The simplest definition of salat
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This is to follow herbman's wonderful thread - http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9602248.0
My present understanding is that we are all intimately connected by the fine rope of ALLAH.
To slw is to see the rope that ALLAH stretches out for us for what it is, every moment.
To slw is to line up a circle - yourself, within a bigger circle, ALLAH just as the meaning of the root whereby a second horse follows the first one.
To perform salat then is to recite al-quran with attempt to bring about understanding in those two times prescribed.
The middle salat is to ALWAYS closely observe the situation around you. We miss out an incredible amount of information and signs just by the fact we are rushing from A to B, thinking that we have no time to pay attention. Instead, look around you wherever you are. Pay close attention to everything, whether that is one thing in particular or everything at once.
You can do this wherever you are, it's just meditation. What you will notice after repeatedly doing this is that your head clears up. You can see delusions for what they are. You are a far more attentive person.
So why did the ritual salat propagate so well? It's because it's a very effective means to induce rigour into the system. The mosque has incredible power to bring about brotherhood just by the fact that everyone is in the same room at the same time. This blurs the distinction of "us and them" we normally have between ourselves and turns it into an "us alone". ALLAH's plan is perfect, do not forget that. That means that yes, the ritual prayer is a perfect means to salat.
However be aware that the ritual itself is not the point of focus. Your point of focus must at all times be towards ALLAH. Forget any preconceptions or judgements, just look around and observe. Feel what you are feeling, smell what you are smelling, taste what you are tasting. ALLAH created it exactly like that for incredibly deep and profound reasons that I will not get into in this post.
To salat, observe the balance of the environment as close as possible. Wherever you are, even when talking to someone, pay attention to the things that make the atmosphere go up. You know when you have an incredibly live conversation that flows perfectly then you or the other says something and then everyone is like umm, okay, and then the mood dies off? Salat is designed to prevent that, to allow you to say the perfect thing at the perfect time wherever you are.
To salat does not even require thinking. Rather, notice your reflexes, how powerful they are? And they are effortless! This means your body has the tools to carry this out perfectly. Salat is a process of training the body's reflex actions to instinctively provide the maximum good for the immediate environment. It comes to donation time in the mosque - some people will have to think about reaching into their wallet and popping a few pounds into the tin. Now that may be for whatever reasons they have, but there is another group, those who understand the salat and heed to it. Their hands jump out of their pockets automatically, a perfect reflex action, they do not even sit and think whether they are going to starve tonight.
In essence, pay attention. Look, then look again - this is the perfect method prescribed in the quran. I call this "second sight" because in a way you can see everything around you including that behind you just by applying this. The first time you look, you will most likely make an ego judgement. You look again, and the interplay of yin and yang will automatically bring you an answer. After a while you can get this second sight tuned in to the point where you can dominate a room without batting an eyelid. It's like waving in an ocean, just ripple through with it and you are the ocean, ripple against it and you are a solitary wave taking on something far bigger than your boots.
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The reason for the two prescribed times is simple.
In the morning, we have woken up afresh. Everything we experience in the first hour sets the tone for the rest of the day. What better to start the day with than the autobiography of your creator!
In the evening, it is nearing time to sleep. The body is in a certain state of attentiveness that comes with evening. Not too tired but worn out enough to the point where the fast thinking of the morning/daytime takes a back seat to relaxation and coolness - a fertile mind space for meditative purposes.
After this occurs, you then have a few hours where your subconscious is mulling over your learnings, and you may get flashes of insight randomly in this period. You then go to sleep, where your brain assimilates the learnings for the day, ready to go tomorrow.
Repeating this pattern puts your body in flow with ALLAH and that is where the high grade is.
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Peace OPF
I've been wondering what others experience during salat and what effect it has on them during days and nights so it's good to see someone doing this.
To salat, observe the balance of the environment as close as possible. Wherever you are, even when talking to someone, pay attention to the things that make the atmosphere go up. You know when you have an incredibly live conversation that flows perfectly then you or the other says something and then everyone is like umm, okay, and then the mood dies off? Salat is designed to prevent that, to allow you to say the perfect thing at the perfect time wherever you are.
I think i know the feeling your trying to convey in the first post of this thread but in particular the part i have quoted above was interesting. In general its important to me to be reverent of God in a good way at most times as i don't think it can be done at all times (focusing on reading for example takes away the almost direct reverence) In the past it used to be difficult attaining that state. I was obtaining it consistently. But i believe i have it now consistently (as in i can access that kind of reverence) but during my day i sometimes forget of that. But still this state is spectacular. I am very appreciateive of this state of reverence for it is so incredible in what it does and how it feels.
