My PERSONAL conclusions about salaat (contact prayer)
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I'm a non-Arab and zero knowledge of the Arabic and the Hebrew alphabets, but I do find that the alphabets are mostly the same. From my personal study and research, I find that Arabic evolved from the Hebrew language and letters. I hope you find this link interesting
http//www.ancient-hebrew.org/28_chart.html
What is interesting to me, the meaning of the word "Hebrew" itself; it has the same meaning in Arabic and Hebrew, with the same root words. And also I find that Hebrew is the only language from our Lord which had been suppressed and distorted. Today Hebrew is heavily influenced from European languages. Even all the prophets are potrayed with European and blonde looks, especially Prophet Isa.
The word "Hebrew" in Hebrew
AYIN-BET-RESH-YOD that which passes further; on the other side; a passing over; a going beyond; ultra-mundane; beyond the terrestrial; not of this world; hidden from sense; occult.The word "Hebrew" in Arabic
AYN-BA-RA to cross, interpret, state clearly, pass over. i'tabara - to consider, ponder over, take into account, get experience from, take warming. abratun (pl. i'bar) - regard/consideration, admonition, warning, example, instructive warning. aabir (pl. aabiriina) - one who passes over. i'tabara - to take warning, learn a lesson.Most sayings (doctrines) of men interpret it as the exodus, the passing over from the tyranny of the Pharaoh, the time when the Angels put the mark of the cross on the door and the unleavened bread, the Seder or the Passover, a special date for both Judaism and Christianity. And some interpret it as the crossing over of Abraham of the river Euphrates.
But to my understanding, it was our Lord who called it Hebrew, and it was all about His words and Messages, so the meaning of the word "Hebrew" is the passing over from being unlettered into lettered. Moses was from the unlettered people until God taught him the Hebrew letters on Mount Sinai where he received the written Ten Commandments and the Torah. I acknowledge and accept that Hebrew meant the "passing over" from hieroglyphs, signs and symbols, to the letters we know today. Look again at the ancient-Hebrew writings, from hieroglyphs into letters. Another thing to ponder for those of us who believed in the existence of the Ark of the Covenant and that it will be revealed in the future; in what language will all the tablets and scrolls within the Ark be written in?
It has been kept hidden from the 12 tribes, the Children of Israel/ the Erebs for thousand of years. I don't think it will be in Arabic, Greek, Latin nor English.
Salam tauhid101,
You might find very interesting the first or second e-book available through br. Pazuzu. There you will read some very rare stuff about languages and geography that I consider a must read!
Peace! -
Thank you @tauhid101 for your kind answer and important thoughts.
I must say with all my humility, that I've came to the very same conclusions as yourself, and I am absolutely convinced that the Hebrew is the holy language, and that the Arabic evolved from it, not the other way round as some might point out.I also consider the Qur'an to be a reminder for people, of something already revealed in Torah which mankind somehow achieved to corrupt to a certain point, so the Qur'an came sealed and protected with the number 19 code, just to bring again the main points and the main message.
Thank you @Zulf for your reply, I've studied some of Pazuzu's views and I find them rather interesting, although in some conclusions too far-fetched and too strange.
Hoping to have more information about this HA PATCHA prayer...
Peace
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Peace,
HA PATCHAH (THE OPENING PRAYER)
BE SHEM ELAH HA RAHAMIM In the name of God, the Most Gracious (Ezr.51; Dan.99)
T?HILAH L?ELOHEINU RIBOHN HA-OLAMIM All praise be to God, Lord of the universe (Jewish liturgy)
HA RAHAMIM The Most Gracious (Dan.99)
MELEK YOM HA DIN Master of the Day of Judgment (Jewish terminology)
ELEKHA ADONAY EQARA WE EL ADONAY ET HANAN To you, O Lord, I implore ? and to my Lord I seek help (Psalm 309)
HEHENI BE ORACH MISHOR Guide us in the straight path (Psalm 2711)
ALEKHET BE DEREHU WE LEYAREH ITTO The way of life according to His path by reverencing Him (Deut 86)
LE HALAK BE ETSAH RISHAH WE LA SAGHAH Not by the advice of the cursed, nor of the strayers (Psalm 11921)
The HA PATCHAH appears to be a compilation of verses from different parts of the bible
put together recently by person/persons unknown and not an intact prayer like the lords
prayer. Who compiled the Ha patchah I do not know, my guess would be Indonesian.
