Although I understand the broader point sharghzadeh was trying to make, his post was still inappropriate. Directly or indirectly, it’s still a jab at ‘Omar رضي الله عنه and I felt that a response was warranted.
@sharghzadeh May Allah be pleased with Umar bin Khattab. He was the greatest thing to ever happen to Iran. Before that, they were merely fuel for the fire. From Iran came some of the giants of Islam all due to Umar’s efforts.
Tarāwīḥ
One of the bizarre experiences in North America, and it seems, in many places in the Muslim world as well, is the festivalization of Tarāwīḥ.
The proper recitation of the Qur'ān has a mesmerizing and rapturous effect on the heart, mind and body. It is literally a Shifā, or a cure for every disease.
So the reason I find Tarāwīḥ to be bizarre in so many places, is that people do anything and everything except for post up and listen to the Qur'ān.
Don't get me wrong, I'm about impious and spiritually distracted as anyone else. However, when I old school force myself to stand still, even if I have to drag myself to the place of prayer, it doesn't take but a few minutes until the thoughts cross my mind that the words being read are so eloquent and righteous that they could not have come from anyone but Allāh. Believing that the Qur'ān is the Eternal and Uncreated Speech of the Lord in a creedal declaration is one thing: bearing witness to its effect again and again, in a world in which novelty triggers dopamine and repetition triggers boredom, and that as well, when enjoying a person to do precisely all those things that the ego loathes, is nothing short of a miracle.
Alḥamdulillāh, for the blessings of Ramaḍān, the Qur'ān, fasting, prayer & grace. Allāh Ta'ālā Himself is the treasure of treasures, may He be our gift this Ramaḍān and may he accept us as His...
(Some images of Tarāwīḥ at Ribāṭ this year.)
Whenever i am having a problem that just wont go away, i pray 2 raka’h for salat al haajah (prayer of need) and recite the dua’ that Imam Nawawi recommended in kitab al adhkaar from Sunan Al Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah and the problem alhamdulilah goes away :’)
فالله موجود قبل الزمان والمكان وهو خالق المكان والزمان ولا يحتاج إلى الزمان ولا إلى المكان، فهو موجود بلا كيف ولا مكان ولا يجري عليه زمان، لا يقال متى كان وكيف ولا أين ولا يقال في كل مكان، بل يقال الله موجود بلا كيف ولا مكان ولا يجري عليه زمان.
You must persevere with maintaining your humility throughout it for it “precludes indecency and wrongdoing” (Quran 29:45) through the humility you bring to it. And seek help from Allah. He is the best of helpers.
يقول الإمام الأخضري:
للصلاة نور عظيم تشرق به قلوب المصلين ولا يناله إلا الخاشعون.
فإذا أتيت إلى الصلاة ففرغ فلبك من الدنيا وما فيها، واشتغل بمراقبة مولاك الذي تصلي لوجهه وأعتقد أنّ الصلاة خشوع وتواضع لله سبحانه بالقيام والركوع والسجود وإجلال وتعظيم له بالتكبير والتسبيح والذكر
So take great care of your prayer. It is the greatest of acts of worship. Do now allow Shaytān to play with your heart and distract you from your prayer, so that he obliterates it and deprives you of the pleasure of the lights of the prayer.