My PERSONAL conclusions about salaat (contact prayer)
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The Purpose of Prayer by ?1997 Stan Tenen
The Purpose of Prayer
?1997 Stan TenenThere are several different forms or modes of prayer.
Basically, HaShem, by withdrawing and producing a "vacant space" (via "tzimtzum", gives us a portion of His Will. This is the source of our "free will."
When our ability to find a place in the world, by means of our portion of His Will, is insufficient, it is appropriate for us to return our will to His. This is prayer.
All prayers involve some level of sacrifice. The most obvious is the sacrifice of our free will to HaShem's Will in prayer. Prayer is not our getting our way based on our will. Prayer is our asking HaShem to take back a bit of our will and use it Himself, better than we could.
The daily prayers we all say require our time and attention. They are expensive in a busy world. With or without kavanah, this is a sacrifice. When we make it freely, it is accepted.
In fact, no matter at what level of intensity (kavanah), when we freely bend our will to HaShem, our prayers are always answered. Of course, when we are in a state of confusion, as is often the case when we are moved to pray most intensely, we may not be able to see the answer ? or we might not be ready to understand how the "answer" is what we were praying for ? or the response might be delayed until the timing of related events (we may also have prayed for) is appropriate.
Simple prayer comes from the heart. But, there is also intellectual prayer. In simple prayer we open our feelings to HaShem ? no thinking is required. A child's spontaneous cry can be a fervent prayer, and as such, it can open the gates of heaven because of its purity and integrity of feeling.
Most adults cannot easily express their truest and deepest feelings spontaneously, like a child. For adults, intellectual prayer can be more accessible.
What in the intellect can correspond to the emotional prayer of an innocent and whole heart? Sacrifice.
For a peasant whose experiences are pragmatic and earthy, sacrifice, might mean giving up a valued physical possession. This is done from the heart, but also from the intellect. The peasant knows what they are doing.
For a more complex person, sacrifice is more subtle. Here the sacrifice is not (only) from one's property (that would be too cheap for an accomplished person), but rather from what is most valuable to an accomplished person, their ego (or more precisely, the illusions of their ego.)
We all have limitations, weaknesses and deficiencies. We develop skills to survive difficult childhoods and a difficult adult world. Our choices and "skills" form our personality. Some of these "skills" are not desirable. They lead to increased ego and self-centeredness rather than to increased humility and empathy. When there is something so important to us that we are moved to ask HaShem to help us attain it, we can offer to make the job "easier" for HaShem (This is a metaphor, HaShem doesn't need it to be easier, only we do.) by readying ourselves to be aware of, to receive, to accept, and to make best use of HaShem's answer. We can do this by letting go of, giving up on, "sacrificing" some part of our ego or our willfulness or our expectations that are not helping us to see and feel our humanity and our place vis a vis HaShem. (For example, we can sacrifice our ignorance by working to learn more.)
When we want to change the world so badly that we cry out to HaShem, our cry may consist of our changing ourselves by releasing some previously highly-valued part of our ego or willfulness that we have previously been dependent on, that now stands in the way.
The new-agers call it "the manifesting principle" and sometimes that lets them forget that it is HaShem and not themselves that does the manifesting. But, the principle is simple
Know what you want.
Clearly and precisely understand what you want by doing the intellectual work needed to really know what you want and how much it costs (or how impossible it is.)
Sacrifice your(ego)self to the task.Put your heart and soul into your endeavor. Do real work in the physical world towards your goal. Care deeply about the work you are doing. Work (and pray) well beyond your normal point of giving up. Do the work and show your caring anyway, even if it seems that HaShem is not listening.
Return your personal will to HaShem. Give up, be infinitely patient, and pay attention.The manifesting principle only works when a person has made a real sacrifice and has continued to work even while they have let go of their expectations of the outcome they desire. When a person short-circuits the full process, nothing happens. When there has been no sacrifice, there is nothing for HaShem to respond to.
source
http//www.meru.org/praypurp.html -
A new interpretation (again ), claiming that there are only THREE Salats.
This presentation is very well analyzed, and explained with proofs, and excellently presented!
From here I congratulate this magnificent guy for his work!