Many Jewish prayers are listed below at the link below, maybe I missed it.http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_prayers#Upon_waking_up
God bless
peace
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The HA PATCHAH appears to be a compilation of verses from different parts of the bible
put together recently by person/persons unknown and not an intact prayer like the lords
prayer. Who compiled the Ha patchah I do not know, my guess would be Indonesian.
Many Jewish prayers are listed below at the link below, maybe I missed it.http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_prayers#Upon_waking_up
God bless
peace
Thank you for your interest, and your input although somewhat unsatisfactory.
Although information on internet can be misleading sometimes, I was just wondering whether HA PACTHAH prayer was a Jewish prayer long before the Qur'an was revealed, and to do that, I think one must go beyond Wikipedia as a source of knowledge.With all respect, thank you.
Peace
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Peace be within you, GODsubmitter
Although information on internet can be misleading sometimes, I was just wondering whether HA PACTHAH prayer was a Jewish prayer long before the Qur'an was revealed, and to do that, I think one must go beyond Wikipedia as a source of knowledge.
In blue, you are right, brother. There is always the Mother/ Source of all His Books, the Al-Kitab, with Him besides His Throne.
Who compiled the Ha patchah I do not know, my guess would be Indonesian.
Many Jewish prayers are listed below at the link below, maybe I missed it.http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_prayers#Upon_waking_up
God bless
peace
Thanks for the link, hawk99. But that is a very wild guess, brother ;D
2547 And He is the One Who made for you the night a covering and the sleep a rest and made the day a resurrection.
3023 And among His Signs is your sleep by night and the day your seeking of His Bounty. Indeed, in that surely are Signs for a people who listen.
3942 Allah takes the soul at the time of their death, and the one who does not die in their sleep. Then He keeps the one whom He has decreed for them the death, and sends the others for a term specified. Indeed, in that surely are Signs for a people who reflect.
788 And We created you in pairs,
789 And made your sleep for rest,From the above verses, Allah made the sleep for our rest, and take us and guard us during our sleep; so I think it would not hurt anyone if they offer prayer of appreciation to our Lord when they woke up. Just saying gratefulness to our Lord is a righteous deed. A deed the size of a small seed is very much appreciated by our Lord. To be honest, I did it every time I woke up in the morning too, in my own words.
Thanks @Zulf for the suggestion. My opinions of Pazuzu's articles is the same with GODsubmitter, too far-fetched. I prefer to remain within the Books of our Lord under His Guidance only.
Peace be within everyone.
tauhid101 -
Peace Godsubmitter,
I made some calls to Jewish organizations and I also emailed an institution, I could not find
your prayer.This is the email I received.
Hi Amin,
I do not believe there is such a Jewish prayer.
All the best,
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
for Chabad.orgWhat?s APPening at Chabad.org? Check out our newest apps, available for iPhone and Android devices
Jewish.tv Video App http//www.chabad.org/2190115
Shabbat Times App http//www.chabad.org/shabbatapp
Please help us continue providing this service. Thank you.
Donate Online
http//www.chabad.org/supportatrOn Tuesday, July 30, 2013 you wrotePeace I am muslim, recently my friend has been trying to find a prayer
called "Ha Patchah" that is similar to the Al Fatihah, is their such a
prayer, please let me know.==============================================================
Date Initiated 7/30/2013 53324 PM
Category Feedback Layer Idea
Name Amin abdullah==============================================================
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Thank you @tauhid101 for your reply,
and
thank you @hawk99 for your effort and inquiry, but I think chabad.org might not have an answer neither, it's just another cult (or sect) within the Jewish world (although a very interesting one ), same as there are many in Xtianity or Islam.
And, by the way, it is not "my" prayer , I just found it published somewhere in the internet.God might bless you all
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Is the number of salaat prayers 5 or 3
(From the book "The Quran Numerical Coding of the Salaat Prayers" by E. BOUQDIB, ( 2007), The English version is finished and will be soon available here for download).
