This letter was written to Khâji Khidir from Afganistan. It
explains the honour of performing namâz, which can be understood only by
superior individuals who have reached the end.
Your precious letter has reached us. Its
contents are understood. It is one of the greatest blessings of Allahu ta’âlâ
for one to take pleasure from worshipping and not to find it difficult to do
them. Especially to taste the flavour of namâz does not fall to the lot of
those who have not reached the end. It is only peculiar to them to feel its taste,
especially when it is fard. Those who are close to the end are able to taste
the flavour of the supererogatory prayers of namâz. But, only those prayers of
namâz that are fard are tasted at the end. The supererogatory prayers are
tasteless to them; they deem it a great benefit to perform the prayers that are
fard. Translation of a Persian line:
The work is a great blessing.
On whom will they bestow it?
[Supererogatory prayers of namâz are those
which are other than the prayers that are fard or wâjib. The sunnats of the
five prayers of namâz and also the prayers other than those that are wâjib are
all supererogatory. All sunnats, whether they are muakkad[1] or not, are supererogatory. (Durr-ul-mukhtâr,
Ibni Âbidîn, Halabî and others)].
The nafs does not have any share in the
taste that is experienced from all prayers of namâz. While man is enjoying this
taste, his nafs moans and yells. O our Allah! It is such a great rank!
Translation of an Arabic Line:
Those who attained the blessings, let
them enjoy it.
It is a great blessing and a real
happiness also for us, whose souls are ill, to hear these words. Translation of
Persian Line:
At least, let there be a consolation in
our hearts.
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[1] As we have explained in the initial
pages of our book, the actions which the Prophet used to do as worship and
which he omitted from time to time are called “muakkad sunnat.” Those which he
never omitted are called “wâjib.” Wâjib is next to fard, which is, as is known,
Allah’s command.
Be it known very well that the grade, the
rank of namâz in this world is like the exaltedness of seeing Allahu ta’âlâ in
the next world. In the world, the time when man is closest to Allahu ta’âlâ is
the time when he performs namâz. And in the next world, the time when he is
closest to Allahu ta’âlâ is the time of ru’yat, that is, when he will see
Allahu ta’âlâ. All kinds of worships in the world are intended to make man
capable of performing namâz. The real purpose is to perform namâz. I wish you
endless bliss and infinite blessings.