AN APPEAL TO THE HEART

~ 47 ~ Prayer also has psychological and social values; one can see the effects in economic, social and political life. The essence of prayer is to bow down one’s head before God, and with one’s heart, utter these words: “God, I have become yours, and you become mine.” Sparing time for the propagation of religion constitutes the third part of one’s mission. People commonly misunderstand the word Chilla, which means forty days. It is nothing but a period fixed for training and being trained, and is fixed as the maximum time for one stint of outdoor missionary activity at a time. There is nothing mysterious or ritualistic about it. When one finds the truth, it is but natural to feel the urge to impart that treasure to one’s brethren. This urge is manifested in one’s willingness to spare time—even if it involves forty days—leaving all activities aside. One who has discovered the truth will not rest content with just being a true Muslim himself, but will want to announce it to the whole world. Such a mental state arising from a desire to reform all that comes in its path, takes on practical shape in the form of Chilla.