There is now in the Internet a lot of deceiving web pages pretending to follow only the Quran and declaring that God mentioned only 3 Prayers by name Fajr prayer, middle prayer and Night prayer. The people are pretending they want to follow only the Quran and start shortening their Prayers first! One might think that since God repeatedly reminds us to always remember him, they would have gone in the opposite direction and even started doing more, but no! They start by shortening first! They even come up with the Verses where God inspires Mohamed to follow the religion of Abraham, which implies that Prayers were already known and decide that the Quran has to name it all again for them, something that goes against their own logic! But what about the Verse stating people could not do contact prayer anymore because they lost them (1959)? Why did they lose them is clear, God preferred to test the human chains of transmission and if a link is broken, the next generation loses salaat prayer. How many cultures, languages and dialects have disappeared completely? Have a look at the list here. If God?s decision was that prayers practice shall be transmitted only from believer to believer as we have seen by analysing Verse 3117, then if among a group of people, believing and practicing prayers fades away, they will eventually loose that practice altogether. Generations afterwards, people have no archeological piece from which they can reconstitute the puzzle and speculators will start inventing rules. A living example is to compare how the Jewish, Christians and Muslims pray; it looks as if it did not come from the same source (God). We are lucky that the Quran describes in many Verses different stages of Prayer which are identical to how we pray, and can then measure how far away Jews and Christians diverged from the practices of Abraham (1959).
God addressed directly in the Quran only one prayer the middle prayer and He did not even name it or ?precise anything? (in the linguistic dimension) about its name
( (9) (223
Guard strictly your prayers, and the Middle Prayer; and stand before God in a devote (frame of mind).
The other two prayer names mentioned fall in a Verse (245 that ?has nothing to do with prayers?, (context, linguistically). If we follow only the naming or their repetitions then we should do 67 or 68 prayers per day, not 5 that a true believer does, and not 3, as they now pretend, since the word Salaat is repeated 67 times! (Every 10 minutes the whole day!) Their argumentation is ?God said follow only Quran and in Quran we find only 2 names for prayers, and there must be another one because God talks about a middle one! So naive but that is the logic they use!
Verse 2238 points to 5 prayers
If we have the basics of the Arabic Grammar and read carefully Verse 2238 we would understand in that Verse that mentions the middle prayer (223 that there must be more than 4 prayers and less than 6! Yes I am not kidding! I am making it even a duty to present a qualitative and quantitative analysis so that no doubt about it will remain
By analysing systematically that Verse we note that it has two key words that define, limit and quantify all our prayers! If we also put in front of us Verse 11114 and Verse 1778, we will arrive without the slightest doubt to 5 prayers. The first word is Al-salawati which is ?the prayers? in Arabic and the second is the word ?middle?.
1.First we have to clear one point that has to do with simple logic. If you have many groups of children and I tell you to take care of ?that group children? you have no way of knowing which group of children I mean if you did not see to which group I pointed, but if I tell you to take care of ?that group of children and particularly Mary?, then you know which group of children I mean, because I named one who belongs to a particular group and therefore no further information is necessary. In the Verse 2238, God pointed to the middle prayer and therefore what is immediately meant are the prayers of a day, because if it was generally ?ALL PRAYERS? then there would be no middle. Therefore the plural Al-Salawat that precedes indicates the others prayers of the day. It is a plural but it points ONLY to the prayers of one day, not any prayers. We know that the book of God is absolutely logical in its declarations and numbering as is stated in Verses 839 and 8320.
2. In Arabic there are two kinds of plurals, the plural for ONLY 2 and the plural for 3 or more (see http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_grammar). The plural for two in our case would be Salaateini not Salawati! Now if the Verse says Salawati and middle Salaat, the logic of Arabic grammar already points to(3 or more)+(1) = (4 or more)
If there were only 3 Prayers God would have said
Observe the ?Salaateini?, and the middle Salaat, and devote yourselves totally to GOD
This would equate to 3 the number of our prayers, if there were ONLY 3 prayers Salaateini means 2, to which we add the middle Salaat and we get the total of 3, which is not the case.
3. Now let us see the mathematical consequences of the use of the word middle. If you have a sequence of numbers, you CAN NOT TALK about the middle one, unless there is an ODD number of items, 2 is the middle number of the sequence (1, 2, 3), 3 is the middle number of the sequence (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). In other words, the word middle already defines that the total number of Prayers is an odd number! Now we have seen that grammatically-speaking there must be 4 or more, but 4 is even and has no middle number and jumping to six we see that it is also without a middle number, hence the only mathematical possibility left is 5. So we have now proved from only that one Verse that there are 5 prayers. We could already stop here, but some might come and say eh! why not 7 or 9! Just for the sake of trying to inject confusion, even though they will stick to their 3 prayers!To make it conclusive, let us see what the other two Verses, which specify some prayers say, Verse defines 3 prayers
(11114)
You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salaat) at both ends of the day, and during the night. The righteous works wipe out the evil works. This is a reminder for those who would take heed.