Please have patience and watch all the 9 videos!
Thank you.Here is the link
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkeHHm8TnF4&list=PL5EboaxHo9UTV4yVpsKWAnn9RC4vmDTa0Peace
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Peace Godsubmiter
I fully accepted Islam only after reading the R. Khalifa?s translation of the Quran, with his Appendices.
Then I started performing the religious duties, particularly the salaat-contact of course, as instructed by same Mr. Khalifa.You make me think that you have not submitted to God, but to rashad kalifa.
3 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 10 or day and knight non stop. how many prayers?
HERE ALL ABOUT PRAYER TIMES IN QURAN2238 Maintain with care the prayers and the middle prayer and stand before Allah , devoutly obedient.
4103 And when you have finished your prayer, remember God - standing and sitting and lying down; and when you are once again secure, observe your prayers . Verily, for all believers prayer is indeed a sacred duty linked to particular times .
(7205) And bethink thyself of thy Sustainer humbly and with awe, and without raising thy voice, at morn and at evening; and do not allow thyself to be heedless.
11114 And be constant in praying at the beginning and the end of the day, as well as during the early watches of the night for, verily, good deeds drive away evil deeds this is a reminder to all who bear in mind.
1778 BE CONSTANT in prayer from the time when the sun has passed its zenith till the darkness of night, and recitation at dawn for, behold, the recitation at dawn is indeed witnessed .
1779 And rise from thy sleep and pray during part of the night , as a free offering from thee, and thy Sustainer may well raise thee to a glorious station .
1828And keep yourself patient with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever neglect.
(20130) Hence, bear with patience whatever they may say, and extol thy Sustainer's limitless glory and praise Him before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and extol His glory, too, during some of the hours of the night as well as during the ends of the day, so that thou might attain to happiness.
3017 EXTOL, then, God's limitless glory when you enter upon the evening hours, and when you rise at morn;
(301 and unto Him is due all praise in the heavens and on earth, in the afternoon as well, and when the hour of noon.
5039 HENCE, bear thou with patience whatever they may say, and extol thy Sustainer's limitless glory and praise before the rising of the sun and before its setting;
(5040) and in the night, too, extol His glory, and at every prayer's end.
5117 They used to rarely sleep the whole night.
(524 And so, await in patience thy Sustainer's judgment, for thou art well within Our sight. And extol thy Sustainer's limitless glory and praise whenever thou risest up,
(5249) and extol His glory at night, and at the time when the stars retreat.1 the middle prayer
2 at morn and at afternoon
3 at the beginning and the end of the day (dawn-dusk), as well as during the early watches of the night
4 when the sun has passed its zenith till the darkness of night, and recitation at dawn
5 and pray during part of the night , as a free offering from thee
6 and praise Him before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and extol His glory, too, during some of the hours of the night as well as during the ends of the day (dawn-dusk)
7 the evening hours, and when you rise at morn(dawn-dusk)
8 in the afternoon as well, and when the hour of noon
9 and praise before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and in the night, too, extol His glory, and at every prayer's end
10 and praise whenever thou risest up, and extol His glory at night, and at the time when the stars retreat.
11 the whole night1 dawn (exacting time)
2 morning (unspecified time of it)
3 noon(exacting time)
4 afternoon (unspecified time of it)
5 dusk(exacting time)
6 night (early hours of it, or all night)These are not my own words nor from any so called "prophet", all from the Quran. I seek refuge in God from being of the ignorant.
May God increase our knowledge and give us some wisdom. -
Peace Godsubmiter
You make me think that you have not submitted to God, but to rashad kalifa.
3 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 10 or day and knight non stop. how many prayers?
HERE ALL ABOUT PRAYER TIMES IN QURAN2238 Maintain with care the prayers and the middle prayer and stand before Allah , devoutly obedient.
4103 And when you have finished your prayer, remember God - standing and sitting and lying down; and when you are once again secure, observe your prayers . Verily, for all believers prayer is indeed a sacred duty linked to particular times .
(7205) And bethink thyself of thy Sustainer humbly and with awe, and without raising thy voice, at morn and at evening; and do not allow thyself to be heedless.
