My text on SALAT

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Salam to all.
This is a text about SALAT. It is not purely my own work but rather a result of the blessed sharing of knowledge and ideas and thoughts. We ask God to increase our knowledge to help us keep on the way till we meet with Him
In 1184,85 we read about a messenger by the name Shuaib, sent to his people with the following

To serve God alone (a3budul lah) 2. Not to give short measure to weight no matter how it seems to cause prosperity. Its final result is terrible. 3. Not to withhold from the people the things which are their due. 4. Not to commit evil in the land ending with mischief on it.
The same story is repeated in 26176-190.
Their reaction to this which is mentioned in 1187, says
"Ya shuaib, a salawatuka tamuruka an natruka ma ya3budu aba~ana aw an naf3ala fi amwalina ma nashaa/ O shua`ib do your salawat command you that we LEAVE WHAT OUR FATHERS SERVED, and that WE DO WITH OUR PROPERTIES WHAT WE WANT.
Understanding this word (salawat) as a ritual prayer would, with no doubt, cause confusion and would make this passage very unclear. As this was revealed to the Arabs at the time of the messenger, it is impossible to think that they were confused and did not know what "salawat" is?
So, what is the problem? What does this word really mean in Arabic?
Before having to answer this, let us go and have a look at 911,12. The first part of this chapter (9) and good part of the previous chapter deals with a specific group of people who disbelieved. They had an oath with the believers. We understand that, while they were on an oath with the believers, they mocked to expel the messenger and started a campaign against him (913, 830)
Those people were given a period of time to re-think, although their position is quite clear.
" But if they repent and wa aqamus salata wa atuz zakata then they are your brothers in Deen (system) Thus do We explain the signs in detail to those who understand." 911
"but if they violate their oath after their covenant and attack your Deen,,- fight the chiefs of disbelieve/rejection as they respect no oaths that they may be restrained." 912
We see that in 911/12 violating the oath and covenant stands opposite to iqamatus salat. So what is salat?

The first verse with the word SALAT (salwat) that we meet in the Book when we start reading from the beginning appears in verse 23 which is by all means related to the previous verse 22. Let us have a look.

"That is the Book, no doubt in it, guidance for those who ARE AWARE/FEAR GOD!

23, Who believe in the unseen, and yuqimoona salata/maintain the pledge/commitment (remain committed to God), and of what We give them they spend.

Let us have a look into another verse.

1440, O, My lord, make me a maintainer of the pledge/commitment (committed to God), and of my off-spring, my Lord and accept my call/prayer.

Ibrahem was asking His Lord to help him keep the Pledge, that is, to remain committed to Him.

Some more verses;

5106 O you who have believed, an evidence among you, when death approaches when making bequest,- two just men FROM AMONG YOU or two from other than you if you are journeying through the earth, and the chance of the death befalls you, you hold them after pledging, so they swear by God, if you doubt, that they are not taking for it a price, even if it is a close relative and we are not hiding the evidence we owe to God and if we do, then we shall be sinners.

See up to 5108.

Let us ponder over the following two verses carefully.

671, Say Shall we call on others beside God, things that can do us neither good nor harm and turn on our heels after receiving guidance from God? Like one whom the satans have made into a fool, wondering bewildered through the earth his friends calling come to us, (vainly) guiding him to the path. Say Gods guidance is the true guidance and we have been directed to submit ourselves to the Lord of the worlds.

672, And to remain committed (to maintain commitment), to fear Him, it is He to Whom we shall all return.

The idea followed from the previous verse suggests that, we remain committed, following God closely after we have submitted.

6162 Say My pledge (commitment) my service of sacrifice, my life and death are to the Lord of worlds.

2441, See you not that all that in the heavens and on the earth celebrates the praises of God, and the birds outspread. Each knows its commitment and its praises and God is aware of what they do.

Each of the Gods creatures in the heavens and on the earth knows its prescribed commitment within the creation and God is aware of that.

4238, And those who have responded to their Lord and maintain commitment (remain committed) and their affair is mutually consulted among themselves and who spend from which we have bestowed on them.

SALAT has the basic meaning COMMITMENT, PLEDGE. Many other meanings are possible and are derived from this one such as TIE, ATTACHMENT. SUPPORT FOLLOW CLOSE and etc.

One committed to an idea is its follower and supporter. The same is attached to the idea.

