Description
Book SynopsisThis text covers those dimensions of Islamic rituals of worship - prayer, alsmgiving, fasting and pilgrimage - which are considered essential to inner fulfilment.
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Prayer - Salat Excellent Merits of Prayer 1 Call to Prayer – Adhan 2 Five Set Prayers – Salat 3 Correct Performance – Ta’dil 4 Congregational Prayer – Jama‘a 5 Prostration – Sujud 6 Humble Adoration – Khushu’ 7 The Mosque and Place of Prayer – Masjid Internal Prerequisites: Actions of the Heart Humility and Conscious Awareness Internal States Conducive to Perfecting the Life in Prayer Awareness – Understanding – Reverence – Awe –Hope – Shame Medication Conducive to Inner Serenity Inner States at Each Stage of Prayer The Call to Prayer – Ritual Purity – Covering Private Parts – Facing the Qibla – Standing Upright – Intention – Takbir – Opening Invocations – Reciting the Quran – Bowing Down – Prostration – Sitting and Testifying – End of Supplication – Salutation Stories of the Humble Chapter 2 Almsgiving – Zakat 1 Understand the Purpose and Significance Testing the Degree of Love for God – Elimination of Miserliness – Expression of Gratitude 2 Payment at Proper Time 3 Give in Secret 4 Give Openly 5 Avoid Taunting and Hurting 6 Adopt Humility 7 Give the Best and the Dearest 8 Seek the Worthy and Deserving Chapter 3 Fasting – Sawm Three Grades Inward Requirements See not what displeases God – Speak not... – Hear not... – Do not... – Avoid Overeating – Look to God with Fear and Hope Importance of Observing Inward Aspects Chapter 4 Pilgrimage - Hajj Its Excellences and Its Merit The Pilgrimage The Ka’ba and Makka the Ennobled Residing in Makka Madina the Radiant 3 Fine Points of Propriety; Internal Conduct Purity of Intention and Means – Shunning Unlawful Taxes – Moderation in Expenditure – Forsaking Evil Conduct – Going on Foot – Modesty and Simplicity of Transport – Shabbiness in Dress and Appearance – Kindness to Beasts of Burden – Sacrificing Animals – Equanimity Inner States at Various Stages of Hajj Understanding – Yearning – Resolve – Severing Ties – Provisions – Transport – Purchase of Ihram – Leaving Home – Crossing the Desert – Putting on Ihram and Crying ‘Labbayk’ – Entering Makka – Seeing the Ka’ba – Circumambulating the House (Tawaf) – Touching the Black Stone – Standing at Multazam – Running between al-Safa and al-Marwa (Sa’y) – Standing at ‘Arafat – Casting Pebbles (Ramy) – Sacrificing Animals – Visiting Madina – Visiting God’s Messenger Conclusions Chapter 5 Night Vigil – Qiyam al-Layl Quranic Verses – Traditions of the Prophet – Traditions of the Companions and Their Followers Chapter 6 Invoking Blessings upon God’s Messenger Chapter 7 The Merit of Seeking Forgiveness – Istighfar