Since Prayers time is valid in the interval between two points or times, we see here 3 prayers, the prayer at the first extremity of the day which is Fajr and the prayer of the second extremity of the day, which must be Maghrib and not Isha. This is because in the same Verse and immediately afterwards, God wipes out the possibility of even considering it by adding the prayer of the night, which is Isha (and during the night). There is only one prayer that must be performed during the night when it is dark and it is ISHA. Now we end up with a new prayer as follows
1
2
3
4
5
Fajr
Noon
Middle
Maghrib
Isha
Further, there are two Verses defining the Noon prayer, Verse 629 dealing with Friday prayer at noon practiced by all nations since the advent of Islam, and Verse 1778 that says
(177
You shall observe the Contact Prayer (Salaat) when the sun declines from its highest point at noon, as it moves towards sunset. You shall also observe (the recitation of) the Quran at dawn. (Reciting) the Quran at dawn is witnessed.
So we add the Noon prayer
1
2
3
4
5
Fajr
Noon
Middle
Maghrib
Isha
We said that the possibilities are 5, 7 or 9. Now we see that we can forget about 7 and 9, because we end up only with 4 to which we add now the middle prayer and that bring the total to 5 prayers per day
1
2
3
4
5
Fajr
Noon
Middle
Maghrib
Isha
By reading the Verse of the middle prayer we should ask ourselves why the Almighty marked or endorsed the middle prayer with a mathematical quality but did not name it! In our book ?The quran mathematical code for daily prayers and prostrations? we discover that He meant by the word middle something far reaching, not only the middle prayer?
SOURCE
http//www.realquran.net/quran-articles/6-religious-questions/2-is-the-number-of-salaat-prayers-5-or-3
By the way, it is a very interesting site, with some articles, and a book "UNLOCKING THE QURAN CODE" http//realquran.net/
It is very extensive and makes it difficult to ignore mathematical implications. )Peace
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Peace Godsubmitter.
Thank you for your post.
I will be discussing various topics in the " messengers" thread,God wiling.
One of the reasons God sends a clarifying messenger is the circular arguments that go on.Each inventing their own "deen" and claiming it is from "Qoran".
Following the messenger is endorsed/authorised by God.
Following others without authority from God is setting up partners with God.5 salat it is,for me too.
Peace to you.
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Salaam,
Five prayers you say? I could not find evidence of that in Qur'an unfortunately and I found signs that the Asr and Maghrib prayers were a personal preference of Muhammad.
My personal understanding is that the dawn and dusk prayers are fixing points but then there are middle prayers which are according to one's own schedule, whereas the afternoon prayer was Muhammad's choice. God said to have regular Salat and it the only clear advice from God I could discover about daily prayers so I see the dawn and dusk as the only really determined ones because it is beginning respective end of the day.
Apart from during the day and at the ends of the day there are moments of prayer in the night and where God seems to expect that we spend time in meditation/Salat over a longer duration. Merely thinking about creation, God's marvels and perhaps reading the Qur'an can be regarded as "meditation". Prayer in the night is not just a few minutes and then off to sleep but a longer concentration on the topic of God. God pulled this activity into the night because he understands that we need the day for other activities for our survival, but using the mind you can certainly see that if you have the luxury of having time in the day you can put this activity into the day. Life is much easier these days than over 1400 years ago. So if you have time then put this activity here. Maybe reignite the concept of the Sabbath and keep a whole day for God in the weekends? The more you do for God instead of for your wealth and other temporary gains, the more you show God that you are mindful of Him and purify yourself. Of course helping your relatives, speaking about God and singing praises of the Lord together is a good substitute for "salat". When you do these things God would (allegorically) get a smile on His face. God loves when we show love for the creation. Love thy neighbor as thyself.
For me, Salat is not prayer in traditional regards, but more moments to be particularly mindful of God as in focusing extra much. Maybe talk freely with God and offering a psalm or supplication for Him. Personally I parrot the Qur'an prayer and the Jesus' prayer of the Gospel as a supplication every time and then ramble on about my problems and wishes and perhaps thanking Him in customized ways. I see Salat as connecting to God through channeled efforts of mind-work.
