Assaalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu 

Bismika Rabbi

Alhamdulliah I was given the ability to recite "Al Araf", and I reflected on a few things, such as the meaning of the name of the surah, "The heights" or "The elevated places".  SubhanAllah, the 7th chapter reminded me of the 7 heavens and the surah ending with a sajdah verse.
For me it was like a message that for us to reach the heights and to be closest to Allah SWT and be like angels, it is by prostrating on the lowest of low's floor (the word "dunya" can mean "the near", "the closest" or "the lower") and by submitting to Allah's commands, to praise him, to be grateful to him and to never turn our backs and go astray and if we do we come back. Just know to come back.

To never associate with or have others alongside, and to never place intermediaries between us and our Lord. 
The one and only illah, Allah 👆🏼

Sometimes it's very challenging and the dunya test can get really difficult, even if sometimes we don't want to pray or feel like -  what good is all this ibadah - should believing have such a hefty price. To be a believer do we have to endure so much pain and struggle? The ego is so cunning that it makes you prostrate before it and worship it. You think you're making sajdah before your lord, but it is to your ego.

Ya Rabbi, help us, we can't do this on our own. This road is tricky, full of traps, full of snakes, vultures, but it is also filled with delights too. With pretty things, like money, wealth, all the extravagant things. 

My Lord, please keep us steadfast, please accept our very messy and low-quality fasts and ibadah. You are not in need of us; we are in need of you.

Ya Hayy Ya Qayyum
Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous.” (Surah Prophet Yusuf, 12:101)



Sajdah is the greatest physical manifestation of humility towards Allah. And we do sajdah everyday. But how is our sujood? 
What is the quality of it in front Allah? 
Is it only physical? 
How is the metaphysical part of it? 

When I was trying to contemplate on the ayahs, my realisation of my prostration was shocking to me. My sujood seemed to me as a hollow activity of my body parts. It is not at all a physical manifestation of humility towards Allah. 

And I keep reading the ayahs, to get guidance for the solution of the issue. 

Alhamdulillah it’s very simple step by step guideline that I came to understand. 

The ultimate solution of the problem is getting closer to Allah. 

Zikr or remembrance is one of the ways of getting closer to Allah. 

So the first step is remembering Him MINDFULLY, morning and evening , with humility and reverence. 

Second step is to become mindful of the responsibility of an abd of Allah. Be mindful of the fact that no one can do any good without the Tawfiq which is from Allah. Wipe off all the proud thoughts that come after praying to Allah. 
The person who can be in a state of treating himself or herself really small in front of the greatness of Allah, can only get rid of the proud thoughts. 

Next step is to glorify Allah. Real glorification of Allah is not possible if we have an atomic piece of pride in our heart about our worship. Because being arrogant is glorifying self. 

If we can purify ourselves from arrogance and glorify Allah, then our prostration will be the physical manifestation of the status of our heart. 

May Allah make us amongst them who are people of real sujood. May Allah make our heart free from arrogance.