My salat in its current state specifically includes reverence before entering conversation with others as during those times my consciousness is effected. My focus is on those whom im communicating with and it is rare for me to become aware of that which encompasses all things and is closer to me than my jugular vein and that for example there are x many people in this room plus the wahj of God. I have been wanting to strengthen my reverence (zikr) during public times for i do believe to some extent it has the effects that you talk of (a closer to perfect conversation)
I was making eggs today and reverence hit me. Everything went so smoothly and i was not surprised (just thankful) for this has happned before. From my memory, every session of making eggs with the kitchen provided for me where in which i was reverent in the effective way, everything goes so smoothly and perfectly is the word i think at the time and it amazing because my focus is on God. I know quiet a few days where my reverence has not been there and in the egg making sessions things went badly..... but not that badly. Usually just some burn toast and poorly made eggs. But this was one exmaple off the top of my head. I have been aware that when reverence is there things go very well. Though i am not sure yet that this is always the case. I cannot however remember a contradictory case.
But I think this is zikr rather than salat. Salat i take to be awareness and strengthing of righteousness (for me it greatly helps to remember the source of righteousness) Then when i go about my day, the weaknesses i have which i reflect on are like safeguarded from happening. Sometimes they occure mildly but ultimately once the set finishes it's like in my subconscious and then i move to a new set of weaknesses but somethings are core For exmaple
I shall be reverent and aware of God at all times (where reverent is awareness of the laws the sustainer etc. and awareness is that God handles all affairs and that he is present where i am)
I shall trust the laws of God, the nature (attributes) of God and the response of God (prayers)These two have always been core and most likely always will for i never feel the need to move on from them but other things fall under two categories for me either righeousness or strength
Righteousness (where recently theres been a new divide which enails more things from my past set of relfections R speech no lies, no swearing, no negativity (talking badly of others or negatively of myself like im unappreciative))
R thought (nothing negative towards others, nothing lustful, nothing ultimately pessimistic)
and R acts which again has it's own divides.The same with strength Strength to guard (salat) to do (get things done effectively such as work) to be (to be myself regardless of situation or circumstance. So if i like pokemon (which i still like the games) and others think its lame i will express my like when relevent in a conversation) or more important issues such as virginity. Where i live it is not deemed a positive trait at my age 21. But i would feel weak if i did not have the strength to express that i am when relevently appropriate even though i don't believe that sex is exclusively for marriage )
Right now i am also focusing on patience and ambition but i feel these will fall under the categories of righteousness and strength at some point for its like they will be in the subconscious and they will sufficiently be revived when strength or righteoussness is sufficiently reflected on in the correct way.
Salat is incredible. Zikr, prayer, salat make an awesome combination for success.
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"It is We who have sent down the zikr/remembrance and surely We will surely preserve it." (159)
I'm not sure exactly what entails salat still; if you say that meditation is zikr then surely this verse changes the meaning of that.
To attain the state of reverence is EASY! Step one, clean yourself. Clean body, clean mind. Then let go of everything and open up your brain's filters. We ignore 90% of our surroundings because we're entrained to a certain point of focus.
My present understanding is that al-masjid al-haram is perhaps this state of reverence where everything flows perfectly. But that doesn't explain the verses about pilgrimage and so on and so forth, but it does explain what I believe al-quran means in saying turn your face to al-masjid al-haram wherever you are.
And notice
2144 - Indeed We see the turning of your face to heaven, so We shall surely turn you to a qiblah which you shall like; turn then your face towards the Sacred Mosque, and wherever you are, turn your face towards it, and those who have been given the Book most surely know that it is the truth from their Lord; and Allah is not at all heedless of what they do.2185 - The month of Ramazan is that in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction; therefore whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein, and whoever is sick or upon a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days; Allah desires ease for you, and He does not desire for you difficulty, and (He desires) that you should complete the number and that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks.
Surely this is easier and more fruitful than any ritual prayer!
But I think this is zikr rather than salat. Salat i take to be awareness and strengthing of righteousness (for me it greatly helps to remember the source of righteousness) Then when i go about my day, the weaknesses i have which i reflect on are like safeguarded from happening. Sometimes they occure mildly but ultimately once the set finishes it's like in my subconscious and then i move to a new set of weaknesses but somethings are core For exmaple
The process I described will do none other than increase awareness and strengthen righteousness. You read in the morning and evening, and you are constantly on your guard trying to follow ALLAH. The best thing is that whenever you slip from the state, you can easily restart it. You see, you are in a constant state of salat no matter what and hence
1074 - And woe to those who observe the salat
1075 - Who are totally heedless of their salat