Salat Outline, I follow:
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Peace Wakas,
It's not a contradiction at all. Since most people neglect the "middle prayer" (including most of the Progressive Moslems), this is emphasized as especially important. It also tends to be the most neglected due to it occurring in the "middle" of the day, a time when many people are preoccupied with secular work or activities. The same could be implied if the "salaatu alwusta" occurred in the middle of the night (i.e. midnight) - it is often neglected due to people sleeping.
Also, where does "wa" in Al Quran means "especially"?
Good question... Perhaps a better meaning in this case would be "including". So, it can mean
-Keep the (contact) prayers, and/INCLUDING the middle (contact) prayer...Peace,
Ahmad
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peac AB,
It also tends to be the most neglected due to it occurring in the "middle" of the day, a time when many people are preoccupied with secular work or activities. The same could be implied if the "salaatu alwusta" occurred in the middle of the night (i.e. midnight) - it is often neglected due to people sleeping.
Do you have actual evidence or just your own subjective opinion?
Also, if you wish to continue discussion on the alleged "middle salat", feel free to continue it in the thread I referenced, paying particular attention to
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This phrasing implies the middle prayer is more important than other prayers as this is already covered under "preserve the prayers", so why mention it again?
There is no other evidence in Al-Quran to suggest the middle prayer is more important than others, in fact, it seems to imply that the quran/reading at dawn is most important IF any had to be chosen. -
If "middle" is chosen then 2239 doesn't fit well, because it implies we are allowed to do salat on the move, if so, which one is it talking about, prayers in general or just the middle prayer?
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The middle prayer, if there is one, would be the only one without a stated time-range, the dawn & dusk salat have time-ranges. It is logical to have a time range. Please think about this concept.
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Also, there is no traditional salat named wusta, indicating it was never taken to mean a specific salat. The traditional names applied to noon-time salat are Zohr & Asr.
Furthermore, I recently read an article in 'signs' (Feb 1999, issue 20) that there is no part of the day called 'wusta' in The Reading (in fact, perhaps not even outside it).
Just a comment, I do not think that Al Ssalat Al Wustaa refers to a salat which must be carried out in the middle of the day or during another time of the day. Both salat Al Fajr (at dawn) and salat Al Eshaa (at dusk) are in this form salat Al Fajr and salat Al Eshaa without 'AL' for the word salat. They represent a specific salat in time regarding the dawn and the dusk.
If Al Wustaa indicates one precise moment of the day, the sentence must be in the same form i.e. salat Al Wasat or Al Wustaa with the word salat without 'AL' like salat Al Fajr (at dawn) and salat Al Eshaa .
The 'Al' in the word Al Ssalat shows us that this is the salat generally and not of a specific salat in time and Al Wustaa is a qualifier of the salat which explains us how to do / preserve our salat, in which manner?
- the balanced salat, and 2) stand devoutly for God.
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Peace Wakas,
Do you have actual evidence or just your own subjective opinion?
G-d is enough as a witness, and He has presented enough evidence in the Qur'aan...
Also, if you wish to continue discussion on the alleged "middle salat", feel free to continue it in the thread I referenced, paying particular attention to...
Okay, thanks for the invite... Which thread is this? Where can I find it? Do you have a link?
Peace,
Ahmad
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Erm, the one I referenced on this thread, reply 7.
Oh, okay. Thanks!
Peace,
Ahmad
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Salaam Wakas,
Thanks for the link which brings the truth nearer to us.Salaam AB,
Your explaination is out of context as you have twisted the translation to suit the English grammar.Whereas the meaning is evidently clear and direct as how God wants it to be, "And Solat is important."
In direct Arabic translation, the meaning of the phrase Was solaatul wustha, according to your understanding, will be And solat is middle. So when this does not make sense, you switch the adjective to come in front and it does make sense but for the only purpose of suiting the English grammar.
There is nowhere in the AQ that God says that there is a middle solat. This fact has been fortified by the solid and lengthy study made by brother Wakas. If you have the opportunity, most respectfully, you may like to review its contents.
If you are worried to say that verse 2238 is not about the middle solat in case it will be lost by upholding the direct message depicted through this verse by God such as (Solat is important), then please be most assured and trust me that the solat you presume as the middle solat shall never ever be erased.
