(Qiyam). The standing posture of the ritual prayer. This upright position of 'the one who prays' is a symbol of the development of the self in its ascent to knowledge. The first qiyam indicates the first rung on the ladder to Knowledge, which is verbal surrender to Allah's Will, and also 'The self which commands' as it embarks upon the Journey to Allah. The second qiyam indicates the third rung, that of ihsan, and also 'The Inspired Self'.