So in my understanding there are no 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 etc prayers in the day but an infinite number and oneself is only the limiting factor although God gives reference to prayers when we wake up and at night, i.e. when we get up and when we are about to go to sleep. Since I believe the tales of old in the Bible for example to be true and thus that Jesus and other characters prayed during daylight I have faith that prayers is something God expects to come naturally from our part and that we connect with Him frequently during the day. Whenever we have a wish for something in the day to happen or not happen then we perform Salat, or if we simply miss our Master. If you offer only two prayers in the day is that not sounding a bit meager to you? Well, actually offer is not the right choice since God, from an accountant point of view has absolutely no need for your prayer but yourself. But if you are a friend of God of course God will like the devotion and that you are mindful of Him.
Other than that as I have rambled on before is that we should always live in a state of prayer and purify ourselves. We should perform constant salat and zakat. Be mindful of God and purify yourselves.
And in a rough world like this it can be more shielded and possible to concentrate if you pray and concentrate on your salat in solitude and it can be nice for God to see that you do not only do it to be shown among men. We are not "religious" to impress on others that we are better humans but to show our gratitude to the Lord and seek His counsel, and Nearness and Guidance. However, if you have a group of Believers/Muslims who have the same mind as you then pray in solitude with them, it might be a bonus that one is able to unite under God's creed. A brotherhood (or sisterhood) of friends together, is that not a lovely sight?
Personally I substitute some moments of prayers with service of God to help others instead and I connect to God thrice during the day; dawn and dusk, and at one occasion during the day, apart from the Salat I do when I talk to God on-the-fly during the day when I need something done. In the night I follow the whole chapter which talks about devotion in the darkness of the night. I have plans to reestablish additional prayers/moments of exclusive connection to God throughout the day, but right now this suffices me. I feel almost psychotic with energy of God residing in me as it is, so it is enough. Hehe, do not worry it is not as bad as it sounds, I was only trying to describe the explosive feeling I have within me. It is a difference between feeling this with a Shaytaanic control and one as a blessing of God. Everyone is mad in its own right, but it all about what "right" is.
God bless you
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Peace man of faith.
I follow the latest messenger. My study of Qoran does not contradict his view.
You can do as much or as little as you want. I am only responsible for me.
The connection/ intention/submission to God is more important I agree.. What is in the heart God sees.What we do can mean nothing if the devotion /loyalty to God is not there.
God bless you.
Peace. -
Salaam good logic,
Yes. You are responsible over your own deeds, I just wanted to give my own understanding of this. I suppose you mean you follow Dr. Khalifa's preachings?
God bless you
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Peace man of faith.
Yes I do.
I am sure you are familiar with the circular debates/arguments that are going on in here and all over the internet/forms/....
Rituals/ no rituals... o salat, 2 salat, 3.5... fast/ do not fast...Zakat/ no zakat... and on ... and on.. they go ...
God sent his scriptures and reminds with messengers. ( See " O children of Adam! When messengers come to you,)
We think we are so clever, but satan is cleverer! Our ego and arrogance is easy prey for satan!
Following God and His messenger is upholding the authority of God. Following anyone else is setting up partners with God.
That is what I understand from my study of Bible and Qoran.
May the Lord guide us to His path
Peace to you.
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Salaam,
Five prayers you say? I could not find evidence of that in Qur'an unfortunately and I found signs that the Asr and Maghrib prayers were a personal preference of Muhammad.
My personal understanding is that the dawn and dusk prayers are fixing points but then there are middle prayers which are according to one's own schedule, whereas the afternoon prayer was Muhammad's choice. God said to have regular Salat and it the only clear advice from God I could discover about daily prayers so I see the dawn and dusk as the only really determined ones because it is beginning respective end of the day.
Apart from during the day and at the ends of the day there are moments of prayer in the night and where God seems to expect that we spend time in meditation/Salat over a longer duration. Merely thinking about creation, God's marvels and perhaps reading the Qur'an can be regarded as "meditation". Prayer in the night is not just a few minutes and then off to sleep but a longer concentration on the topic of God. God pulled this activity into the night because he understands that we need the day for other activities for our survival, but using the mind you can certainly see that if you have the luxury of having time in the day you can put this activity into the day. Life is much easier these days than over 1400 years ago. So if you have time then put this activity here. Maybe reignite the concept of the Sabbath and keep a whole day for God in the weekends? The more you do for God instead of for your wealth and other temporary gains, the more you show God that you are mindful of Him and purify yourself. Of course helping your relatives, speaking about God and singing praises of the Lord together is a good substitute for "salat". When you do these things God would (allegorically) get a smile on His face. God loves when we show love for the creation. Love thy neighbor as thyself.