Humbly, I like to present to you a comparison of how the style of the above phrase is used in the AQ regarding the subject of solat too, as in 1778
If according to your style it would have been like this
And the dawn reading, verily, the dawn reading is witnessed.
There are so many weaknesses in this kind of translation. Again, translators tend to twist the arrangement of words in the phrase to make it look like having some sense to the whole sentence, subjugated by English grammar.
So do you not consider the dire effects of this translation have unto the whole sentence. It says that, in truth, the Quran recital at dawn is witnessed. So, what about Quran recitals at other times of the day and night? Are they not witnessed or become less important and of less value.
The main subject of this holy verse is about the timing of solat and recital of the Quran. If one is to adopt the sectarian translation, some vital parts of the message are ignored. There is clear indications that the solat and the recital of the Quran shall go hand in hand.
Another shortcoming if one is to hold on to the traditionalists' translations is that the solatul fajri is not witnessed as the verse does not mention it. Whereas, in other verse, solatul fajri is mentioned by name.
As far as I am concerned, dear sir AB, I do not conform to this kind of sectarian translations. Then what is its proper translation?
Quranal fajri directly means Quran's Enlightenment. (Here Quran is referred to by God as the breaking of dawn to give lights to its readers.)
The the phrase continues Inna quraanal fajri kaana mash huudaa.
God reiterates and strengthens His revealation that "Quran's enlightenment is ever witnessed"So, if we are to refer back to the Solatul Wustha, if one is to follow the sectarian translations, most of them translators is ever happy to offer you a "middle solat" interpretation. Why? Because they need to conform with hadits describing about the greatness middle solat. Other than that, they are not ready to state truly what is the actual and true message of God.
To maintain the meaning of wustha as middle, is to continue to receive happily what the past sectarians and traditional imams had upheld that brought about numerous dire consequences to muslims and mukmins alike for ages. Certainly, wustha is equal to khaira as in (3110 - kuntum khaira ummatin...) and not and will never be to mean middle at all.
Peace to All.
Salaamun alaikum. -
Salaam Wakas,
Thanks. All praises for God.Salaam Munzir,
Thanks. All praises for God.But my problem here is that the first part of the verse is in plural form while the second part is singular with a definite article. Please clarify.
Preserve over the solawats (plural form of solat) and the solat is important. You must stand upright for God steadfastly.
Firstly, God asks us to preserve all the commitments, from performing rituals to fulfilling of bonds, oaths, and physically doing the good deeds of upholding His commandments like offering kindness to parents, family, giving charities to poor and needy and self-prohibition of evil deeds and iniquities like illicit relationship, gambling, taking liquors and so on. These are only few examples which serve as illustrations. Surely, in order for you to carry out these commitments (solawats), you must have the drive, sincerety and self-discipline.
Hence, God says that the solat is important as a method to remind us not to take it too easily or to even neglect it. Thus, as the very first step, we should stand up firm to go through any kind of trials to accomplish our commitments.
An example is like in the army, when the officer gives few instructions to the subordinates to carry out this and that with details of procedures and methods. Then he goes on to remind them that the most important thing is their carrying out their duties with full discipline. Somehow, he will stress the point like, "Remember guys, OK, discipline is very important.
The instructions, details and procedures are plenteous (plural form), while the most important thing which is the discipline, is in the singular form.
There are so many attributes and the kinds solawats that one has to preserve (plural form) but the solat as a common general noun is described as important and must be in the singular form.
I hope this will shed some lights but for further reading, most respectfully, please click to see the detailed postings by Brother Wakas through this link=http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=7727.15
Peace to All
Salaamun Alaikum -
Peace be upon you,
It is my understanding that "wusta" refers to the balanced state between awake and sleep, the medi-state, which is the optimal state to reprogram the spirit/subconcious(nafs), the goal of programming(salaat).
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when it says " al Salat al-wusta" it means the middle salaat. It is "balanced" because it is right in the middle of the other salaats. "al" is a pronoun and DOES NOT MEAN "IS" Your arguement that since salawat is used, wa does not mean another salaat is weak, since "wa" does not necessarily mean "and" - it's a conjunction combining salawat and "al salat al-wusta". The fact that "salawat" is used proves that there are AT LEAST 3 SALAAT
peace
