The First Worship to Be Questioned About | Fethullah Gulen

What will be the first act for which humanity will stand in Divine Judgment? In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the profound truth that the first worship to be questioned about is salah, the prescribed prayer — the pulse of faith and the pillar of religion. Through Qur’anic insights and Prophetic narrations, we reflect on how this sacred act shapes a believer’s destiny, illuminates their heart, and becomes their companion in the eternal journey beyond the grave.

Salah is not a mere ritual; it is the believer’s daily ascension, a moment of intimacy with the Creator, and the truest reflection of faith in action. Abandoning it, therefore, is not simply neglecting a duty but weakening the very foundation of belief. The Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, regarded those who failed in prayer with deep concern, for they understood that the strength of one’s faith mirrors the constancy of one’s salah.

Drawing upon the Qur’anic verses that link prayer with charity and moral integrity, this episode reveals how salah refines the soul while fostering social harmony. We also contemplate the awe-inspiring scenes of the Hereafter, where one’s prayers will stand as intercessors and protectors, and where the absence of them will expose the heart’s spiritual void.

Belief (iman) and prayer are described as identical twins—one theoretical, the other practical. Faith finds life and permanence through the rhythm of prayer, while prayer finds meaning through the light of faith. From the early generations to today’s seekers of truth, all saintly souls have made prayer the center of their existence, turning every bow and prostration into a step toward Divine closeness.

Join us in this contemplative conversation on the essence of salah — the believer’s mi‘raj, their dialogue with eternity, and the bridge between servanthood and Divine grace.

🎙️ Chapters:

Intro: The First Worship to Be Questioned About

The Pillar of Faith: Why Salah Comes Before All Other Deeds

Beyond Ritual: The Inner Meaning and Ascension (Mi‘raj) of Prayer

Salah and Society: Prayer, Charity, and the Fabric of Moral Life

Iman and Salah: Identical Twins of Belief and Practice

The Day of Reckoning: When Prayer Stands as Witness

Neglect and Renewal: Guarding the Light of Faith through Salah

The Path to Nearness: Turning Every Prostration into a Step toward God

Conclusion: May Our Prayers Be Our Companions in Eternity

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