If this is your last Rak’a, then we have arrived at the Farewell Scene… the sweet ending to this beautiful meeting between a servant and his Merciful Lord. We have arrived at The Tashahhud. Our hands are to be placed upon our knees or just above on the lower thighs. As is proper when speaking to Our Lord, our farewell address must also begin first, by sending all praise and glorification to Allah, for His eternal existence, His perfection, and His sovereignty. Greet Him directly; speak to Him with these beautiful words: “Attahiyyatu lillahi”.
All “Attahiyyat” (greetings/praises/glorification) is due to Allah alone and no one else.
“Wassalawatu”- and all our duaas and prayers are to Him.
“Wattayyibat”- and all the good deeds, in the form of actions or words, are for Him alone. For Allah accepts only what is good, pure, and sincere.
“Assalamu alaika ayyuha-nnabiyyu warahmatullahi wabarakatuh”- May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you, O Prophet!
Everyday, you send this special greeting to him and he answers you back! Listen to this hadeeth: The Prophet sallallahu alaihe wassallam said, “There is not one who sends upon me his peace and blessings but Allah returns my soul to me, so that I can return upon him, my peace and blessings.”
How many of us have wished to have lived during his time, to see him and to be with him… With these words above, we are with him! So let us greet our prophet with a heart full of affection and full of appreciation and gratitude for the best example he has set and for this priceless message he has brought to us. And while we reflect over how much love and esteem we hold for him, let us remember that we are now sitting in the hands of The One who created our Prophet and how much love we hold
for Allah Himself- Whom as a result of your greetings and peace upon His prophet, now sends upon you a ten-fold share of the blessings and peace!
After sending off praise and greetings upon Allah, then upon His Prophet, we now send the blessings of peace upon ourselves and upon all of Allah’s righteous servants:
“Assalamu alaina wa ala ibadillahi-saaliheen”- upon every righteous servant whether in the heavens or earth- angel or man.
Next- those powerful words of Tawheed- those words that affirm and renew our faith and sincerity: “Ashhadu anna la ilaha illa-llah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh”- I bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. The Prophet sallallahu alaihe wassallam tells us, “The one whose last words (in this life) are “La ilaha illallah”, enters Paradise.” This is no time to drift! These words of affirmation above are the key to paradise!
Finally, as this beautiful meeting nears its end, Allah has guaranteed that in these last precious moments you have with Him, your duaas made here are answered! So first, ask for Allah’s prayers and blessings upon our beloved prophet and his family, seek much forgiveness for yourself and for your parents, then ask The Most-Gracious, Most-Merciful the best of this life and the best of the next. Try to learn the prayers (duaas) that the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wassallam used to say, as they cover every possible need we could ever have.
As you end your prayer and turn your head to the right in Salam upon those with you, you should be feeling a deep sense of comfort, peace and serenity now. If you don’t, then your deeds are to blame, as they weigh down and numb the heart and distance you from your Lord. Seek Allah’s forgiveness for the deficiency in your Salah at least 3 times upon its completion, and stand up for Sunnah prayer- for another chance to attain that needed peace that only Allah can supply.
And always remember, as your love for Allah grows and grows and as you draw nearer to Him, your heart will begin to come alive with the due humbleness before Him, your focus will improve, and finally, you will be able to taste the true beauty of Salah!
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