THE ESSENCE OF PRAYING

This is a transcript of a lecture delivered by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan on December 15, 2006.

Make prayer a part of your life, but never think or believe that if your prayer is fulfilled in the way you understand it, then it was a real prayer, and if it is not, then the prayer was wasted.

Prayer is the greatest blessing, the means by which we connect with God. It’s incredible to establish direct contact with the Creator. If we miss out on this connection, what greater loss could there be?

When a person removes their self-glory, ceases to feel proud of their own greatness, and reaches a point of helplessness, God immediately intervenes. The distance between us and God is our artificial sense of being great, rich, powerful, or a leader.

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

My Lord! open up my heart, and make my task easy for me. Loosen the knot in my tongue, so that they may understand my speech.

Today, I would like to discuss the concept of Dua. In English, it is known as prayer. The word Dua means “to call” or “to call upon God.”

Let us begin by understanding what prayer truly is. Prayer is an act of humility, a way for a person to establish a connection with their Lord. This is the essence of prayer. Prayer is a means of building a relationship with God through humility. This is why a Hadith states: Prayer is the essence of worship. (Sunan al-Tirmidhi)

Now, let us turn to the concept of deen, i.e., religion. Religion is the establishment of a relationship between God and His servant. All acts of worship are aimed at achieving this relationship, and prayer is a powerful tool for this purpose. A clear example of this is found in the Quran where the Prophet Moses expresses his sincere need for blessings from God: Lord, I am truly in need of whatever blessing You may send down for me. (28: 24)

Prophet Moses was born in Egypt, as mentioned in both the Quran and the Bible. When he was a child, he was taken to the palace of the king of Egypt. Pharaoh’s wife, being childless, wanted to adopt him as his son. Later, when he received prophethood, he had to leave the palace, and the people turned against him. Certain events led him to quietly leave Egypt, fearing capture by the officials. He travelled day and night until he reached Midian. There, he found a well in a remote area, away from the city. It was an agricultural age, and people raised goats and sheep. There was a man there who had no sons but two daughters. After grazing the animals all day, they had to water them in the evening. When Prophet Moses arrived, he saw two girls standing aside helplessly, while others watered their goats and sheep. Moses asked why they were standing separately. The girls explained that they could not water their animals until the men had finished. They were waiting for the men to finish, but by then it was already evening.

Moses, a strong man, stepped forward and watered the girls’ animals for them. Afterward, the girls took their animals and left. Now, all the people had left, and it was nighttime. He was in an unfamiliar place, alone, and possibly without having eaten. If the Egyptian officials had seen him, they might have caught him. There was no one of his own to help him. It was completely dark, and he might have gone hungry.

Moses sat under a tree, feeling helpless. At that moment, these words came from his lips: Lord, I am truly in need of whatever blessing You may send down for me. This prayer depicts the state of a person who has reached the ultimate level of helplessness. At this point, when a person prays, their connection with God is established through humility. This is the only path to God—through helplessness. There is no other way to establish a connection with God.

When a person discovers their powerlessness and realizes that God is All-Powerful and has the ability to help everyone, these two aspects come together. On one side, there is the All-Powerful God, and on the other side, there is the all-powerless human. This is the state where all barriers between the servant and God are removed, and a direct communion is established between the person and God. When the prayer is made, it becomes a whisper to God. It is mentioned in a Hadith: “When a servant prays, God becomes so near to him that He whispers to him.” (Musnad Ahmad)

When Prophet Moses prayed, his prayer was accepted, and that very night, his problem was solved. The girls went and told their elderly father, who was unable to walk. He asked them to bring the man to him, and the girls came shyly to bring Prophet Moses to their house. The prayer that Prophet Moses made in his solitude, in a state of helplessness, was accepted then and there. This is the essence of prayer.

Prayer is not just about memorizing and repeating Arabic words; that is not prayer. It should not be like a tape recorder repeating words. Prayer is about the condition of the heart, about the yearning of the heart. A person’s whole being becomes prayer. Moses’ prayer was not mere lip service; he wasn’t just speaking words; his whole being was absorbed in it.

There are many prayers of the Prophet Muhammad. People memorize these prayers in the name of ‘masnun (prophetic) prayers’ and believe they are making supplication, but this is not true prayer. True prayer comes from the depths of the heart.

During their migration, the Prophet and Abu Bakr sought shelter in the Cave of Thaur. When the enemy, armed with swords, approached them, they were completely helpless. No army or support was available; they were just the two of them. Abu Bakr looked from inside and said, “They have reached here too.” In that moment, the Prophet spoke these historic words: “O Abu Bakr! What do you think of the two (us) with whom the third is God?” This demonstrates the closeness to God.

Now, I will discuss remembrance (Dhikr) and prayer (Dua). However, before that, I want to emphasize the importance of true prayer. The criterion for recognizing true prayer is not whether it has been accepted or not. A true prayer comes from the heart, and even if it hasn’t been accepted as per our understanding, it still remains a true prayer. Never think that if your prayer isn’t accepted as you wish, it isn’t powerful or meaningful.

