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In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and may He exalt the mention of His slave and messenger Muhammad,
along with his family's and companions'.
To proceed.
"How to Taste the Sweetness of Prayer"
A question - whereby searching for it's answer I have experienced some of the best days of my life.
And each time I tasted a certain sweetness, I found it to be sweeter than the one before it.
I would delve into a certain subject within 'the sweetness of the prayer'
and realise that what came after it would be more profound.
It is amazing that the sensation was also different.
Thereafter I decided to discuss these feelings with my friends,
And they had found that which I had found.
A group of us were collectively studying how to gain the sweetness of prayer,
I decided to observe them while they prayed.
By God, I noticed in their facial expressions a different life, unlike ours.
Whilst observing them I was convinced that something in them had changed.
There was no doubt that they had felt the same feelings, as we did.
And I am convinced that you too can attain these feelings if you follow the same steps.
And I am convinced that you too, sister, will also attain the same feelings
if you follow the same steps.
I used to think that this matter might have been exaggerated,
or that they were only stories about the earlier righteous Muslims.
And that it was unlikely that they occur in our time.
But as the days passed, I realised that I had indeed been wrong.
By God, it is not an exaggeration or anything of that sort,
and everyone can attain this pleasure...only if they have knowledge of the secrets.
Humbleness and submission in prayer is not only for those have beards,
or for those who are more religious, or only for the sisters that wear hijab.
No, but rather every Muslim can attain this sweetness.
And we have seen people who such levels of concentration in prayer are not expected from,
yet they are in such concentration
as if they are performing the last prayer in their life.
And this is from the blessings of Allah, Who gives to whom He wills.
I know, by God, I know that which you want.
By God, I know that you want to feel khushu'(humility/reverence) in prayer.
I know that you would like for these thoughts and worries to end, so that you may feel the pleasure of worship.
You desire that prayer be a comforting break, away from work and daily problems.
I know this, by God.
Humbleness in prayer and the tranquility that comes with it is something that every Muslim hopes for.
And my goal is that you attain this wish.
"Certainly will the believers have succeeded:
They who are during their prayer humbly submissive" (Surat Al-Mu'minun: 1-2)
In this program we have gathered numerous different experiences
after many hours of studying the subject: "How to Taste the Sweetness of Prayer"
And we have repeated this course in more than just one country.
In a single lecture there would be 25,000 practicing Muslims.
Together we would learn the secrets of prayer and khushu'(humility/reverence) therein.
And after the course we would carry out a survey.
We were surprised to hear that over 90% of the participants had experienced a change in their prayer.
We did not imagine that the course would affect people at such a scale,
except that they were thirsty (to learn) about this subject.
Our goal is greater than just removing the lack of attention (during prayer).
We want to pass through certain feelings during prayer.
Not only the feeling of having a conscious heart.
No, that is the first depth
but there are depths much deeper than this.
And we know that after each episode you will taste the different secrets unveiled in each episode.
And the one who attains this will find that their prayer is sweeter than their previous prayer, just the day before.
I am not exaggerating - this is indeed the reality.
This is something that has occurred to many people and we have witnessed it with our own eyes.
We'll show you a recorded piece of what happened.
Stay tuned ...
This program does not only talk about attaining khushu'(humility/reverence) in general, and that's it.
No, rather it has to do with the sweetness of each and every prayer.
For example, the Fajr (dawn) prayer has its own taste.
Praying during the night (after 'Isha) has its own taste.
As well as the prayer of istikhara (seeking guidance), will have it's own episode.
What should we feel when we are in the mosque?
How should our interaction with the mosque be?
How do we attain khushu'(humility/reverence) during the dhikr after each prayer?
This enemy of yours who disturbs you during prayer, how do you disarm him?
We will look at these in future episodes.
Shall I tell you more?
Each part of the prayer will have its own manner to attaining khushu' (humility/reverence) therein.
Because khushu' (humility/reverence) is not only in the prayer itself.
It is also before the prayer.
Yes, khushu' begins before it. Have you ever felt it while performing wudhu' (ablution)?
While wiping over your socks, have you felt khushu'? When one reaches a level where they feel khushu' in these things,
by God this is a speciality.
There is something that Ibn Qayyim has called "Companionability/Intimacy with Allah."
So that a person has a very close relationship with God.
Have we ever tried this?
By God, I do not think it is unlikely that the moments you spend in prayer can be the sweetest moments of your day.
These words are not some kind of marketing, or examples out of imagination.
They are true and realistic.
and I have witnessed them with my own two eyes
in men and women who reached high levels of happiness in their lives.
When learning about these secrets, their prayers became much more beautiful.
Even after their prayer.
One of the sisters said: "I did not think I would reach this level."
"I did not think I could feel khushu' in prayer."
However with the blessings of Allah, this has been fulfilled.
These are her words, not mine.
If you wish to be further convinced, listen to what they had to say.
The program "How to Taste the Sweetness of Prayer" is a program that everyone needs to watch regularly,
because in learning about various matters, indeed a person can sense the meaning and sweetness of prayer.
