On the notability of invocation

One of those meaningful and constructive aspects of the positive dimensions of man is invocation and having communication with Allah. The lack of correct interpretation and sufficient explanation on these invocations on the one hand, and the great inclination of interest-centered individuals, on the other hand, has deprived numerous people at all times and in many communities of establishing rapport with the Absolute Perfection.

The only result of the destruction of those meaningful and constructive facts and truths was not merely the deprivation of men of beautiful, useful and desired phenomena; rather the human rational life, any minute of which could taste of eternity, has lost its very genuine Identity. Then there would remain nothing for the human wisdom.

Let us not conceive that the beauty, order and welfare in the so-called progressed countries could satisfy the conscience of humanity. And let us not assume that the inclination of the majority of the world population towards this earthly life is based on clear understanding of the truth behind life(The Beneficient Allah not only humiliates this worldy life as against the eternal life, but considers the people’s knowledge of this world only superficial and meager^:). But if we observe carefully we will realize that their satisfaction with their life all depends on their interest in those means and representations of the world in which life is depicted very insignificantly.

Invocation is one of those meaningful concepts which build up human character.

Other such concepts are the following:

These are the truths the seeds of which are planted into the depth of human souls by the Great Gardner of creation.

Invocation makes man have direct relation with the center of creation which is God.

We might see the result of invocation in the satisfaction of our material needs; but this limitation is to take away the essence of this great truth which will deprive men of the useful consequences of invocation.

If we observe carefully the invocations and prayers which are taught to people by Holy Quran and if we analyze the invocations presented in Nahjolbalaqa and Sahifeh Sajjadieh and other narration sources, we will vividly see that nothing could satisfy man’s needs for perfection and growth like invocations.

With respect to the above sources, the benefits of the above-mentioned truths will be discussed here:

1) Invocation is the most fundamental factor of the growth in human knowledge about the secrets of the creation. This nature and creation has kept the majority of people in the dark prisons of ignorance. In any invocation we utter, there is a new connection with the creator.

2) Since at the time of invocation, which is the most serious time of our lives, man asks God to connect him with the best kind of virtues we could, therefore, safely say that invocation keeps us in this great temple of the world, which is a place of lust and eating for the ignorant ones, in a state of learning the truth and growth factors. Thus, we should observe that invocation is a great temple and a huge university in which man is taught the best courses on “man as he is” and “man as he should be”.

3) The first construction which invocation brings about is to produce a need in man to like to be in the absorption of perfection. Then invocation puts him there.

4) The one who knowingly engages in worshipping, prior to the inunciation of the first word, especially if that word is God’s name, he will get into a strange mental-spiritual terrance which is not to be named except by the acceptance of God.

5) The constructive aspects of invocation concerning man’s numerous dimensions are many, which are unfortunately not taken care of, however.

With the study of this book and with an entry into its contents, which is rightfully called the country of the lovers, this hope is enlivened in the human lovers of perfection that invocation has got its genuine status in man’s culture and has its place as one of the most fundamental factors in the meaningful attempts in the world of rationalism. In the contents of this valuable book, which is rooted in the active thoughts of the great scholar, Mr. Haj Sheikh Hossein Ansaryan, we could find a clear statement on the interpretation of invocations and how man could be in the absorption of perfection, which is the school of the great prophets. The readers who read the contents of this book, which is an interpretation on Sahifeh Sajjadieh written by Imam Ali Ibn Al-Hussein al-Sajjad (s) will encounter a perfect research which, I hope, will open up the door of spirituality to those who are deprived of this divine asset. I hope they, will get to a shiny, flourishing aspect of life.

By: Mohammad Taqi Ja’afari

Reference: The land of lovers, by Hossein Ansarian, Prof