Bilal Siddiqui's Blog

Salah – Ascension through Submission

I feel myself drifting from this Earth,
As I stare down at my feet,
And the world fades to nothingness.
To the sunrise I face,
My surroundings lose their worth,
A feeling beyond word.

Motionless I stand,
My heartbeat and breathing, calm,
I have departed from this time and space.
Desire for this land,
And the money in one’s palm,
Are nothing worth the chase.

I raise my hands and call,
A call of exaltation,
Words that have echoed through the ages.
My arms relax and fall,
And fold in preparation,
As I speak the words of ancient sages.

I bow towards the East,
My face parallel with the soil,
To which one day I will return.
I stand and face the East,
My hands released from their coil,
I gaze upon His creation, with no concern.

My body descends to the ground,
My forehead and nose press to its warmth,
My end beneath me, above it I wait.
Motionless, I yearn to be found,
By He who provides me with warmth,
To Him, I bow and prostrate.

I sit on the Earth that supports me,
For I am unworthy; if I stand I will fall,
I sit and I submit as my duty.
I raise my finger in testimony,
To the oneness of He whom I call,
And His greatest creation.

I turn my head to my right,
I turn my head to my left,
Each time, wishing peace.
The world returns to my sight,
And I sit there, bereft,
As the worldly desires will never cease.

But at this moment, I sit to atone,
With a brother by my side,
And a hundred more all around.
I am comforted for I know I am not alone,
We have all made this decision,
Through submission, I hope to be found.

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Descrption:

In week five of class lecture, we discussed important Muslim piety and ritual practices including the five pillars. One of the most significant pillars of Islam illustrated in the poetic composition above is the daily Salah or ritual prayer. After doing some reading into the details of Salah, I have learned Muslims pray Salah five times daily at distinct times – at dawn, immediately after noon, in the mid-afternoon, at sunset, and at night. In Salah, Muslims attempt to enhance their connection with Allah to the highest degree, to the point as if they are standing and speaking before him in submission. Through this state of submission towards Allah, the troubles and endeavors of this world become trivial; nothing comes close in comparison to the feeling of devotion and yearning during Salah. Unlike other forms of prayer, Salah is very structured and each position in the course of the prayer must have proper etiquette and procedure. As illustrated in this poem, the one performing Salah must have the proper intention of cutting ties with the physical world and enhancing the spiritual connection with Allah. Earthly desires diminish and the spiritual connection grows deeper as he/she recites verses of the Quran throughout the prayer. It is imperative to note from the poem that not only does the mind of the Muslim perform Salah, the body does so as well as demonstrated by: the raising of the hands at the start of the prayer and subsequently letting them fall and relax, standing motionless with a calm heartbeat, pressing one’s forehead on the ground in submission, as well as lifting one finger in testifying tawhid (oneness of Allah). Although it may appear outwardly simplistic, Salah is collaboration of both mind and body to profess one’s piety in the highest of regards. For it is a common Muslim belief that Salah is the most direct connection to Allah and through it may come forgiveness and ultimately salvation.