SALAT - Multiple Meaning
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There is "salat" for humans to humans, the most common one mentioned. We should cause to be close to each other.
Opposing to that is "shirk", separation. Shirk can be in separating from Guidance and ones on it, or it can be separating Allah's Names/Attributes from Him.
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Salam, this is an open document for my search regarding SALAT.
Please feel free to comment/argue/correct.
...........Peace,
Note my view, Salat = basically commitment
https//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9609411.0Given so many variations of the derivatives of S-L-W it is not possible to find one standard meaning for it.
Analogy
Take graphite, carbon, pencil lead, coal, diamonds and similar minerals which are very distinct in their forms but their common denominator is they are all Pure Carbon at the atomic level.It is the same for the different derivatives of S-L-W.
Their common denominator at the literal atomic level is "commitment' to flow with Allah's deen and the cause of Allah. Humans do it differently, bird and another animals do it within their assigned ways.In addition different humans do it differently in accordance to their circumstances and conditions. Thus there is fixed pattern or precise exact time one need to do salat .
In the case where it involves a contract, one has to be committed to fulfil one's obligation of the terms of the contract agreed upon.
A Muslim is technically one who has entered into a contract with Allah upon agreed terms in the Quran only.Another question is how critical is Salat in its various forms towards being a Muslim. If one miss some forms it will one be punished for it?
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Thanks herbman for the work on this question.
Myself I have come to the conclusion thhat salaa is communion. It is when you commune with God and His creation. You may do it in manyf orms, spontaneously, planned, but it is the communion, the entering into a state where you feel the unity of everything, or the unity of something. You may commune with God, or you may commune with your environement. The ideal would be total communion.
Salaam
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There is "salat" for humans to humans, the most common one mentioned. We should cause to be close to each other.
Opposing to that is "shirk", separation. Shirk can be in separating from Guidance and ones on it, or it can be separating Allah's Names/Attributes from Him.
Salam,
You have an interesting point but I am still not sure if it is totally accurate I mean you oppose SALAT vs SHIRK!
"Having people to be close to each other" is I think a consequence of SALAT but it is not SALAT.Peace,
Herbman
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Peace,
Note my view, Salat = basically commitment
https//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9609411.0Given so many variations of the derivatives of S-L-W it is not possible to find one standard meaning for it.
Analogy
Take graphite, carbon, pencil lead, coal, diamonds and similar minerals which are very distinct in their forms but their common denominator is they are all Pure Carbon at the atomic level.It is the same for the different derivatives of S-L-W.
Their common denominator at the literal atomic level is "commitment' to flow with Allah's deen and the cause of Allah. Humans do it differently, bird and another animals do it within their assigned ways.In addition different humans do it differently in accordance to their circumstances and conditions. Thus there is fixed pattern or precise exact time one need to do salat .
In the case where it involves a contract, one has to be committed to fulfil one's obligation of the terms of the contract agreed upon.
A Muslim is technically one who has entered into a contract with Allah upon agreed terms in the Quran only.Another question is how critical is Salat in its various forms towards being a Muslim. If one miss some forms it will one be punished for it?
Sala, Peace,
I agree mainly with you, yes "commitment" fit very well sometime and also "to follow closely" could be sometime a synonyme of "commitment".
Here are some synonyms of "To follow"= obey, observe, comply with, adhere to
see https//www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/followNow there are some points I don't agree with you
For me you still mix SALAH (or SALAT) = PRAYER
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First of; to be a Muslim one must enter into an explicit or implicit spiritual contract with Allah.
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The first condition of Muslims is they must 3budu Allah and no other. By default each party to the contract must fulfill their agreed obligations, thus the "commitment" to comply with the terms of the contract as stipulated in the Quran.
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Salat represent the various different forms a Muslim can express his commitment in accordance to the best of his/her ability within the terms of the contract.
Allah also had promised He will fulfill his commitment.
The polytheists are also involved in the concept of 'commitment' or bond/oath with Muslims as Wakas called his re 95, 911. -
One form of expression of a Muslim's commitment to his contract is prayers, regular or otherwise. Such prayers can be accompanied by prostrations, bowing or other forms of external expressions as long as they do not conflict with the major and other sins stipulated in the Quran.
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One sub-category of Salah as implied is nasaka i.e. acts of devotion.
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As such while 90% of the terms re salah used in the Quran are equal to 'commitment';
commitment is not equal to 'salah' .
There are other expressions of the forms of commitment, e.g. be righteous, etc. etc. and comply to all terms of the contract. -
The main condition here is whatever the prayers to be done, they are not obligatory in fixed patterns, rituals in fixed time of the day.
Peace
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Thanks herbman for the work on this question.
Myself I have come to the conclusion thhat salaa is communion. It is when you commune with God and His creation. You may do it in manyf orms, spontaneously, planned, but it is the communion, the entering into a state where you feel the unity of everything, or the unity of something. You may commune with God, or you may commune with your environement. The ideal would be total communion.
Salaam
Peace,
"Communion" seems like a very good term but it does not cover the greater extent and consistency the root S-L-W is used in the Quran.
Note this point in the thread I raised;
• 3. Salat represent the various different forms a Muslim can express his commitment in accordance to the best of his/her ability within the terms of the contract.
