Fifthly: Folding of the hands during the Qiyaam: This is a manifestation from among the manifestations of humility and defeat in front of the Deity in Truth. Among its implications are subservience to the divine commandments in that one does not move except when commanded and one is not at ease or quiescence except when commanded. Whoever sought this position of worship for a few moments and after that lets loose the reigns of his soul then he wanders/trespasses (while ignorant of Allah's rulings) into the greatest of matters (i.e. sins) and he has fallen into a type of deception.

Sixthly: Khushoo': This is a position of total and extreme submissiveness and humility in front of the Deity in Truth and the quiescence/tranquillity of the heart and the limbs. One does not move except where commanded and is not at ease except where commanded. It is an obligation in action due to the necessity of obedience and the abandonment of disobedience to the Deity in Truth. Whoever discharges this obligation during the prayer then contradicts it (behaves otherwise) upon departing from the prayer he has caused diminution/annulment of (his Khushoo') to the extent of his disobedience.

Seventhly: Whatever is repeated in every raka' from among the obligations and covenants in speech such as the repetition of his praises, requesting of guidance to the straight path, the path of those who have blessings bestowed upon them, not of those upon whom is anger and they are the Jews and whoever is like them, nor of those who are astray and they are the Christians and whoever resembles them, and the likes of what is said in the tashahhud and the meanings of the various verses and supplications that are repeated in the prayer: in summary, every movement, every moment of ease, every statement and every action during the prayer, be it an obligation, covenant, resolution or confession from the worshipper in front of his Master and Deity in Truth, which he repeats in every raka', whether it is in the obligatory or supererogatory, makes free his heart, tongue, limbs and feelings from associating partners with Allah. He is a muslim, in submission to Him. He gives for His sake, takes for his sake, acts for His sake, abandons for His sake. He loves for his sake and hates for His sake. The proof for this truth is the saying of Allah (Azzawajall)

{And establish the prayer. Verily the prayer prevents the obscene and evil deeds}[2]

and the saying of the Messenger (sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam}:

"The example of the five prayers is as the example of an abundant flowing river by the side of the door of one of you. He washes every day from it five times."[3]

Therefore know - brother/sister reader - the position and importance of your prayer and establish as it should be truly established and gain happiness from it as Allah desires for you. I ask Allah that he assists us all and has mercy upon us, verily He is the All Hearer, the Responder.

FOOTNOTES

1. Reported by [At-Tirmidhi] no. 2501 and [Ibn Majah] no. 4251 and [Ad- Daarimee] 2/303 and [Ahmad] 3/198 with a hasan sanad from Anas bin Malik.

2. Surah Ankabut 29:45