Allah (s.w.t.) Looks at the Heart

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (q.s.) said, in a swuhbah, Shaykh Abu Sa’id ibn Abu al-Hasan Yasar al-Baswri (q.s.) was a famous shaykh.  One of his students was Shaykh Habib ibn Muhammad al-‘Ajami al-Baswri (q.s.).  He was not an Arab.  He was a Persian from Bukhara.  Shaykh Habib al-‘Ajami (q.s.) was illiterate.  Once Shaykh Hasan al-Baswri (q.s.) saw Habib al-‘Ajami (q.s.) praying maghrib.  When Shaykh Hasan al-Baswri (q.s.) heard that he was unable to say “al-Hamdu”, but pronounced it “Elhemdu”, he thought his recitation was not correct and did not pray behind him; he prayed alone. 

That night, Allah (s.w.t.) Said to Shaykh Hasan (q.s.), “Apart from that prayer which you did not pray behind Habib al-’Ajami, I Accept all your prayers.”  Shaykh Hasan al-Baswri (q.s.) was still looking at the words, not at the heart of the imam.  Allah (s.w.t.) does not look at the recitation; He Looks at the heart.  If his heart is with Allah (s.w.t.), that imam is in the Divine Presence.  If his heart is not with Allah (s.w.t.), but is occupied with making his voice and his recitation beautiful, the angels bring that prayer to Allah (s.w.t.).  But for the one whose heart is with Allah (s.w.t.) when he prays, He Accept his prayers directly without any intermediary. 

Therefore, all prayers are of two kinds.  One from a person who when he says “Allahu Akbar,” he casts everything aside and is with his Lord.  Allah (s.w.t.) Directly Takes his prayers to his Divine Presence.  But for the one who says “Allahu Akbar” and through his prayer, is traveling, selling and buying, going and coming, sleeping and awaking, eating and drinking, running after this and that, angels take his prayer to Allah (s.w.t.).  But Allah (s.w.t.) Directly Takes the prayers of those who are with Him.  And Shaykh Hasan al-Baswri (q.s.) wept so much upon hearing this.