Published on Aug 12 2010 by Nadimur Rahman

Hudhur gave a discourse on the requisites of acceptance of prayer. He recited verse 187 of Surah Al Baqarah at the start of the Friday Sermon today, its translation reads: ‘And when My servants ask thee about Me, say: ‘I am near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he prays to Me. So they should hearken to Me and believe in Me, that they may follow the right way.’ (2:187).

Hudhur said the aforementioned verse is cited in the Qur’an next to the commandment and details regarding fasting. This signifies that in order to become an Abd (servant) of God and to experience acceptance of prayer one is required to undergo the endeavour of spiritual exercise (mujahida) and fasting in Ramadan is a mujahida. Therefore, believers should fast with this insight and with full awareness of the requisites of fasting. God is not interested in man’s starvation or apparent worship. Thus, aforementioned verse makes the acceptance of supplicant conditional; it does not state that the call of anyone will be listened instantly or regardless of what is the condition of the person. It is thus stated ‘…they should hearken to Me…’ and ‘…believe in Me…’. Hudhur said this commandment is for Muslims, yet it states belief. Explaining, he said a single verbal declaration does not comprise ‘belief’, rather there should be development of faith and one should move towards sincere piety, then alone would one be guided and would attain the status of a true believer. It is also stated ‘…that they may follow the right way …’, moving towards true piety and searching perfection in guidance.

Hudhur said the ways of how to hearken to God after hearing His commandment are explained in the Holy Qur’an, which is a collection of guidance, in which it is stated in the very beginning; ‘This is a perfect Book; there is no doubt in it; it is a guidance for the righteous,’ (2:3). Hudhur further expounded that for those who search for guidance, who wish to strengthen their belief in God, attain the heights of piety and wish that their prayers are accepted there is no other way but to turn to the perfect Qur’an. In this Book are all the ways taught by God to accomplish one’s life in this world and the Hereafter. We find the examples of these ways in the blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) whose life was a living example of all the excellent teachings of the Qur’an. God states: ‘Verily you have in the Prophet of Allah an excellent model, for him who fears Allah and the Last Day and who remembers Allah much.’ (33:22). All that is cited in the aforementioned verse is acceptable if effort is made to adopt the blessed model of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Adopting his blessed model is in compliance with the verse 2:187, for only ‘servants’ of God would ask the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) about gaining nearness to God and it is God’s commandment to follow the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

Hudhur said a Muslim cannot imagine following anyone else’s model. If there is any other model for believers it is of the Companions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) who were perfectly obedient to him. In the current age it is the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who taught us new ways of understanding the Qur’an and to totally lose ourselves in ardent love of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). There could not be another perfect Abd of God until the end of time that could attain the standard of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). God thus said to His perfect Abd that those who gathered around him and asked about God should be told that He is near but attainment of this nearness requires keen insight of spiritual knowledge and for this they have to look to God’s beloved.

Read Full Summary...