a light.
As for the intercession of the best among prophets, it is understood from his saying that
he who misses the Friday prayer, whether through not giving it its due weight, or through
carelessness, or through denial if its value, Allah will not unify his affair, will not bless
him. Verily, the Prophet has said, his prayer is not valid, his almsgiving is not valid, his
pilgrimage is not valid, his ritual ablution is not valid, and he shall not have my
intercession. It is to be understood then that he who keeps the Friday prayer, knowing its
true value, Allah ennobles him through the intercession of the His Prophet.
Now, about the Friday prayer being an increase in reward and recompense, this is made
in the following hadith, He who has performed his ablutions and washed, and come
early and began to listen early, and come close and heard what was said and was
attentive, refraining from vain speech: Allah records for such a person a year's worth of
prayer, and year's worth of fasting. What is meant here by ablutions is the ritual ablution
for the prayer, and what is meant by washing is to perform a full ritual washing of the
body. By coming early here is meant arriving early to the Friday prayer and by beginning
to listen early is meant listening to the sermon from its beginning, and not arriving
partway through it.
It is in another of his sayings, peace be upon him, that we find the explanation for why
the Friday prayer is considered a redemption of sins, There is no slave of Allah who
washes and performs his ablutions using plenty of water to clean himself well, save that
Allah will create from each drop of water an angel, which will ask for forgiveness for
him. And when he leaves his house seeking the mosque Allah turns to him in His mercy.
Upon finishing his prayer, Allah forgives him that which is between two Fridays, and
three days in addition to those.
Finally, it can be seen from the Prophetic sayings that Friday prayers are an increase in
gifts as we have mentioned. This is because the Prophet, has said that, Allah has created
an angel which cries out on Friday eve: 'Verily, he who hastens to Friday prayer, arriving
early, for him is the Garden.'
And what gifts is more bountiful than this: that Allah should make his slave forbidden to
the Fire.
There is in the Friday prayer the contentment of the Lord of the heavens and the earth
with His slave. This is because Allah is content with His slave when he hastens to obey
Him, and the more virtuous and excellent the obedience, the greater the good apportioned
to the slave. And since the friday prayer is among the best of forms of worship, the
reward its rewards are among the greatest, and the contentment of Allah with His slave is
great also. For on Friday, the Hour shall come, and this necessitates that on Friday, the
believers should expend themselves in worship, that this day will be a witness on their

behalf. And on Friday, mercy pours down on the believers, just as on Saturday the curse
of Allah pours down on the Jews. Allah says,
62: 9 That is better for you
Meaning Friday is better for you than Saturday is for the Jews. Just as there is no Jew
who is not cursed on Saturday, so there is no Muslim who is not blessed on Friday. On
that day the prayer was shortened, while its reward was increased to such an extent that
the people of spiritual insight have said that it is as if Allah, Mighty and Majestic, were
saying, Since on this day I have made it incumbent on you to seek out the mosque,
therefore I have lightened the load of the prayer. This that you may know that I desire for
you ease, and not hardship. So how can I desire ease for you in worship in this world, and
also mean for you the hardship of punishment in the next?
On that day, there are warnings concerning the calamities of the Day of Resurrection, as
if Allah were reminding the slave, if he seeks Him on that day, of those calamities that he
may hold himself to account. And on that day also, there is a bringing together of the
believers and the Lord of the worlds. That is why it is called Jumu'ah: the day of
congregation. It is as if Allah were saying to the believer, that, I have, for the believer's
sake, gathered the many forms of mercy in the treasury of gifts, as recompense for your
obedience to Me. I grant it all to you on this day, which is the day when the Judgement
also will occur, and which is the path to the Garden, that you may know in this way that I
am with you, ever Gentle, and ever Compassionate.