IslamNewcastle

Ibn Al-Qayyim may Allaah have mercy upon him said:  “There are five ranks of people in relation to prayer:

The First is he who transgresses against himself by neglecting parts of Wudoo’, its timings, its limits and pillars. This person will be punished.

The Second is he who maintains its timings and conditions, but his mind is occupied during prayer, and he will be asked about this.

The Third is he  who maintains  its timings, conditions, and all its rights, but spends his efforts struggling against himself not to become busy thinking of something else. He is in a state of Jihaad and prayer.  He will be forgiven.

The Fourth is he whose heart is fully consumed by the prayer, and his main concern is establishing it properly and perfectly. He is in a state of servitude to his Lord, and he will be rewarded.

The Fifth is he who does as the fourth, but in addition he sets his heart in the Hands of his Lord, seeing Him through it, watchful of Him,  filled with love and  magnification as   if  he is  witnessing  his Lord. His  mind is concentrated on  praying. The difference between this level and the others is like the distance between the heavens and the earth. This person  is   consumed  with  his   Lord  in his prayer, bringing him comfort to his eyes. This  person is close to his Lord, and his eyes will be comforted in the Hereafter as well by being close to Him.”

Dear brothers and sisters! Which one of these five ranks do you fit in? Hold yourself accountable and weigh it according to your performance of prayer, for indeed the scale of the prayer does not err!

Excerpt from “Respond to the Call for Prayer”, by  Khaalid Abu Saalih