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than that of all other supererogatory prayers and forms of worship and when a person devotes himself to it his devotion to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa), the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and the Faith also develops and becomes stronger.

Among the supererogatory prayers, if possible, one should develop the habit of Tahajjud.

Its auspiciousness is of the very highest.

One must always be on one’s guard against sin, especially against the major sins, like adultery, stealing, falsehood, drink, and dishonestly in monetary affairs.

It is advisable to do some Zikr every day. In case it may not be possible to spare more time for it one should recite at least Kalima-I-Tamjid or only and Istighfar and Durood Sharif, a hundred times each, morning and evening.

Time should also be set aside for the daily reading of the Quran. It should be done with due religious respect and reverence. After every obligatory Namaz and at bedtime the Tasbeeh-e-Fatima may also be recited.

For those who aspire for more the advice is to seek guidance from a spiritual mentor who may be worthy of it. The last thing to be said in this connection is that the company of true, pious and exalted devotees of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) and attachment and devotion to them is the very elixir of religious and spiritual existence. If this can fall to the lot of anyone all the rest will follow automatically.

Appendices

Forty prayers from the Quran and the traditions

Below we give a selection of forty prayers from the Quran and the Traditions as indicated

in Lesson XVII.

1) Praise be to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa), Lord of the Worlds, the Compassionate, the Merciful, Owner of the Day of Judgment. Thee alone do we worship, and to Thee alone do we beg for help. Show us the straight path: the path of those whom Thou hast favoured; not the path (of those) who earn Thine anger, nor of those who go astray. Amen!

2) Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and defend us from the torment of the Fire.

3) Our Lord! We have, indeed, believed: forgive us, then, our sins, and save us from the agony of the Fire.

4) O Lord! Forgive us our sins and anything we may have done that transgressed our duty: establish our feet firmly, and help us against this people that resisteth faith.

5) Our Lord! We have heard the call of one calling us to Faith, “Believe ye in the Lord”, and we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, blot out from us our inequities, and take to thyself our souls in the company of the righteous, Our Lord! grant us what Thou didst promise unto us through Thine Apostle, and save us from shame on the day of Judgment: for Thou never breakest promise.

6) Our Lord! We have wronged our souls; if Thou forgive us not and bestow not on us Thy mercy we shall certainly be lost.

7) Our Lord! Make us not a trail for those who practice oppression and deliver us by Thy mercy from those who reject Thee.