If Allah wants things to be easy for us, why so much confusion about salat?
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Peace everyone,
I discovered Islam 5 years ago now and yet I'm still not 100% sure about salat. What is puzzling to me is that if it is so important, why didn't Allah make it ABSOLUTELY clear as to how to pray? Meaning, if it is as crucial to being a Muslim as MOST say, why is it not listed in the Quran perfectly detailed, without any room for questions? Why must we flip around to different chapters piecing the directions (ie times/amounts, etc) together in order to do something that we are "required" to do? Some say that the word salat does not mean prayer, and more explanations of the term are cited adding to the confusion. And please, don't try to say it's very clear, 27 pages of questions/comments on this forum within the "Salat & Zakat" section does NOT show that it's clear. So far, it is the only thing in the Quran which I cannot ,for the life of me, wrap my head around. And one post within this section actually criticizes us for so many of us questioning the exact meaning, that is an insult to my intelligence. (
lf
Peace dear Lilly . Though your concern is right , still it is a fact that people can differ even in a plain issue . But the judgment will depend on the evidence, accuracy and logic . In the case of Salat in the Qur?an , we have a guide-line from GOD Almighty to understand it . In verse 37 He says us that those verses which deal with His commands are simple , straight forward . In other verses so many times Almighty ALLAH repeats that Qur?anic laws are easy to glean from His book which obviously applicable to the verses of Salat. Bearing this methodology in mind if you look into the verses that deal with Salat are really simple . In other word you have to understand/interprete those verses as simply as it stands for . There are so many people around who want to make things difficult and try to translate/interpret a simple word/sentence involve in the issue in a distract way which give Salat a different shape. According to 37 , we should discard those difficult/distract opinion derived from the related verses and should follow which appears simple and plain . To me I found everything clear about Salat in Qur?an
- The definition of Salat
- The name of Salat
- The number of Salat
- The requisites of Salat
- The method of Salat
- The purpose of Salat etc.
Thanks.
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I've been having this same problem about Salat in Al Qur'an.
Allah has equipped us with a heart, I know that's obvious but sometimes whilst reading the Qur'an things are clear, aren't instantly clear & sometimes I'll have to find out from other sources what Allah means.
It's interesting that post containing the pictures of the Egyptians & other cultures & religions praying. Of course Allah knew all about this & maybe He sometimes wants us to follow our hearts even if it means to find the answer to something outside of the Qur'an. What would be the point to blatantly tell us everything we should do to follow Islam & spell it out for us in a completely simple way?
We have free will & a complex brain He would want us to use. I mean no disrespect by that. I'm quite new to Islam so I'm just saying what I think weather I'm right or wrong or nobody knows? Lol! -
The parable of the beggar
A beggar had been sitting by the side of the road for thirty years.
One day a stranger walked by."Spare some change?" mumbled the beggar.
"I have nothing to give you," said the stranger. Then he asked "What's that you're sitting on?""Nothing, " replied the beggar. "Just an old box. I've been sitting on it for as long as I can remember.
"Ever look inside?," asked the stranger.
"No," said the beggar. "What's the point, there's nothing in there."
"Have a look inside," insisted the stranger. The beggar, reluctantly, managed to pry open the lid. With astonishment, disbelief, and elation, he saw that the box was filled with gold.
I am that stranger who has nothing to give you and who is telling you to look inside. Not inside any box, as in the parable, but somewhere even closer inside yourself.
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I guess I should clarify what I meant by the above. I just meant that if you are confused about something, instead of going from place to place, searching here and there, start by looking within yourself, i.e. is there anything within you that is obstructing you in finding or realising the truth? Have YOU truly put the study in, have YOU recognised your own weaknesses/strengths, have YOU truly eliminated your own baggage/bias/emotion/upbringing, have YOU truly applied logic/reason in your thought process etc.
Being a long term member of the forum, the general pattern has been that the problem is often in us, and this is particularly true of the issue of salat/bond.
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Salaam,
All Allah's Prophets were Muslims & as far as I know they all prayed.
Maybe we should find out how they prayed and apply it to ourselves using what information we have in the Qur'an?
Just a thought! -
Salaam,
All Allah's Prophets were Muslims & as far as I know they all prayed.
Maybe we should find out how they prayed and apply it to ourselves using what information we have in the Qur'an?
