On December 5, 2020, Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V (may Allah be his Helper) had a virtual mulaqat with students of Jamia Ahmadiyya Ghana. During the session, a student asked Huzoor how we may derive maximum pleasure from Salat. Huzoor-e-Anwar (may Allah be his Helper) explained in light of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him):
“[The Promised Messiah] said that one should bring about such an expression on their face as if they are crying. When a person physically displays certain facial expressions to reflect a particular emotion, then those intended emotions begin to develop from within the heart as well.”
He further elaborated:
“When a person displays an expression of one who is crying and, whilst reciting Surah al-Fatihah, continues to repeat and ponder over the words ‘Thee alone do we worship and Thee alone do we implore for help’, then soon one will genuinely begin to cry. When one begins to cry and a state of heartfelt emotions and fervency begins to develop, then one will begin to attain pleasure and delight from Salat. …
“Therefore, a person has to display the physical expressions that are required to reach the desired inner state. However, this can only be attained by undergoing a concerted effort and by striving. If a person endeavours to strive in this way, they will continue to derive pleasure from salat. And when a person experiences that pleasure and delight once, then they will always endeavour to stand before their Lord whilst weeping to attain the pleasure and delight from being in that state. The pleasure that one attains by weeping before Allah in sajdah [prostration]is far greater than any other pleasure.”
[Al Hakam, December 8, 2023, pp. 1-2]