Table of Contents
Introduction
This is the tenth part in a series of articles that discuss the prayer in Islam, its correct form, how it should be performed correctly, and examples of people from our time who have found sweetness and a sense of paradise in prayer. You can click here to read the full series, ALLAH willing.
The Journey Through Prayer
In our time, there are individuals, as Ibn Al-Qayyim beautifully described, who “entered the paradise of knowledge before entering the paradise of the Most Merciful“. These people have genuinely tasted the paradise in prayer. I personally know individuals who might spend an entire hour in a single unit of prayer (rakcah). For them, this is not unusual at all – they can stand in prayer for an hour without feeling the need to force themselves. This truly happens.
I once heard, with my own ears, one of the people who used to pray alongside me in the mosque – an ordinary person you wouldn’t particularly notice – who had such a beautiful state during prayer. People would speak of him much like they spoke of Ibn Taymiyyah:
“You would love to watch him make his opening takbir“
He once shared with me, “I have never had enough of prayer”. On one occasion, he came to me saying, “I am facing some challenges at work”. I advised him, “Make dua (supplication) in your prayer”. He responded, “By ALLAH, it’s never enough!” He meant that he could never get enough of making dua during his prayer. This statement has stayed with me, as it truly reflected his state – after tasting the paradise in prayer, he could never get enough.
The Depth of Their Connection
He truly grasped the essence of prayer, for when he entered into it, he brought all his concerns with him—whether they were matters of faith, worldly affairs, work-related issues, or the concerns of his wife and children. He would enter prayer carrying all these worries and begin making endless supplications, yet still longed to continue. Indeed, there are people among us who have “entered the paradise of knowledge before entering the paradise of the Most Merciful“. These individuals have tasted the sweetness of prayer, much like our righteous predecessors, perhaps even more deeply.
In our time, there are those who have genuinely discovered and experienced the paradise in prayer. May ALLAH have mercy on that devout worshipper who was a beacon of light and blessing for the people of Egypt—Sheikh Osama Abdul Azeem. He would spend four hours in prayer for Isha, two hours for Dhuhr, and would pray throughout the entire night without rest. His companions, who prayed alongside him, would sometimes miss suhoor (the pre-dawn meal), yet they were filled with joy and happiness. Many of them continued this practice even after the Sheikh’s passing, for he had shown them the sweetness and delight—the paradise in prayer—that those who neglect it cannot comprehend.
A Touching Reflection
How beautiful are the words of that worshipper who would lengthen his bowing, prostration, and standing in prayer! Once, some people drew close to hear what he was saying in his prostration. They found him saying,
“My LORD, how can people turn away from YOU, when YOU are… YOU?“
He marveled at how people could neglect to pray as he did, to bow as he bowed, and to prostrate as he prostrated for such long periods. How could they not taste the paradise in prayer and rise through its spiritual levels?
In our time, some have found something truly remarkable that many others are missing. They’ve uncovered a spiritual treasure in prayer that fills them with immense joy and peace. Indeed, many have discovered a paradise in prayer that brings them closer to ALLAH, a paradise that is available to anyone who sincerely seeks it.
Sources:
- Dr. Ahmed ElAraby. فاهم 36 | سلسلة تذوق العبادات – (1) الصلاة | مع د. أحمد العربي. YouTube Video.