Just a thought!Selam
If we knew that, their would be no debate, no discussion.
Peace
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So there's no mention in the Bible &/or the Torah of how the Prophets prayed?
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Salam
for me no matter HOW you pray as there isn't any specific way in the great Reading that describes How you pray, except this
1- Standing up
2- bowing
3- prosternating
For timing i believe in the three daily salat as mentioned in the great reading.
For what to say while praying any invoking sequence from the great reading should be good. it doesn't make any sens that you recite verses from the quran (while callin' upon GOD) where HE speaks to the messenger (like the "they ask you about ...then SAY" Verses)
for Duration of the prayer left to everyone's will when prayin' alone, and ruled by the leader of the prayer in congregational prayer.
This is my understanding of the great reading by now, hope it helps.
May God guide us to the straight path, HIS path !
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Prayer according to the Quran
Dua To call upon Allah.
Salat Contact prayer with Allah based on the timed ordinance given in the Quran.
We call upon Allah in our contact prayer/salat.Prayers were not passed down Surah 835
Muhammad (pbuh) was taught prayer Surah 2239
We are to pray salat the way Allah taught us Surah 2014
?Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah, and those with him are firm of heart against the unbelievers, compassionate among themselves; you will see them bowing down, prostrating themselves, seeking grace from Allah and pleasure; their marks are in their faces because of the effect of prostration; that is their description in the Taurat and their description in the Injeel; like as seed-produce that puts forth its sprout, then strengthens it, so it becomes stout and stands firmly on its stem, delighting the sowers that He may enrage the unbelievers on account of them; Allah has promised those among them who believe and do good, forgiveness and a great reward.? Surah 4829Ablution Surah 443, 56
What to wear Surah 726, 731-33, 2430-31, 3333-35, 3359
Remove shoes on holy ground Surah 2012Times for prayer
Obligatory
Morning prayer Fajr/Dawn ? Ebkar/Sahab/Morning 341, 11114, 1315, 1778-79, 1911, 2458, 3017-18, 4055, 5039-40, 7625-26,
Midday prayer Zuhr/Noon ? Ghaeloona/Midday 2238, 11114, 2059, 2458, 3017-18, 5039-40,
Evening prayer Maghrib/Twilight ? Isha/Masa/Evening 341, 11114, 1315, 1886, 1911, 2458, 3017-18, 4055, 5039-40, 7625-26,
Non-obligatory
Night prayer Lail/Night ? Tahajjud/Vigil 1778-79, 2564, 3017-18, 5039-40, 732, 736, 7320, 7625-26Direction for prayer
Masjid Al-Haram Surah 2125,143-150, 2226Positions for prayer
Standing Surah 2238; 339; 4102
Bow down/prostrate Surah 3191, 4102; 2226; 3824; 4829Surah 4102 describes prayer with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Purpose of prayer
To study the Word of Allah, the teachings of Muhammad (pbuh), the Quran Surah 2121, 3113, 1698, 2792, 2945, 3529, 373, 732-4, 7320, 961
Declare submission to God Praise God, thank Him Surah 11-7; 2014; 17110-111; 245
Pray to God and God alone Surah 7218; 2945, 6162; 2014
Communicate with God Surah 443, 17110-111
Reverence Surah 232
What to ask for (but not limited to) Surah 2201, 2286, 3147, 3193, 11-7
Pray in moderate tone, do not pray to boast Surah 17110-111Examples of prayer Surah 11-7, 2201, 2250, 2286, 38, 338, 3147, 3191-194, 475, 583, 723,155-156, 747, 7126, 1085-86, 1141,1147, 12101,1440-41,1780,1810, 2025-28, 20114, 2183,87-88, 2329, 2397-98,118, 2574, 2719, 2816, 407-9, 4615, 5410, 5910, 605, 7128, 113 (all), 114 (all)
Proof Prayer
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-6uPfKxk60 -
Peace everyone,
I discovered Islam 5 years ago now and yet I'm still not 100% sure about salat. What is puzzling to me is that if it is so important, why didn't Allah make it ABSOLUTELY clear as to how to pray? Meaning, if it is as crucial to being a Muslim as MOST say, why is it not listed in the Quran perfectly detailed, without any room for questions? Why must we flip around to different chapters piecing the directions (ie times/amounts, etc) together in order to do something that we are "required" to do? Some say that the word salat does not mean prayer, and more explanations of the term are cited adding to the confusion. And please, don't try to say it's very clear, 27 pages of questions/comments on this forum within the "Salat & Zakat" section does NOT show that it's clear. So far, it is the only thing in the Quran which I cannot ,for the life of me, wrap my head around. And one post within this section actually criticizes us for so many of us questioning the exact meaning, that is an insult to my intelligence.
lf
Peace,
Respectfully.Read in The Quran how people before prayed.
