THE SPIRIT OF SALATH (PRAYER

What is Paradise? A verse in the Quran tells us about the people of Paradise: “Whoever obeys God and the Messenger will be among those He has blessed: the messengers, the truthful, the witnesses, and the righteous. What excellent companions these are!” (4: 67). Paradise is a society of people of the best character from the whole of human history. The present world is meant for training in the development of a character that makes one deserving of Paradise. At one place in the Quran it is said that Prophet Moses urged God in these words: “My Lord, show Yourself to me so that I may look at You.” (7: 143). These words of Moses speak of the desire of every human being. Moses said these words on behalf of all humanity. Every person has the deep yearning to see God, the Creator who created them. Just as a father longs to see his son, similarly a human being has an even greater wish to directly observe and speak to the One who created him. Paradise will be the place where this desire in every human being shall be fulfilled. The Prophet said that the people of Paradise will be enjoying the blessings God bestowed on them. Then God will manifest Himself and on beholding God’s glory and majesty, they will forget all the blessings they had been enjoying. Paradise is a place where we will get to see and talk to God. Paradise is a place to meet God. This is a place where people will meet God, reside in His neighbourhood and have the companionship of the best people from all of human race. This is why the Quran says: “And vie with one another for your Lord’s forgiveness and for a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, which has been prepared for the God-fearing.” (3: 133) Paradise has been promised to a person who prays (salath). We should know that if our prayer has to make us eligible for the Paradise described above, it has to be a prayer which elevates the person to the loftiest level of character befitting to be in the neighbourhood of God. o