Our homes have a room dedicated to every function of our physical being: a place to prepare food, a place to eat food, a place to sleep, etc. When it comes to prayer, however, we have been largely affected by modernist thinkers into praying "anywhere" (obviously, if we are out and we need to pray we honour the time and pray wherever we are) without acknowledgement that not all places are created equal.
We should likewise have a place dedicated to worship. A sacred space free of distractions, heedlessness, and the day -to-day of life. A space where we go to pray our salah, make dhikr, and have seclusion ('uzla).
The space should ideally not be too large. We should fragrance it with bukhoor.
After some time, the difference between that space and other spaces in the home will be palpable. And the quality of your prayers when made there will also be palpable!
Having done this in all the homes we've lived in over the years, we have seen that even those who are unaware of the purpose of that space feel the difference. Even non-Muslims have commented on the feeling of peace there or said it feels "zen".
BEAUTIFUL!
ReplyDeleteIbn 'Arabi says that when people spend years in their sacred spaces, they themselves will become holy and sanctified, and they themselves will become sacred "spaces" and "places" for others to visit and benefit from. Awliya', Masha'Allah. That is why, the highest form of 'Islamic art' is the wali him or herself, chiseld as they are in the image of the Divine.
Allah!