This is simply the meaning of the word. Its usage may vary and it could be used to indicate a certain commitment as well as pointing to commitment in general just as many other words. Examples from the Book are many.
Now let us go beck to the verse from the beginning of this text.
In 1184-87, Shuaib was offering his people another direction in life (other than the inherited) with the One True God on it to be followed. These new commitments are causing trouble to their whole system of life.
They cried" O Shuaib, do your commitments (this new set of action and behaviour) command you that we leave off what our fathers served and that we leave off doing what we like with our property"?
Now let us go back and check verses 911 and 912. We see that it is; -if they maintain commitment and evolve and not violate their oath and covenant.
In 835 we read about their commitment to destroy/damage (mukaa) and to turn people away from the Path (tasdiya) (check 834, and 836).
Other related meanings
To follow close (as if feared to lose the followed just as the little kid attached to his mother in the market place, upholding part of her cloth in fear of losing her) represents one of the meanings derived from commitment/salat. One committed to a specific cause is its follower.
Support carries the notion of attachment, link and connection, which are all possible meanings of this word. This defines its significance. A follower of a particular belief is its supporter as well.
Analysis of some verses with the word SALAT and other related verses
"Recite what has been revealed to you from/of the Book and aqimis salat, for salat restrains/prevents from shameful and evil deeds (fahshaa and munkar) and keeping God in mind is greater and God knows what you do." 2945
Here we read that SALAT RESTRAINS /PREVENTS FROM fahisha and munkar (shameful and evil deeds) Upholding commitments and/or Following God closely on the Path or observing His limits prevents from shameful and evil deed. Fulfilling a specific ritual at certain times does not prevent from shameful deeds and evil. Millions who have been observing their regular prayers, have been also committing gross sins and violations of basic orders. It is being committed and observing commitments that prevents from the shameful deeds and evil as observing Gods limits and following Him closely stands opposite to following Satans footsteps "O you who have believed, follow not Satans footsteps; and he who follows Satans footsteps (let them know) that he commands SHAMEFUL AND EVIL DEEDS (fahisha and munkar) and were it not for Gods grace and mercy, He would not have purified any of you (ma zak ka) but God purifies who wills and God hears and knows everything." 2421
As we can see the above verse 2421 stands opposite to 2945.
Following Satan leads to shameful and evil deeds.
Following God closely (being committed) prevents from shameful and evil deeds.
The other assertion in 2945 states; " wala dhikrul lahi akbar.." which I translate as keeping God on mind is greater.
Keeping God on mind is greater as following close and observing His limits (as means) leads to Keeping God on mind.
Just to remind that the concept and meaning of DHIKRUL LAH is greater that lip service or repeated Words. Dhikrul alah is process that keeps going on as long as we live. So KEEPING GOD IN MIND is the Goal/Aim for SALAT which is the means here.
In the same lane of this understanding stands the following pair of verses
"But after them followed a posterity who lost SALAT and followed after lusts, they will surely to face destruction." 1959
"Except whose who repent and believe and work righteousness; for these will enter the Garden and will not be wronged in the least." 1960
And;
But after them followed a posterity that inherited the Book, but they chose the vanities of this world, saying " we will be forgiven." And if similar vanity came their way they would again seize them. Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them that they say not about God but the Truth and study what is in the Book? But best for whose who fear God is the home of the hereafter. Will you not understand? 7169
And those who uphold the Book and maintain commitment/obligation we shall not cause the reward of the righteous to perish. 7170
In the first set (1959,60) we read about a following of lusts. The corresponding idea in 7169 to Following of lusts is represented in "they chose the vanities of this world" and their persistence on this "and if a similar vanity came their way they would again seize it".
It is important to notice that these people who chose the vanities of this world actually inherited the Book. But it obvious that they did not choose to uphold it and remain committed to it. The next verse (7170) confirms this as it speaks about those who uphold the Book and remain committed as opposite to those mentioned in the previous verse (7169) who, although inherited the Book, they chose the vanities of this world.
So, following Satans steps is no good as he (Satan) commands shameful and evil deeds (2421). This results in the losing of SALAT and the following of lusts (1959) and determines the choosing of the vanities of this world. But, following God closely, that is being committed to that course of life (iqamatus salat) prevents from shameful and evil deeds (2945). Read 2168, 169, 170 God commands what is good. Ponder over the following verses 1690, "Verily, God commands justice, the doing of good (righteousness) and giving to kith and kin, and He forbids shameful and evil deeds (yanha anil fahsha wal munkar ) and injustice; He instructs you that you may keep (this) in mind."
1991, "And fulfil the covenant of God when you make the covenant and break not your oaths after you have confirmed them, when you have made God your surety; for God knows all that you do."
