Ninth Word Fifth Point Seeking Refuge Through The Night Prayer And The Levels Of Fatiha

Thus, at nightfall, man's spirit, which is infinitely impotent and weak, and infinitely poor and needy, and plunged into the infinite darkness of the future, and tossed around amid innumerable events, performs the 'Isha prayer, which has this meaning: like Abraham, man says: " لَٓا اُحِبُّ الْاٰفِل۪ينَ I love not those that set" (6:76), and with the prayers seeks refuge at the court of an Undying Object of Worship, an Eternal Beloved, and in this transient world and fleeting life and dark world and black future he supplicates One Who is Enduring and Everlasting, and for a moment of unending conversation, a few seconds of immortal life, he asks to receive the favours of the All-Merciful and Compassionate One's mercy and the light of His guidance, which will strew light on his world and illuminate his future and bind up the wounds resulting from the departure and decline of all creatures and friends.

Temporarily man forgets the hidden world, which has forgotten him, and pours out his woes at the court of mercy with his weeping, and whatever happens, before sleeping - which resembles death - he performs his last duty of worship. And in order to close favourably the daily record of his actions, he rises to pray; that is to say, he rises to enter the presence of an Eternal Beloved and Worshipped One in place of all the mortal ones he loves, of an All-Powerful and Generous One in place of all the impotent creatures from which he begs, of an All-Compassionate Protector so as to be saved from the evil of the harmful beings before which he trembles.

He starts with the Sura al-Fatiha, that is, instead of praising and being obliged to defective, wanting creatures, for which they are not suited, he extols and offers praise to "The Sustainer of All the Worlds," Who is Absolutely Perfect and Utterly Self-Sufficient and Most Compassionate and All-Generous. Then he progresses to the address: " اِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ You alone do we worship!" That is, despite man's smallness, insignificance, and aloneness, through his connection with "The Owner of the Day of Judgement," Who is the Sovereign of Pre-Eternity and Post-Eternity, he attains to a rank whereat he is an indulged guest in the universe and a high-ranking official. Declaring: " اِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَ اِيَّاكَ نَسْتَع۪ينُ You alone do we worship and from You alone do we seek help!", he presents to Him in the name of all creatures the worship and calls for assistance of the mighty congregation and huge community of the universe. Then saying: " اِهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَق۪يمَ Guide us to the Straight Path," he asks to be guided to the Straight Path, which leads to eternal happiness and is the luminous way.