Taleem | Remember the Last Salat: Zikr, Adab and Sincere Ibadah - January 28, 1999

This episode features a powerful lecture drawing on the teachings of Shaykh Hazrat Abu Anees Muhammad Barakat Ali قَدَّسَ اللّهُ سِرَّه الْعَزِيز and the Prophetic tradition. The speaker addresses the congregation—with a direct appeal to the sisters in attendance—about proper adab (manners) in the house of Allah, urging everyone to treat each salat and zikr as if it might be their last, so that the heart, not just the tongue, is present in worship. Core topics include: the sanctity of mosques and the need to avoid socializing during gatherings; the spiritual dangers of heedlessness and distractions; practical steps for daily practice such as reciting the Qur'an regularly, memorizing prescribed du'as, and performing dhikr with sincerity. The speaker shares striking examples of devotion from their Shaykh—longstanding daily counts of zikr, durood and Qur'an recitation—to show the level of commitment expected from disciples. The episode also presents key hadiths and classical anecdotes to illuminate intention (niyyah) and reliance on Allah’s mercy: the story of Hazrat Hassan Basri’s رضي الله عنه night prayer and the Prophet’s ﷺ teaching that entry to Paradise depends on Allah’s mercy rather than deeds alone; and the famous prophetic narration about a scholar, a philanthropist and a martyr who were rejected for insincere intentions. These accounts underscore that actions without sincere niyyah can be worthless. Practical guidance rounds out the talk: trust in Allah’s rizq so the dunya does not steal time from preparing for akhirah; a reminder to learn and recite the Qur’an in Arabic; and the specific ritual practice introduced for the gathering (the eight-rakah salat in which Surah al-Ikhlas is recited 11 times after al-Fatiha in each rakah, followed by one salam and dua, with a special dedication of reward to Hazrat Fatima az-Zahra رضي الله عنها). The episode closes with a call to purify intentions, concentrate in prayer, and make sincere dhikr so that worship is accepted by Allah.