Here we have another set of verses to give more insight to the word salat;
"Verily, God and His forces (malaika) support/commit to the announcer/prophet. O you, who have believed, support/ commit to him and surrender in full measure." 3356
This is the verse which gives credit, according to the traditional understanding, to the well established concept that we have to do SALAT (ritual prayer???) on the prophet repeating the phrase SALA ALLAHU ALEYHI WASALAM.
It is obvious that the verse speaks about ACTION and not a LIP SERVICE. It says "God and His forces yusaloona alan nabiy!?" God and his forces do not keep saying SALALAHU ALA NABIY and ask the believers to do the same. God and His forces support the prophet a well as those who believed with him;
"He it is Who supports/commits to you and His forces in order to bring you out from darknesses into light; and He is full of mercy to the believers." 3343
And He asked the believers to support the prophet in his mission, that is, to support God,s cause. (3356)
This is the obvious and logical relation
"O you who have believed, if you help (the cause of) God, He will help you and plant your feet firmly" 477
See also 7157, 381, 940, 874 and many other verses throughout the Book.
So, maintain SALAT, is to be COMMITTED, to FOLLOW CLOSELY, to be a SUPPORTER.
3518 "Nor can a bearer of a burden bears anothers burden. If one heavily laden should call another to bear his load, not the least portion of it can be carried (by the other) even though he be nearly related. You can warn only those who FEAR THEIR LORD UNSEEN AND (WHO) REMAIN COMMITTED (MAINTAIN COMMITMENT) and whoever evolves himself do so for himself and to God is the return) There are other words in Arabic which are synonyms for the word Salat (as lizoom/iltizam), but I think that the significance of this word lays in the fact that it links many related ideas within Gods system and it carries the notion of movement (contra to stagnation), and of an alive relation between the follower and what is followed. The word iltizam does not carry the idea of movement. It is more appropriate in use as attachment.
The relation between READING (quraan) and COMMITMENT (salat)
We know that the Reading is the Book revealed to Gods messenger with the DUTY/OBLIGATION/COMMITMENT (2885) to reveal it to people as it was not a private communication (619). The fact that this aspect of the Book (Reading) is emphasized all over the Book and it is the one, with Which, it is most popular makes us think deeply on its significance. So, having this accent on Reading, repeated to us many times, we can clearly identify it as a book that is to be read on regular basis. In the following verses we will GW shed more light GW on this relation between commitment and the Reading. 17106, "and (it is) a Reading which we have divided (into parts) that you read it to men at intervals, we have sent it down at stages." 2885, "Verily He who has ordained/made obliged the Reading on you will return you back to meeting. Say my Lord knows best who brings true guidance and who is manifest error." 2791, "I have been commanded to serve the Lord of this city who has made it forbidden and to Him belong all things and I have been commanded to be of those who submit. And to rehearse the Reading (atluwal quraan), and if any accept guidance, they do it for the good of their own souls and if any astray, say "I am only a warner." 7204, "When the Reading (quraan) is read (quria) listen to it with attention, and hold your peace; that you may receive mercy." 8421, "And when the Reading is read to them they do not submit (with their mind) 619, "And this Reading has been revealed to me to warn you with it and to whom it may reach.." 4126, "The unbelievers say - Do not listen to this Reading and talk at random in the midst (of its reading) that you may gain the upper hand.-" 4629, " Behold, We turned towards you a company of Jinns to listen to the Reading and when they stood in the presence thereof, they said, -listen in silence- AND WHEN THE READING WAS OVER (fa lama qudiya) they returned to their people to warn them." From all these verses (and many similar ones) we see that the aspect READING of the Book has been emphasized. This is due to the fact that warning is through reading. Reading is the main method of its delivery to people. We can see from the above verses that the word is about an organized session(s) dedicated to Reading Gods Book as means of reminding people and delivering the message to them.
Please pay attention to the words (falama qudiya/when it (the Reading) is over) which puts great accent on an organized session with a beginning and end.
The phrase (lama qudiya/when it is finished/done/over) is mentioned in relation to SALAT in 4103, 6210.
I personally believe that they are two sessions dedicated to this purpose (Reading). Mentioned by names, (salatul isha and salatul fajr). I believe verses 1778 and 11114 refer to this.
The best connection to SALAT and READING
SALATUL FAJR/ DAWN DUTY/COMMITMENT = QURANUL FAJR/ DAWN READING
Add to this 17 106 up to 17110 where we read about having the moderate voice for Reading.
So, these sessions for reading are simply a form of commitment (salat).
So, SALAT as a COMMITMENT is simply used in this case to cover the sessions of READING as a commitment putting an emphasis on the fact that Reading is an obligation/commitment that has to be done.

Just as when the word FAHISHA which means SIN can be used for ZINA which is literally ADULTERY to put an accent on the fact that adultery IS a great sin.
Another important link between Reading and SALAT is the fact that for reading two words are used QARA? and TLW.
Tilawat means to follow close/come after. When we read (do tilawat) we follow the sequence of ideas and notions presented in what is read.

GODsubmitter

Thank you very much.
I like the text and explanations