I will share an anecdote here. I began my mission of introducing the peaceful message of Islam after India gained independence in 1947. The journey was long, but the madrasa (seminary) where I studied and stayed at, the society I was raised in, and the books I read all shaped my mindset to be Muslim-oriented. The environment I grew up in conditioned me in such a way that my thinking became Muslim-oriented. I began my work in this manner, and I gained immense popularity, not only in India but also in foreign countries. Wherever I went, crowds would gather to listen to me.

However, a time came when people abandoned me, becoming angry. This was particularly evident on December 6, 1996, when the Babri Masjid was demolished. I advised Muslims not to protest, not to gather on the streets, and not to turn this issue into rallies or marches. This angered many people. I endured a difficult period that lasted for a few years. It felt as though I had become isolated. Some people passed away, others left me, and others became angry.

Naturally, I prayed for my mission of introducing the peaceful message of Islam to be revived, for companions to join me once again, and for the work to resume as it once was. However, it felt as though my prayers were not being answered. Because those who had become angry with me remained angry, none of them returned. Some passed away, some went elsewhere, and many good minds who had once been with me left me. I became alone.

In those times of loneliness, I used to read a poem, and I would like to share it with you.

The poem is titled The Last Rose of Summer, and it is written by the Irish poet, Thomas Moore, who died in 1852. This poem was translated by an Urdu poet. I used to read it.

The Last Rose of Summer

’Tis the last rose of summer,

Left blooming alone;

All her lovely companions

Are faded and gone;

No flower of her kindred,

No rosebud is nigh,

To reflect back her blushes,

Or give sigh for sigh!

I’ll not leave thee, thou lone one,

To pine on the stem;

Since the lovely are sleeping,

Go sleep thou with them.

Thus kindly I scatter

Thy leaves o’er the bed,

Where thy mates of the garden

Lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow,

When friendships decay,

And from Love’s shining circle

The gems drop away!

When true hearts lie wither’d,

And fond ones are flown,

Oh! who would inhabit

This bleak world alone?”

I used to read this poem with a strange pain, feeling like my role was over and that my prayers had not been accepted. Those who knew me back then know how difficult that time was for me. But much later, I realized that all my prayers had been accepted by God Almighty. This led to a great revolution in my life.

What was that revolution? It was the formation of my team. These people approached me with secular mentality and modern education. They started coming to me, and we had many interactions. A new way of thinking emerged in my mind: instead of Muslim-oriented, it became human oriented.

When I look back at the books I wrote at that time, in spite of my intention to address humanity, like the book Man Know Thyself, they still reflected a Muslim-oriented mindset.

The interaction with three people in particular led to rethinking, reassisting my thoughts, and re-engineering myself. Gradually, my thinking changed entirely. The Muslim-oriented mindset shifted to a Human-oriented mindset. This was a great revolution in my life. Before that, I was part of Muslim community work. Now, I am part of humanity at large, thinking about humankind as a whole.

If the prayers I used to make at that time had been accepted, I would have remained the same person. But instead of being accepted as they were, God redirected my work. The ‘Muslim-oriented mission’ was transformed into a ‘human-oriented mission’. A Prophetic Mission envisions all of humanity. A Prophet does not think in terms of any single community.

Consider the profound transformation this brought, which came about when my prayers, though heartfelt and sincere, were not accepted as I understood them. When you pray, even if it seems like you’ve poured your entire soul into it, and it still appears unanswered, don’t fall into frustration. Understand that God has indeed accepted your prayer and will respond in a far better way, just as it happened in my case.

Now, I believe that if I had died in that earlier state, I might have died a death of ignorance. That’s why I say three ‘angels’ came to me. Now, I understand that when I die, I will die while engaged in the Prophetic Mission, leaving you with a better legacy.

I would say, make prayer a part of your life, but never think or believe that if your prayer is fulfilled in the way you understand it, then it was a real prayer, and if it is not, then the prayer was wasted. This is not the case.

Now, I want to share something very important with you. Generally, people think that there are some printed books of Quranic supplications or Masnun Duas (Prophetic prayers), and they recite them by rote learning, considering that to be prayer. But that is not true prayer. That is mere lip service. If a person is sincere, they may receive some reward, but this is not the essence of true prayer.

What is true prayer? “When the door of supplication (dua) is opened for someone, the doors of mercy are opened for them.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi) What kind of prayer is this? Such a profound statement cannot refer to mere lip service.

If you memorize a few phrases and recite them, can that open the doors of blessings for you? Is that possible? That would be underestimating God’s mercy. To think that prayer is simply about repeating memorized phrases is to underestimate God. If you believe that prayer exists only to recite words, that is incorrect.

“When the door of prayer is opened for someone, the doors of blessings are opened for them.” What type of prayer is being referred to in this Hadith?

After considering this, I have understood that one type of prayer involves reciting memorized words. Second type of prayer arises naturally from your heart, triggered by specific situations. These prayers come from within you, bubbling up spontaneously. The second type of prayer, as mentioned in the Hadith, always originates from a particular point of reference. When a storm stirs within you, you spontaneously express it in words. One prayer is something memorized, while the other is something that naturally flows from the heart, triggered by a specific reference point.

