not want to mix with their humbler brethren, and the next step would be to have separate seats for distinguished men, so that they may be able to hold their heads above others proudly even in the House of God. The result would be a death-blow to the very object at which Islām aims through the institution of prayer — i.e., the creating of a spirit of humility and the levelling of differences between man and man. The spiritual experience of the man who lays his forehead on the ground, as a sign of the utmost humility, must be altogether different from that of him who sits in a chair; for it cannot be denied that the different postures of the body have a corresponding effect on the mind, and Islām seeks to make the spiritual experience of the Muslim perfect by making him assume one position of reverential humility after another, so that he may pass from one experience to another. And what, after all, is the idea at the bottom of all these suggestions? Only that such a man thinks himself too important to place his forehead on the ground before his Maker. Surely such a man will fail to acquire any spiritual experience of true humility, and prayer for him will have no value.

Dhikr

Corresponding to the different postures of humility which the worshipper assumes in saying his prayers, he is enjoined to give expression to the praise and glory of God, to His great attributes of love, mercy, forgiveness, etc., to confess his own weakness, to pray for Divine help to support him in his weakness and for Divine guidance to lead him aright and make him achieve the goal of his existence. All such expressions are known in Arabic by the one name dhikr, which is generally translated as remembrance. The whole of prayer is called in the Holy Qur’ān dhikr-Allāh, or the remembrance of Allāh.39 The Holy Qur’ān itself is also frequently referred to as dhikr. Hence, whether a portion of the Holy Qur’ān is recited in prayer, or words giving expression to Divine glory and greatness are uttered, as taught by the Holy Prophet, all goes by the name of dhikr.