I began to sense the greatness of this matter (the prayer).
And from that day, my prayer became something that I might lengthen and not feel it.
I could be in the mosque, the Imam would prolong the prayer and recite a verse
and I would begin to meditate around it.
Unlike before where I would join the congregation in the last rak'at just to complete the prayer hastily. So there is a great difference.
We were surprised to learn that this act of worship, there are are so many values in it, and signs, which require that one take their time with it.
And we learned the true meaning of sujood (prostration) and rukoo' (bowing),
and we feel the presence of Allah, the Most High.
And these were feelings that cannot be described.
And they have brought about a big change
in that a person may now question themselves "I have been praying all these years, what have I been doing?"
Truth be told, I would say that before this program
When I would pray, I would ask myself "Did I recite al-Fatiha or not?"
Was I concentrated in my prayer or not?
Often I would go back and re-read al-Fatiha
because of my lack of concentration in it,
and in fact, lack of preparation before entering the prayer.
However, now the prayer has become something I can better prepare for, and there is more concentration in it.
By God, we have gained a lot from this program.
Praise be to God.
Because I did not read - so praise be to God, that there are people who produce such programs.
Praise be to God, that we have been able to benefit this much.
In the beginning we did not even know how to pray properly.
Since we began following the program, praise be to God.
I realised I had been far from the truthful understanding of the five pillars of Islam.
It was like listening to them for the first time.
How it became that that prayer was not merely movements and recitation of the Qur'an.
But I moved to a different type of dimension,
Where I could connect with Allah the Most High,
with my heart and soul more so than with my movements.
It is very difficult to explain the value of the change that has occurred.
Immediately right after the program's end, or even during the program,
I began to feel that my prayer had changed completely
and it was as if I was praying for the first time in my life.
After listening to the lectures and using the methods explained in the program,
it is very difficult for one to imagine the happiness they will achieve
in every prayer and in connecting with Allah.
They are priceless moments.
For a person to reach one rak'ah wherein they are truly connected with Allah
is better than this world and what is in it.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I could have prepared beautiful words and statements,
but I have chosen not to do this.
I have decided to speak from my heart so that the words may reach your hearts.
Your hearts, which are the focus of our attention during these episodes.
Your hearts, which are in front of me every day. I do not want anything from these hearts except one thing.
That our hearts may be content and pleased with their Lord.
Hearts which live in this world as if they are in Paradise.
As the Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:
"In this world there is a Paradise - whoever does not enter it, does not enter the Paradise of the hereafter."
By God, you don't know how happy it makes me to be here standing before you.
By God, I have no other intention, except that you taste the sweetness of prayer
and be happy therein.
Brothers and sisters, perhaps now I do not see you,
but I sense a strong connection between us.
And I feel as though I am sitting in your midst.
It is only because of Allah that you are here watching this
Yes. We have not gathered, you and I, dear brother and dear sister,
we have not gathered for anything else, other than to gain the pleasure of God almighty.
And I wish that with each episode that we conclude, Allah's love for us is more than before.
Some of the righteous people have said:
"The poor inhabitants of this world! They lived on earth and did not taste the best of things therein."
They said: "What is the best therein?"
They said: "The love of Allah, Intimacy with Allah and Yearning for Him."
We have come together like this not knowing each other before.
So I will not hide that I am hopeful we will meet on the Day of Judgment.
Happy and joyful, perhaps under the Throne of Allah.
Perhaps at the hawd (fountain of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
Perhaps in al-Firdaws (highest level of Paradise).
I don't know.
However, with the permission of Allah we will meet.
And we will talk about the days of this world and how our prayers changed.
And how we implemented the secrets of prayer.
I am optimistic about this.
I hope in the mercy of Allah, Who has said:
"I am as My servant thinks I am, so let him think what he wills."
By God, our Lord these are our thoughts about You.
We hope that you will make us happy in this world with your Taqwa (God consciousness, piety)
and that you will make us of those humbled in prayer, as if we can see You.
So that in our meeting on the Day of Judgment You will say to us:
"No fear shall come upon you this Day, nor shall you grieve"
"Enter it, in peace and security."
Brothers and sisters, whoever desires to hear these words from their Lord:
"Enter it, in peace and security."
then let them work for it, so that these words are actualized on the day of Judgment.
Now we are in this world, and what would you think of collaborating together for something so precious
that is not found with most people.
The sweetness of prayer.
And I'm certain that Allah will grant us this.
However, allow us to begin. So let us begin.
There is a path to attain khushu' in the prayer, which is a secret from amongst the secrets of prayer.
I have not proposed it to anyone except that they attained khushu' in their prayer. Up to this day.
I have not seen anyone whose prayer did not change after they began implementing it.
Be it a man or a woman.
In fact, if they forgot to practice it, they would return to it.
This is the secret of khushu'.
This path is the secret of khushu'.
So what is the secret of khushu'?
Join us in the next episode...