For me, Salat is not prayer in traditional regards, but more moments to be particularly mindful of God as in focusing extra much. Maybe talk freely with God and offering a psalm or supplication for Him. Personally I parrot the Qur'an prayer and the Jesus' prayer of the Gospel as a supplication every time and then ramble on about my problems and wishes and perhaps thanking Him in customized ways. I see Salat as connecting to God through channeled efforts of mind-work.
So in my understanding there are no 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 etc prayers in the day but an infinite number and oneself is only the limiting factor although God gives reference to prayers when we wake up and at night, i.e. when we get up and when we are about to go to sleep. Since I believe the tales of old in the Bible for example to be true and thus that Jesus and other characters prayed during daylight I have faith that prayers is something God expects to come naturally from our part and that we connect with Him frequently during the day. Whenever we have a wish for something in the day to happen or not happen then we perform Salat, or if we simply miss our Master. If you offer only two prayers in the day is that not sounding a bit meager to you? Well, actually offer is not the right choice since God, from an accountant point of view has absolutely no need for your prayer but yourself. But if you are a friend of God of course God will like the devotion and that you are mindful of Him.
Other than that as I have rambled on before is that we should always live in a state of prayer and purify ourselves. We should perform constant salat and zakat. Be mindful of God and purify yourselves.
And in a rough world like this it can be more shielded and possible to concentrate if you pray and concentrate on your salat in solitude and it can be nice for God to see that you do not only do it to be shown among men. We are not "religious" to impress on others that we are better humans but to show our gratitude to the Lord and seek His counsel, and Nearness and Guidance. However, if you have a group of Believers/Muslims who have the same mind as you then pray in solitude with them, it might be a bonus that one is able to unite under God's creed. A brotherhood (or sisterhood) of friends together, is that not a lovely sight?
Personally I substitute some moments of prayers with service of God to help others instead and I connect to God thrice during the day; dawn and dusk, and at one occasion during the day, apart from the Salat I do when I talk to God on-the-fly during the day when I need something done. In the night I follow the whole chapter which talks about devotion in the darkness of the night. I have plans to reestablish additional prayers/moments of exclusive connection to God throughout the day, but right now this suffices me. I feel almost psychotic with energy of God residing in me as it is, so it is enough. Hehe, do not worry it is not as bad as it sounds, I was only trying to describe the explosive feeling I have within me. It is a difference between feeling this with a Shaytaanic control and one as a blessing of God. Everyone is mad in its own right, but it all about what "right" is.
God bless you
Yes @Man of Faith, thank you for your post, but I don't think it is interesting to write about our own personal opinions and rumblings as you say... you certainly know that there are a few enough women doing just that in this Forum, apart from some other members spamming and polluting with their utter nonsense...
It is better to present arguments, articles, or some other kind of proofs that we choose to confirm our conclusions.If I can remember well, you were also quite a strong advocate of 5 daily Salat - Contact prayers, and at this point I would just like to remind you of difference between Salat as a Contact prayer, and Dua - a normal prayer that can be done anytime...
As I am trying to really understand this Salat concept in the Qur'an, I tried all the possibilities doing it regularly, then abandoning it altogether, then doing it twice or 3 times a day etc, etc... and, I must conclude that in periods when I was not doing the pre-established Salat as a Contact prayer (or "ritual" as you call it) as taught by late Dr. Rashad Khalifa, PhD, there was always something missing in my life, and although nothing bad happened (because I think God is protecting me because He sees that I am adhering to Him as much as I can), I must confess that in those periods when I was not performing the 5 daily Contact prayers I was definitively lacking GRACE, or, GRACE was missing in my life somehow...
Perhaps it is just my own personal impression, but I think that there is definitely SOMETHING in that "ritual" and something important about it, and, allow me to remind you, that we both once agreed together, it cannot be a mere coincidence that it is preserved intact after so many centuries...
Now, of course one is free to abandon any precept, so much so as one is free not to believe in God, or, not to accept Dr. Rashad Khalifa PhD as a messenger of God...
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Peace man of faith.
Yes I do.
I am sure you are familiar with the circular debates/arguments that are going on in here and all over the internet/forms/....
Rituals/ no rituals... o salat, 2 salat, 3.5... fast/ do not fast...Zakat/ no zakat... and on ... and on.. they go ...
God sent his scriptures and reminds with messengers. ( See " O children of Adam! When messengers come to you,)
We think we are so clever, but satan is cleverer! Our ego and arrogance is easy prey for satan!