This doesn’t mean we are equating ourselves with the prophets; rather, it’s a reference point that inspires heartfelt prayer.

It has been said in this Hadith that there are two types of prayer: one spoken with words and one that overflows from the heart. For a prayer to overflow from the heart, there must be a condition, situation, or point of reference that triggers it. Those who experience this kind of prayer have highly active minds and emotions that are easily stirred by different situations. As a result, their prayers naturally erupt from their hearts and flow from their lips.

This is the same prayer I mentioned earlier, the one that opens the doors of blessings. But how is it achieved, and who receives it? The most important condition is developing concentration. Your thoughts should not wander aimlessly, and you must protect yourself from distractions. The worst thing is distraction.

What is distraction? Distraction occurs when your focus is on one thing, but your mind wanders elsewhere. This diversion of time, money, and attention to unrelated matters can be seen in various situations. For instance, imagine you’re engrossed in a TV show, captivated by a story or gathering information. Suddenly, an advertisement interrupts, followed by a song, and your attention is diverted. This is a classic example of distraction.

Distractions aren’t limited to TV. In life, people often allow them to take over their lives. Take, for example, a scholar who had to deliver a speech at an event. He arrived late and, when asked why, explained that just as he was leaving, his child grabbed his feet and insisted on coming along. He got caught up trying to deal with the child, which was a distraction.

The doors of blessings will not be opened for those who are distracted.It’s important to avoid getting caught up in minor things. The doors of prayer open only for those who avoid excuses and don’t tolerate distractions. When you stay focussed, your concentration remains unbroken, and you can truly connect with God. Situations will always arise, but it’s crucial to seize them. A person whose focus is scattered will never be able to create a solid foundation for their prayers.

This morning, I woke up at 5 a.m. Everything was silent and still. Suddenly, the call to prayer rang out: “Allah-u-Akbar, Allah-u-Akbar—God is Great, God is Great.” The greatness of God is such that we cannot even see it through telescopes. No star or planet can say “Allah-u-Akbar”—only humans can. Humans have been given an incredible opportunity that nothing else in the universe has. No star, solar system, ocean, mountain, or planet can make prayer; they cannot establish direct contact with God. The only way to establish this direct connection is through prayer, and this ability is unique to humans. How amazing is this gift!

When you place your forehead on the ground in prostration (Sajda), a profound feeling takes over, as if your head is glued to the earth. Why? Only humans can bow down in prostration before God, placing their forehead on the ground, fully acknowledging His glory and greatness. This is something no other creation has been blessed with. Through prayer, humans can establish a direct connection with God—a truly extraordinary blessing, but only through sincere prayer.

What is true prayer? True prayer is not just memorized words. It is when your mind is so alive and aware that, in a meaningful situation, it creates a storm within you. Opportunities to connect with God arise again and again, but most people fail to seize them. What a great opportunity it is that the door of prayer has opened for you, and all the doors of mercy have been opened.

This is an immense opportunity—when the door of prayer opens, all the doors of God’s mercy open too. But this connection comes at a price. Without sincerity and effort, no one can receive this blessing. If you simply memorize prayers and repeat them day and night without understanding their significance, it’s unlikely your prayers will be accepted. The key to a prayer lies in possessing the right qualities.

1. Avoid distractions: Avoid letting your thoughts wander and stay focussed on one point. Such discussions can create internal turmoil.

2. Time: Pray at a time when you’re free and undisturbed.

3. Attention: Give your prayers your full attention.

4. Avoid letting your thoughts wander: Keep your focus on one point.

A story from around 800 years ago, as recounted in Al-Kamil Fi At-Tarikh by Ibn al-Athir, illustrates how prayers are answered.

During the reign of King Abdul Rahman, a powerful ruler of Andalusia, Spain, a severe drought struck. The land withered, and water became scarce for both humans and animals. The situation was dire. At that time, there was a respected Islamic scholar named Qazi Munzir. The king sent a messenger to Qazi Munzir, who was in the city of Cordoba.

The messenger informed the Qazi that the king was in distress due to the lack of rain and the drought. The Qazi asked, “What is the king himself doing in this state?” The messenger replied, “I’ve never seen the king in such distress. Today, he removed his crown and shoes and fell to the ground in prostration. He was crying and saying, ‘Oh my Lord, will You punish the people because of me, even though You are the most Merciful of all?’”

Qazi Munzir then said, “Go and bring rain with you. When the earthly king shows humility, the Heavenly King will show mercy and rain down His blessings.” When the soldier returned to the king, it had started to rain. The king, having put aside his pride and self-glory, descended to the lowest level of humility. He fell to the ground, weeping and praying, realizing that the distance between God and man is arrogance and self-glory.

The once-powerful king threw away his crown and humbled himself, reaching a state of true helplessness.

According to a Hadith, God says, “Pride is My cloak and majesty is My robe; whoever competes with Me regarding either of them, I shall throw him into the Hellfire.” (Sunan Ibn Majah) Arrogance and egoism are the thoughts that make you believe you are great.

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Spirit of Islam May-June 2025

THE ESSENCE OF PRAYING

THE ESSENCE OF PRAYING

THE ESSENCE OF PRAYING

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