There are several examples.
I believe that the reason why the movements of the prayers (if that's what is confusing...?) are made to be throughout The Quran, is for us to be active and seek.God knows best.
Peace. -
Peace,
Has anybody come across a particular interpretation suggesting that salat can refer to commitment in many places amongst the traditional meanings, and also the word zakaa to mean purification/purify?
It's a good starting point, for commitment is a good word which really does in essence relate to the various traditional methods of connecting to God and the meaning of the word can include our dedication towards the praising and remembrance of the Most High through a limitless amount of actions, but I am not an expert on the topic, this interpretation can be found in the 'Mental Bondage' pdf on aididsafar.com website. Also the orthodox bowing and prostrating translation is humbly submitting in this document.
The writer has truly disowned and not compromised with the traditionalists whatever religion they may be from with regards to some of the rituals and traditions which he/she feels have no basis in the Quran. He does refer to verses and uses a system of cross referencing and so is worth the read for checking the techniques used, but an open mind is needed and alot of study to confirm yourself. Personally I haven't confirmed all of this, but I follow the best interpretation available to myself, and in the case of salat, if commitment is used as a meaning, at least it leaves an individual free in a sense to praise the Most High and remember Him in the ways they personally do best.
With a variety of cultures within mankind, I cannot expect a religion or a messenger sent to mankind as a whole to come with a law from God through the Angel Gabriel for the whole world to be so narrow with the diversity of methods to worship. So I feel if the word Zikr has a loose meaning of remembrance or purification which can encompass many methods then why should the meaning for the word salat be so specific and not encompass more than just a ritual prayer, whether physical or a mental ritual or both as in tradition.
But then again I may be very wrong, for me personally Islam makes life easier and I don't want to limit my self to a very specific and unflexible method of CONNECTING so to say. Certainty is not something easily attained, and I pray the Provider for this in my life and will always remember that with hardship comes ease, and understanding the truth may not always be any easy thing, especially on this matter.
Though the writer of 'Mental Bondage' does not support facing the Kaabah as a focal point, personally I don't see why God would punish me for turning to the East (I'm west of Mecca) and making a wish as long as my intentions are pure. Anyway this is not a time for opinions, more a subject that requires hard evidence from the Books of God whether they be Quran, Bible, or anything attributed to Him, at the end of the day ignorance may be bliss but Muhammed was not the only man with a message, lots of men have and had a message, lots of faiths teach methods to 'CONNECT', just as lots of brands sell different clothes and writers books.
Therefore I feel the messages of the Prophets should be used as only a guideline to help us keep to the straight path, we were not there during Mohammeds time to know how he prayed, the Quran does not provide you a video of how he did things, however there are many other sources though not Divine that tell us about the lives of the Prophets and should be considered, I notice a tendency to disregard everything else as obsolete, but isn't this Quran a confirmation and a clarification or restoration of what has been from before? If Prophets were sent to so many nations, it is clear the followers all of them at least didn't physically bow and prostrate in the islamic posture though they 'humbly submitted', even though there are remnants of the physical practice why is there not enough recorded history on it? Is the conspiracy that big?!
Anyways, the words of the first third world international superstar Bob Marley come to mind from his song 'Could you be loved?' (I think, if not, this is still a great lively song with strong lyrics), he sung
"If your not wrong, then everything is all right!"
Masoom
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All that much confusion on this "salat" thing proves that, there is something wrong about this "salat" thing.
God has send us The Reading in a clear Arabic and perfectly absolute form.
What is this mean?..This means, you can't translate it from Arabic to other languages with concession of this important rule.
For an example, if you give someone The Reading, who has no any advance information, then it should enough to explain itself in a clear way. You shouldn't give another book such as explaining the meaning and procedure of this "salat" thing.