Following God and His messenger is upholding the authority of God. Following anyone else is setting up partners with God.
That is what I understand from my study of Bible and Qoran.
May the Lord guide us to His path
Peace to you.
Thank you for the post, my emphasis in red is because I think it is never enough to remember that...
BUT...
I also think that it is far more important to remember that GOD IS RUNNING EVERYTHING!
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You see, the more I try to avoid, and do without, the legacy of late Dr. Rashad Khalifa, no matter how many circles or musings I undertake, no matter how many new or interesting "points of view" or modern "tafseers" I encounter, I always come back to his very important findings and explanations, and I must admit, over and over again, that God really gave him the sign which shows us that he is really the messenger of the covenant, indeed!
(not just the mathematical miracle of 19, but many, many other cleansing he did for the Right Path towards God)I am lucky enough in that I was never in any danger of idolizing Dr Khalifa, or adhering to the "cult" of submitters (if there is any as such), first, because I do not personally know or met anyone of that group, and secondly because I always regard my personal relationship with God as such PERSONAL!
I have no need, nor inclination, to belong to any human (organized-religious) group whatsoever!God's (purified) Scripture and God's guidance is enough for me.
I put myself completely and totally in God's "Hands" and at His Mercy.Shalom
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Peace Godsubmitter.
Ditto
I am lucky enough in that I was never in any danger of idolizing Dr Khalifa, or adhering to the "cult" of submitters (if there is any as such), first, because I do not personally know or met anyone of that group, and secondly because I always regard my personal relationship with God as such PERSONAL!
I have no need, nor inclination, to belong to any human (organized-religious) group whatsoever!God's (purified) Scripture and God's guidance is enough for me.
I put myself completely and totally in God's "Hands" and at His Mercy.That makes two of us.
But I believe in God , His scriptures and His messengers.I have solid proof that God exists and has sent a message and messengers. From my study of Qoran, I believe RK was a messenger.
Peace to you.
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Yes @Man of Faith, thank you for your post, but I don't think it is interesting to write about our own personal opinions and rumblings as you say... you certainly know that there are a few enough women doing just that in this Forum, apart from some other members spamming and polluting with their utter nonsense...
It is better to present arguments, articles, or some other kind of proofs that we choose to confirm our conclusions.If I can remember well, you were also quite a strong advocate of 5 daily Salat - Contact prayers, and at this point I would just like to remind you of difference between Salat as a Contact prayer, and Dua - a normal prayer that can be done anytime...
As I am trying to really understand this Salat concept in the Qur'an, I tried all the possibilities doing it regularly, then abandoning it altogether, then doing it twice or 3 times a day etc, etc... and, I must conclude that in periods when I was not doing the pre-established Salat as a Contact prayer (or "ritual" as you call it) as taught by late Dr. Rashad Khalifa, PhD, there was always something missing in my life, and although nothing bad happened (because I think God is protecting me because He sees that I am adhering to Him as much as I can), I must confess that in those periods when I was not performing the 5 daily Contact prayers I was definitively lacking GRACE, or, GRACE was missing in my life somehow...
Perhaps it is just my own personal impression, but I think that there is definitely SOMETHING in that "ritual" and something important about it, and, allow me to remind you, that we both once agreed together, it cannot be a mere coincidence that it is preserved intact after so many centuries...
Now, of course one is free to abandon any precept, so much so as one is free not to believe in God, or, not to accept Dr. Rashad Khalifa PhD as a messenger of God...
Salaam GODsubmitter,
Well. I do not consider what I wrote to be just my personal opinions and I base them on my understanding of the scriptures as I read and interpret them as well as from inspiration. I know that man complicates things and I have understood that many things here are simply personal preferences and I am sure the "Sunnah" you know about Muhammad was his preference of devotion to God. It does not say that this "ritual" is anything wrong because I still perform in similar to this even as of today, but it was not a specific way that God meant "This is how you should do it!"
Regarding the amount of prayers it is my own understanding of Quran that lead me to believe that there is a prayer at both ends of the day, at night and then also prayers which you can observe during daylight. I promise you that I did not just run up with my own "opinions" (this word is so abused here), but rather meditated and sought counsel from God about it while analyzing the Message. I just do not buy the strict five prayer schedule and I think there has never been any absolute pattern like this.
