09-23-2005, 03:44 PM
Bismillah
As Salam alaikum
I also try to remember that I am actually bowing and prostrating to the Creator of Everything. That's very powerful for me. Some humans actually bow and prostrate to one another. In Japan, everyone bows to everyone else. Subhanallah. We get to bow and prostrate and actually recieve rewards for it, not just a sore back and calloused forehead. What a blessing that we muslims get.
I try to think of fard actions not as oppressive or intrusive but rather they are sooo good for us that Allah had the Mercy upon us to require it. Look at school when we were growing up. If my mother asked me if I wanted to stay home from school everyday, I would have answered, "YES!" But she made me go, day after day, year after year. Most of the time, it felt like a chore. As I got older I enjoyed it more because I started to realize the benefit from it. If my mother had never "forced" me to go to school, I would never have understood how fun and stimulating learning could be. Allah "Forces" us to pray because it is soooooooooo good for us. Insha'Allah, the more we pray the more we will realize how truly good for us it is.
Allah Loves us and Salah is a way for us to show Allah how much we appreciate and love Him, too. Insha'Allah this helps because it is helping my iman. [img]style_emoticons/default/smile.gif[/img]
As Salam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu