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After we have clarified the necessity for offering prayer for the leader of the time (may our soul be sacrificed for him) it is compulsory for us not to focus our intention when supplicating only to reach some prestige rather we should pray to God seeking for His pleasure, nearness to Him and the awaiting leader (peace be upon him). Then you should aware of this matter. Sayyid Ashsharafi (may Allah be pleased with him) said: we do travel to different countries for the purpose of propagating Islam, in one of our journey which was very close to the holy month of Ramadan, I was along with some of my friends under the service of Hajj Sheikh Rajab Ali Al-Khayyat, we demanded him to teach and admonish us, he taught us how to use this holy verse: {And whosoever fears God …}[1]
He said: we should first give alms (sadaqah), fast for forty days and recite the verse while fasting. In a nutshell what was important in his explanation (may Allah raises his position) is as follow:
This duty must be with the intention of nearness to the eighth Imam (peace be upon him) and should not be done seeking for materials.
Sayyid Ashsharafi (m.a.b.p) said: I commenced the assignment but was not able to concludes it while I stop but my friend completed the assignment and he later travel to the holy city of Mash’had to visit Imam Ali Rida, the eighth Imam (peace be upon him) and saw him in a form of light and after a while he was able to witness and talk with the Imam (peace be upon him).
Our aim in narrating this issue was to explain some important point one need to observe while praying and supplicating, that is in addition to observing sincerity in his supplication he should also offer his prayer with the intention of seeking nearness to Allah, the Prophet and his household (peace be upon them) meaning that one should observe his supplication with the intention of worship and not to attain rank and prestige in this world.
Regard to this matter a popular man whose prayer is having effect in solving peoples problems said to a man is believing that he possess insight: in your opinion what is my stature before Almighty Allah?!
He replied after deep pondering: you have much interference in the issues concerning God!
It is then incumbent to anybody that offers prayers not to misuse the opportunity rather he should offer his prayers as worship without interfering in the issues concerning God and should not try to attract people to himself.
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[1] – What he has mentioned (may Allah raises his rank) was narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) and Ayatullah Sheikh Ali Akbar Nahavandi has quoted the narration in his book ‘Golzar Akbari’.