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To become acquainted with the reality of Prayer we have to have knowledge of our own soul. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) has
explained that without the presence of the heart, Prayer is not Prayer. Nor is it Prayer if one is not
free from evil suggestions and
distracted thoughts. Such an act could only be
called ‘physical movement’ and there would be no spiritual value in this
act. When a person establishes Prayer with the depth of his soul he is released from the grasp of that mind
which we call ‘the disobedient mind’.
When the grasp of the disobedient becomes weak the Heavenly mind, which is free from the limitations of time and space takes control. When we
incline towards Allah with the Heavenly mind, Allah's light (Noor) starts descending
upon us and in this state of Prayer
we break our link with the fictional
senses. This state when one gets so absorbed in
Allah's light and magnificence is called Istaghrāq.
Hażrat Ayesha Siddiqa narrates to us that when
it was time for Prayer the Holy Prophet would not even acknowledge the presence
of those around him and it would seem as if they were all strangers to him.
The Holy
Prophet would stand in Prayer for so long that his blessed feet would get swollen.
KHWAJA SHAMSUDDIN AZEEMI
Mehrāj means to enter the world of the unseen. When a believer attains Mehrāj through prayer, Angels appear in front of him. He travels through the Heavens, and through the blessings of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) he comes to know his Lord.
