In the gathering held in Rotterdam on 25 August 2023, Ayberk Efendi reminded us that prayer is far more than a routine—it is the very heartbeat of our relationship with Allah. He painted a cosmic picture: eight billion souls inhabit this world, and each sincere prostration unlocks a share of an immeasurable bounty stored in the Divine Treasury. The angels act as diligent couriers, preparing these rewards like precious gifts that are offered to every soul who bows humbly before the Creator.
Ayberk Efendi emphasized that even a two‑rak‘ah prayer carries a value beyond any worldly calculation. The Prophet ﷺ taught that the merit of standing and bowing in devotion far exceeds material pursuits, a truth echoed in the teachings of Caliph ʿUmar. When a heart sincerely declares “Allāhu Akbar” or sends forth the greeting of peace, the heavens respond with an outpouring of blessings that cannot be measured.
From this spiritual reality emerged practical counsel for daily life. For those who find it difficult to keep up with the five daily prayers, we were encouraged to preserve at least two rak‘ahs of the dawn (sabah) prayer before leaving home. Likewise, anyone habitually missing the congregational Friday prayer should strive to attend, because each missed salat represents a moment where a divine gift remains unclaimed. Ultimately, Allah will ask us how we guarded the moments of worship He bestowed upon us, and our answer lies in the sincerity of our prostrations.
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