Allah also had promised He will fulfill his commitment.
The polytheists are also involved in the concept of 'commitment' or bond/oath with Muslims as Wakas called his re 95, 911.•
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Now there are some points I don't agree with you
For me you still mix SALAH (or SALAT) = PRAYER
Peace
Peace,
Salah/Salat is fundamentally "commitment" as the substance, but the form of this commitment can be through prayers , except such prayers do not have to conform to fixed patterns and precise fixed time as imposed by the Ahadith mongers.
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Thanks herbman for the work on this question.
Myself I have come to the conclusion thhat salaa is communion. It is when you commune with God and His creation. You may do it in manyf orms, spontaneously, planned, but it is the communion, the entering into a state where you feel the unity of everything, or the unity of something. You may commune with God, or you may commune with your environement. The ideal would be total communion.
Salaam
Salam,
you are welcome.
I think "Communion" is also a consequence of SALAH and is a kind of "meditation", this "meditation" is described in the Quran as "dhikr" which is also sometime mis-translated as "to pray".
see for example 3191
Sahih International Who remember (=dhikr) Allah while standing or sitting or on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, , "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You ; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
But this "DHIKR" is after you made "SALAT" as you can see in verse 4103.
Peace
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Peace,
Salah/Salat is fundamentally "commitment" as the substance, but the form of this commitment can be through prayers , except such prayers do not have to conform to fixed patterns and precise fixed time as imposed by the Ahadith mongers.
Then you will have a problem with verse 4103!!!!
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Then you will have a problem with verse 4103!!!!
Peace,
As I had mentioned 'precise fixed time'
I would not interpret mawqtan to be something like this;
http//www.khaleejtimes.com/prayer-time-uaeGenerally one can have salat = commitment as a state 24 hours a day or during waking hours.
Special expression of commitment like prayers should be make with some degree of consistency, i.e. fixed regular periods of the day, not fixed time to the nearest seconds or minutes.In any case, I have always question how critical is salat in terms of prayers and its weightage towards being a 'successful' Muslim. Will Allah punish one who missed some regular prayers or not at the right time in term of minutes.
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peace herbman,
Did you cover the finite/timed/"physical" salat verses in your analysis?
Reference.
Salam Wakas,
4103
Sahih International And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
As we can see in 4103 SALAT is an obligation for the mumineen at specific time, this refers to and I quote myself
1778
Stay firm in "following the teaching" at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning reading cause the morning reading carry their testimony.
1778 is cristal clear "following the teaching" of what is Reading!Regards,
Herbman
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Salam Wakas,
4103
Sahih International And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
As we can see in 4103 SALAT is an obligation for the mumineen at specific time, this refers to and I quote myself
Regards,Herbman
sorry replace "prayer" by "salat" this is the original traduction which I don't agree with.
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish the SALAT. Indeed, SALAThas been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
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Peace,
As I had mentioned 'precise fixed time'
I would not interpret mawqtan to be something like this;
http//www.khaleejtimes.com/prayer-time-uaeGenerally one can have salat = commitment as a state 24 hours a day or during waking hours.
Special expression of commitment like prayers should be make with some degree of consistency, i.e. fixed regular periods of the day, not fixed time to the nearest seconds or minutes.In any case, I have always question how critical is salat in terms of prayers and its weightage towards being a 'successful' Muslim. Will Allah punish one who missed some regular prayers or not at the right time in term of minutes.
again you mix SALAT with "PRAYER".
I agree with you regarding
fixed regular periods of the day, not fixed time to the nearest seconds or minutes.Peace,
Herbman
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1778
Stay firm in "following the teaching" at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning reading cause the morning reading carry their testimony.
1778 is cristal clear "following the teaching" of what is Reading!Are you implying a reading session is done at certain times?
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Salam,
You have an interesting point but I am still not sure if it is totally accurate I mean you oppose SALAT vs SHIRK!
"Having people to be close to each other" is I think a consequence of SALAT but it is not SALAT.Peace,
Herbman
Try to see if shirk is not "association (of partners)" and check if it can be "separation", people from Huden and those who're following it, or separation in Allah's Names/Attributes from Him. I'm sure you'll find it interesting if you find time to check each ayet.
We were born together in same reality and Allah wants us to be together. Es-Salat is a tool for that.
People are taking ayets about salat out of context mostly, but we should always see what about are ayets prior and next to one(s) with salat (or any other topic we're researching).
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Peace,
again you mix SALAT with "PRAYER".
Are you saying 'salat' do not involve 'prayers' at all?
I understand 'salat' = 'commitment' as the main set which include the subsets of prayers , communion, various forms of worshiping, glorification, praising, meditation, etc. which will contribute to remembrance and 3budu .
One point is salat = 'commitment' and encompasses prayers does not mean prayers are obligatory. Any one who believe in meditation, contemplation of Allah's name, greatness, etc. can do so.
The ultimate basis and what matters is how one's external acts influence the relevant spiritual parts in the brain.
So it is wrong if one prays and thereafter immediately goes on the street to demonstrate and commit violence. In this case the wrong part of the brain is triggered and thus the resulting violence.
