Random Salat thought of the day: cleanliness
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I was having a shower the other day and I was pondering about salat and thought about how hygiene is praised in the Quran. It also made me wonder if salat could mean or revolve around something as simple as cleaning oneself (both metaphorically and literally), as this would kind of fit into the verse about a group of soldiers bringing their guns with them to salat to protect themselves. (4 102)
Obviously this meaning is just off the top of my head and doesnt fit into a bunch of other instances where salat is mentioned, but made me ponder anyway. If salat is meant to be carried out once, or a couple times a day, and cleaning (wudu) is involved...well, just made me think.
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Peace beatnik. Ive thought that wudhu just meant general hygiene for some time now. I mean just try to keep clean with water,pretty simple and obvious...
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Yes phoenix,i also agree with purifying ourselves by trying to keep our thoughts positive, and generally peaceful.
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Thanks for the replies, and for humouring me, appreciate it. )
I believe in duality in many things, and from the Quran there is the metaphoric and the literal.
From a literal standpoint, I was thinking salat may be something you do when you wake up; you clean your feet, behind your ears and up to your elbows before leaving the house, and then the same in the evening when you come back from work or whatever. Common sense hygiene.
Metaphorically like you said phonenix1, keeping ourselves purified, which is no easy feat considering the kind of societies we all live in these days, but the guide has many tips for us to stay strong, just reading the Quran is a big help as it says itself that it is assurance for believers. I've always believed this, the Quran is only for believers, so people that go out and try to convert non-believers by shoving a Quran in their face are not only deluding themselves if they think that will work but are also working against Islam itself. Lead (or just live in my case) by example is a good saying that I try to follow.
I still have not come to any firm conclusion on salat but just felt like throwing this cleanliness concept out there, thanks again for responding.
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Peace be upon you,
Yes, we are dealing with "purifying", but it falls more under the effect of "zakaat" rather than the cause of "salaat". Salaat is the programming of your NAFS(subconscious/spirit) with the correct behavior which is the purifying(zakaat) we are seeking. It is likened to the weeding of your garden to get rid of weeds so you can have pure soil to plant good fruit.