Salat Means Relationship Between Man’s Servitude and God’s Providence — Essence of Islam Vol. 2

14 Sep, 2026 Essence of Islam 0

Essence of Islam Book Cover by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS)

Introduction

In this discourse from Essence of Islam (Volume 2), Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, expounds upon Salat Means Relationship Between Man’s Servitude and God’s Providence, presenting profound spiritual insights and scriptural verities.

Book Series: Essence of Islam (Volume 2)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS)
Section: Part 8: The Pillars of Islam
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: Salat, Supplication, and Certainty of Faith | Next: Salat Purifies the Spirit and Fast Illuminates the Heart »

and other actions are without effect.
[Malfuzat, vol. VI, p. 240]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 310]

Salat, Supplication, and Certainty of Faith Do not perform the Salat as a mere ceremony, but observe it with the burning and the melting of the heart and supplicate continuously in the Salat. It is the key to the resolving of all difficulties. In addition to the prescribed prayers and glorification supplicate much in your vernacular so that your heart should melt, and continue this effort till you arrive at that condition for that is the means of the achieving of all true objectives. All physical postures during the Salat should represent the condition of the heart also. When the worshipper stands in the Salat his heart should also be standing erect for God’s obedience; when he bows down the heart should also bow down; and when he goes into prostration the heart should also prostrate itself, which means that the heart should not let go of God at any time. When he reaches that condition he will begin to get rid of sins.
[Malfuzat, vol. VI, pp. 367-368]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 310]

delight in their relationship, the relationship is likely to be disrupted. In the same way if there is no delight in Salat the relationship between the servant and the Master is disrupted. Supplicate behind closed doors that that relationship may be continued and may become a source of delight. The relationship between man’s servitude and God’s Providence is very deep and is full of light, the reality of which cannot be expressed in words. Until that delight is experienced man continues in a state which resembles animals. Even if that delight is felt only two or three times the worshipper experiences a taste of it, but he who has not even that much experience continues blind: 111
[Malfuzat, vol. VI, p. 371]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 310]

Istighfar means that the light has been obtained from God Almighty may be safeguarded and may be fostered. The Salat is prescribed for this purpose so that five times daily this light may be repeatedly sough from God. He who possesses insight knows that the Salat is a spiritual exaltation and that the only way of deliverance from spiritual ills is repeated supplication in Salat which is charged with earnestness and melting of the heart.
[Malfuzat, vol. VII, pp. 124-125]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 311]

If a worshipper finds that he has lost the eagerness and delight that he used to experience in the Salat he should not become weary, nor be discouraged. He should seek to recover with great eagerness that which has been lost; the appropriate means for which are repentance, Istighfar and 111 ‘Whoso is blind in this world will be blind in the hereafter.’— Bani Isra’il, 17:73 [Publisher] earnestness. Salat should not be neglected because of lack of delight in it, but should be on that account multiplied and intensified, as an alcoholic does not give up drinking because he cannot get drunk but goes on drinking till he begins to feel the effect and delight that he desires in liquor. Thus a worshipper who finds the Salat insipid should multiply the Salat and should not become weary of it. In the end his insipidity will be turned into delight. A person who starts digging a well in his search for water has to continue digging till he reaches water. Those who give up digging before water is reached deprive themselves altogether, but those who persist and do not become weary reach water in the end. To find delight in Salat what is needed is Istighfar, regular Salat, persistent supplication, eagerness, and steadfastness.
[Malfuzat, vol. V, p. 432]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 311]

The weapons for our achieving supremacy are Istighfar, repentance, knowledge of the faith, the upholding of the Majesty of God Almighty and observance of Salat five times a day. Salat is the key to the acceptance of prayer. Supplicate throughout Salat and do not be neglectful. Shun every vice whether it relates to the obligations due to God or to the obligations due to your fellow beings.
[Malfuzat, vol. V, p. 303]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 312]

In order to estimate the degree of a person’s fear of God it is enough to observe his regularity in Salat. I am convinced that a person who observes Salat diligently and is not held back from it by fear or sickness or worldly trials undoubtedly believes truly in God Almighty. But this degree of faith is bestowed mainly upon the poor. Few of the wealthy partake of this bounty.
[Izala-e-Auham, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 3, p. 540]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 312]

Both fasting and Salat are forms of worship. The fast affects powerfully the body and Salat affects powerfully the soul. Salat generates a condition of burning and melting of the heart, and is, therefore, a higher form of worship than fasting. The latter fosters the capacity for visions.
[Malfuzat, vol. VII, p. 379]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 312]

Salat Purifies the Spirit and Fast Illuminates the Heart
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 313]

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Introduction