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Dr
Fiaz Hussain, Director of "Dawah and Welfare Office",
for the UK Islamic Mission
My
favourite spiritual place must be the prayer mat. I believe it’s
a direct connection between myself and our creator, God Almighty.
When
I put the prayer mat down on the floor I have a direct line to talk
to God about issues that concern me, problems that I have and my
wants and needs as a human being.
All
Muslims throughout the world use a prayer mat. Whenever we pray
we have this direct line.
Of
course this is not exclusive to Muslims, I believe that if anyone
wants to talk to God, then God is there and He’s always listening
to us and He wants to hear from us.
Indeed,
the saying of the Prophet "Peace be upon you" is such
that when all other doors are closed in the night, God’s doors
are open and they’re open wide, so whatever we want or need,
whatever requirement we have God listens and God does provide.
I also
believe, as a Muslim, that the earth as a whole is a big prayer
mat.
In
other words, wherever I am, whether I’m in the Sahara Desert
or whether I am amidst the greenery of England, when I want to pray
or have a need to pray, I look towards God and simply place my prayer
mat on the ground and start praying.
It
is an opportunity to thank our Lord; to thank God for everything
that He has given me – and for the countless bounties that
he’s provided for us all.
There
are various designs for a prayer mat, but it’s always rectangular
in shape and typically there are pictures of two or three holy places
in Islam woven into the fabric: the Mosques in Mecca and in Medina,
Saudi Arabia and the Mosque in Jerusalem.
Other
designs are geometric, like triangles, squares, circles that beautify
the prayer mats. Having said that, the prayer mat should not distract
the person from communicating with God – some are totally plain
in black or white.
The
prayer mat is used to signify a place of cleanliness. When I pray
I need to go through some actions like bowing and prostration so
that when I do put my forehead on the ground, it is clean.
I am in a state of cleanliness.
As
a Muslim, I need to be clean, my body, my clothes, quite clearly
where I stand, kneel and where I prostrate, that needs to be clean
– because God loves those who are clean.
When
you stand on the prayer mat you stand before God Almighty, in the
Kingdom of God Almighty and you don’t communicate with anyone
except God. A Prayer mat, in fact, signifies to the world that you
recognise there is a Creator, that there is a Lord. The designs
that are on the prayer mat acknowledge this too.
I place
my prayer mat on the ground five times a day – that is a must
for an adult, not just because I’m a human being and I have
shortcomings but also to thank and be grateful to God Almighty.
Praying is a continuous process. We can pray at any time of day
– the doors of God are always open 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, 365 days a year.
Whenever
I need God, God is there. I put my prayer mat down to indicate that
I want to talk to God and no one else.
See
other favourite spiritual places >>
| camille,
Bahamas |
Sunday,
19-Jun-2005 02:49:07 BST |
|
| For
Kathy: "nor will people say 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,'
because the kingdom of God is within you." - Luke 17:21 (NIV)
|
| kathy,
richmond |
Monday,
16-May-2005 04:27:59 BST |
|
| could
someone e-mail the whole verse of the kingdom of god is inside
you or where i could find this this is a message that has been
weighing on my heart please help |
| Ibrahim
Jamali, London |
Thursday,
01-Jul-2004 10:30:26 BST |
|
| HE
is closer to you than your Jugular vein. Yes that one-to-one
relationship with the Almighty is free of boundries and venues.
Bravo! Dr Fiaz for a well chosen spiritual place as it shows
us a glimpse of the convenience and ease to stay in touch with
the mightiest super power. To be a part of that communique'
all we need is the will to be with HIM, a clean place to stand
on and a humble & thankful heart. As every single place we stand
on is God's territory so a place of worship cannot be dependent
on bounds and confines. |
| Adnan
Masood, Los Angeles |
Wednesday,
30-Jun-2004 03:47:46 BST |
|
| The
kingdom of God is inside you and all around you Not in mansions
made from wood and stone Split a piece of wood and I am there
Lift a stone and you will find me I appreciate the way Dr. Fiaz
expressed his views on establishing connection with Almighty.
Loving God depicts a relationship which exists beyond borders
and has no boundaries. A sheer simple piece of cloth says it
all. Thanks for such a nice column Doc. |
|
Jo Coleman in The Dappled Garden