Yes. I know we agreed that the ritual is preserved over many centuries but since then I have found it weird to have different rakat for every prayer and a robot-like pattern of expression. I still think that people in the past also bowed down and prostrated and you remember me saying that it is not necessarily from religion this move came from but rather a way of showing deep respect for someone. And I still prostrate physically in front of God and bow down, but for me the contents and connection to God has more meaning now after I focused on the actual "Salat" (mindfulness of God) concept.
My understanding does not need to erase prayers and I see you fear that I blot out prayers in traditional regard but I have not. It ought to be a misunderstanding because I seem lax in my approach, but I am even more serious in my devotion to God now.
I am not sure about Dr. Khalifa, if he is a Messenger or not. He came up with certain utterances which I had difficulties swallowing. But the original Message he started out with was righteous and he started a chain reaction after his appearance here on Earth which is good. We must not forget that the most important criteria in Islam is belief in God, His realm and living as good people. Khalifa told us to throw away all the hadith and this was a positive signal to the crowd. One is just fine with the Quran alone and had it not been for curiosity no other book would ever be needed, all the "religious" information is contained within.
I have begun to think that Rashad was a Messenger who went rogue but was actually on his mission during the time that he discovered the 19 phenomenon and his initial declarations of "religion". For the sake of it you can as well call him a Messenger as I doubt none of them were like a saint as in free from sin. No doubt Dr. Khalifa was a sign for mankind. I have no problems with people who see him as a Messenger when I think about it as long as they do not call him infallible or idolize him.
Muhammad was far from perfect and it just reflects the fallibility of us humans. It was only with God's help that Muhammad became a better person and so it might have been with Rashad Khalifa.
So brother GODsubmitter, I hope you were not offended by my previous post and hope you understand that I still perform Salat in a similar manner as before, but with the perception that Salat has a customizable pattern and that the more the merrier and that certain deeds can substitute the prayers too, but not replace them. The purpose of Salat is connection to God and heavy concentration is the best way to accomplish this. I have talked about staying in a "state of prayer" before and it is not particularly anything new from my part and it is my understanding of the verses with Salat and Zakat as of lately.
And the supplication (dua) I see as an integral part of Salat or you can perform one on-the-fly. One can get on ones knees at any one time if there is a need too.
I try not to hang on to the prayer-free Islam since that feels incompatible with Qur'an no matter how your twist and turn with it. There are a few late reformations which take place on here which I do not follow since I cannot make them add up.
You criticized me for utterances without ayats but I only expressed my views however if you read my lines I think you can together with Quran and God understand my philosophies anyway. I try only to speak from the Quranic passages spinning around in my head but in my own mind language. Trust me that I am a man of faith. Try read my latest posts again and you can see Islam in them with a new fresh spirit less contaminated with traditional understanding but still following its teachings. I still call it continuing where Rashad Khalifa started.
Without active prayers one feels bad, you are right about that and I keep the Salat at regular times per day, but I take it literally about "regular times" as often as you can. You remember I experimented with one prayer every three hours and that works too but right now I have some other goodly work going on.
I could spam the forum with lots of ayat but I think that is up to the reader themselves to search and understand. It always comes down to the usual quarrel about some silly Arabic words anyway which no one agrees the same on. This is also why I simply take it as filling the day with prayers from the early dawn until nightfall and in the night with special devotion. I have not opinionated on that but rather taken "wusta" as prayers in the middle in plural. I am not sure if I have generalized it too much but at least the prayer schedule and the devotion I put down feels good. I read one chapter one of Qur'an and one Jesus' prayer from the Bible in each prayer, but that is just me perhaps. I was touched by the "You should pray like this "Our Lord of Heaven..." and chapter one of Qur'an is obviously a prayer without hesitation.
Anyway, I am no Messenger unless God explicitly tells me so my rambling is not to be followed as the absolute truth but only as ramblings of a blessed man at best. I try not to follow my own vain desires nevertheless. I try to keep my spirituality.
In all of our problems with agreeing on what is the absolute Truth we need to remember the basic criteria I often parrot
- Belief in God
- Believing in His realm (my latest usage of words to describe this)
- Leading a good life
I see number three as the real pillar of Islam and the most important parameter compared to all other details we argue about.
Now I say "I" see salat as a practice you do to purify yourself and seek God's Nearness and Guidance and it should be done regularly and I think we all agree that this statement is true even if it is two, three or five prayers... or two, three or four rakat in each?
Anyways, God's pen does never run out of ink.
God bless you