Prayer is the better of the two means of [attaining] nearness [to Allah]
الصَّلَاةُ أَفْضَلُ الْقُرْبَتَيْنِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Prayer causes [divine] mercy to descend
الصَّلَاةُ تَسْتَنْزِلُ [تُنْزِلُ] الرَّحْمَةَ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Prayer is the fortress of the all-Merciful and the instrument for expelling Satan
الصَّلَاةُ حِصْنُ الرَّحْمَنِ وَمَدْحَرَةُ الشَّيْطَانِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Prayer is a fortress [that protects] from the influences of Satan
الصَّلَاةُ حِصْنٌ مِنْ سَطَوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
When one of you stands to perform prayer, then let him pray the prayer of one who is bidding farewell [iehe should assume that it is the last prayer he will perform in his lifetime]
إِذَا قَامَ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَلْيُصَلِّ صَلَاةَ مُوَدِّعٍ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Teach your young children [how to perform the ritual] prayer and make them accountable for it when they reach puberty
عَلِّمُوا صِبْيَانَكُمُ الصَّلَاةَ وَخُذُوهُمْ بِهَا إِذَا بَلَغُوا الْحُلُمَ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
How many of those who stand [to perform prayer] have nothing in their prayer but [physical] effort
كَمْ مِنْ قَائِمٍ لَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ قِيَامِهِ إِلَّا الْعَنَاءُ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
If the one who offers prayer knew how much divine mercy is descending upon him, he would surely not raise his head from prostration
لَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْمُصَلِّي مَا يَغْشَاهُ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ لَمَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ السُّجُودِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
I am not worried by a wrongdoing in which I am given time so that I can offer two units of prayer [and seek forgiveness]
مَا أَهَمَّنِي ذَنْبٌ أُمْهِلْتُ [أُهْمِلْتُ] فِيهِ حَتَّى أُصَلِّيَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Do not perform a recommended act at the time of an obligatory one; start with the obligatory [prayer] and then pray whatever more you wish to
لَا تَقْضِ نَافِلَةً فِي وَقْتِ فَرِيضَةٍ ابْدَأْ بِالْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ صَلِّ مَا بَدَا لَكَ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
The physical prostration is putting the foreheads on the earth and placing the palms and knees on the ground along with the toes of the feet, with complete submissiveness of the heart and sincerity of intention
السُّجُودُ الْجِسْمَانِيُّ هُوَ وَضْعُ عَتَائِقِ الْوُجُوهِ عَلَى التُّرَابِ وَاسْتِقْبَالُ الْأَرْضِ بِالرَّاحَتَيْنِ وَالْكَفَّيْنِ [وَ الرُّكْبَتَيْنِ] وَأَطْرَافِ الْقَدَمَيْنِ مَعَ خُشُوعِ الْقَلْبِ وَإِخْلَاصِ النِّيَّةِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
The spiritual [aspect of] prostration is emptying the heart of [love for] that which perishes, proceeding with firm resolution in endeavouring towards the everlasting, removing pride and fanaticism, cutting off worldly ties and adorning oneself with the etiquettes of the Prophet
وَالسُّجُودُ النَّفْسَانِيُّ فَرَاغُ الْقَلْبِ مِنَ الْفَانِيَاتِ وَالْإِقْبَالُ بِكُنْهِ الْهِمَّةِ عَلَى الْبَاقِيَاتِ وَخَلْعُ الْكِبْرِ وَالْحَمِيَّةِ وَقَطْعُ الْعَلَائِقِ الدُّنْيَوِيَّةِ وَالتَّحَلِّي [و التجلي] بِالْخَلَائِقِ النَّبَوِيَّةِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Seek nearness to Allah, the Glorified, through prostration (suj?d), bowing (ruk?’), submission to His majesty and reverence (or subservience)
تَقَرَّبْ إِلَى اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ بِالسُّجُودِ وَالرُّكُوعِ وَالْخُضُوعِ لِعَظَمَتِهِ وَالْخُشُوعِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Prolonged qun?t and prostration saves one from the punishment of hellfire
طُولُ الْقُنُوتِ وَالسُّجُودِ يُنْجِي مِنْ عَذَابِ النَّارِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
One who desires that which is with Allah, his prostrations and bowings increase
مَنْ رَغِبَ فِيمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ كَثُرَ [أكثر] سُجُودُهُ وَرُكُوعُهُ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
What good forms of worship Prostration [suj?d] and bowing [ruk?’] are
نِعْمَ الْعِبَادَةُ السُّجُودُ وَالرُّكُوعُ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech
Nothing brings one closer to Allah, the Glorified, except copious prostration [suj?d] and bowing [ruk?’]
لَا يُقَرِّبُ مِنَ اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ إِلَّا كَثْرَةُ السُّجُودِ وَالرُّكُوعِ
Source : Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim, Exalted Aphorisms And Pearls Of Speech