Prayer (Salat

will” (3:37). Clearly, we are dealing here with spiritual experiences which cannot be categorized and listed. Nevertheless, the Quran has described some of the signs of the state of remembrance. 1. The thought of God is so all-pervasive that every event serves to remind one of Him: In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are signs for men of sense; those that remember God when standing, sitting and lying down, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth saying: ‘Lord, You have not created all this without purpose. (3:191) 2. One is so overwhelmed by the greatness of God that the hairs of one’s body stand on end: The skins of those who fear their Lord tremble for fear of Him. (39:23) 3. Mention of God fills one with awe: The true believers are those whose hearts are filled with awe at the mention of God (8:2). 4. One weeps on hearing the word of God: When they listen to that which was revealed to the Prophet, you will see their eyes fill with tears as they recognize its truth (5:83). The true believers have always followed the Quranic edict: “Fortify yourselves with patience and prayer” (2:45). Hudhaifa tells how the Prophet, in times of distress, would get up and pray. Likewise, when the great theologian, Ibn Taimiyya, was unable to solve some problems, he would go to some desolate mosque, cast himself before God and pray: “Teacher of Abraham, teach me.” Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud once said: As long as you are praying, you are knocking on the Lord’s door. And whoever knocks on His door will have the door opened to him (Abu Nu‘aim). For the true believer, prayer is an oasis in the desert of life. When one is blessed with this state of prayer, it becomes the dearest thing one has in life. The Prophet once said: Prayer is the balm of my eyes (Nasa‘i).