11114 And be constant in praying at the beginning and the end of the day, as well as during the early watches of the night for, verily, good deeds drive away evil deeds this is a reminder to all who bear in mind.
1778 BE CONSTANT in prayer from the time when the sun has passed its zenith till the darkness of night, and recitation at dawn for, behold, the recitation at dawn is indeed witnessed .
1779 And rise from thy sleep and pray during part of the night , as a free offering from thee, and thy Sustainer may well raise thee to a glorious station .
1828And keep yourself patient with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever neglect.
(20130) Hence, bear with patience whatever they may say, and extol thy Sustainer's limitless glory and praise Him before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and extol His glory, too, during some of the hours of the night as well as during the ends of the day, so that thou might attain to happiness.
3017 EXTOL, then, God's limitless glory when you enter upon the evening hours, and when you rise at morn;
(301 and unto Him is due all praise in the heavens and on earth, in the afternoon as well, and when the hour of noon.
5039 HENCE, bear thou with patience whatever they may say, and extol thy Sustainer's limitless glory and praise before the rising of the sun and before its setting;
(5040) and in the night, too, extol His glory, and at every prayer's end.
5117 They used to rarely sleep the whole night.
(524 And so, await in patience thy Sustainer's judgment, for thou art well within Our sight. And extol thy Sustainer's limitless glory and praise whenever thou risest up,
(5249) and extol His glory at night, and at the time when the stars retreat.1 the middle prayer
2 at morn and at afternoon
3 at the beginning and the end of the day (dawn-dusk), as well as during the early watches of the night
4 when the sun has passed its zenith till the darkness of night, and recitation at dawn
5 and pray during part of the night , as a free offering from thee
6 and praise Him before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and extol His glory, too, during some of the hours of the night as well as during the ends of the day (dawn-dusk)
7 the evening hours, and when you rise at morn(dawn-dusk)
8 in the afternoon as well, and when the hour of noon
9 and praise before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and in the night, too, extol His glory, and at every prayer's end
10 and praise whenever thou risest up, and extol His glory at night, and at the time when the stars retreat.
11 the whole night1 dawn (exacting time)
2 morning (unspecified time of it)
3 noon(exacting time)
4 afternoon (unspecified time of it)
5 dusk(exacting time)
6 night (early hours of it, or all night)These are not my own words nor from any so called "prophet", all from the Quran. I seek refuge in God from being of the ignorant.
May God increase our knowledge and give us some wisdom.Thank you for your contribution @wrkmmm.
Although you didn't write your conclusion to your post, I assume you want to say that Salat is to be performed ALL THE TIME, is that so? Then what about the wudu (ablution), which is also mentioned in the Qur'an? )And also, would you be so kind as to tell me which translation do you use?
May God protect me from submitting to anybody or anything else except Him, I do not submit to Dr Rashad Khalifa PhD, I consider him as a teacher and thru his explanations and translations I approached the Qur'an.
God bless.
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Peace,
This topic is very disputed and the ancient Arabic is difficult to interpret even for scholars. My own conclusion lands on three prayers. I try to go in very logically into deducing the number, but I might as well be wrong. I cannot in the world think that God will punish people for not being able to extract the correct meaning of The Book over 1400 years later and due to them thinking it was 3 instead of 5 prayers if that happened to be the Truth. The Faith of God is more than only these communication moments together with The Lord. Think of the deeds we have to do daily.
It is better to do three and wrong rather than five and mention other names alongside God during the prayer.
Personally I pray 4-5 times per day even if my current understanding says 3 minimum, and I call upon The Lord at any moment that I need Guidance in my daily decisions in life.
If it befits The Lord I think that honestly God would laugh if He saw all the chatter on the account of the communication with Him. Just 'do' I would say. Rule-creation is a human trait, often not God's. Call upon The Lord as often as possible and do not think there is a minimum but rather do as many as you can or need.
Personally I interpret the underlined part of this verse;
20130 So be patient to what they are saying and glorify the grace of your Lord before the rising of the sun, and before its setting, and at the approach of the night - you shall glorify - and at parts of the day, perhaps you may be content.
; as that you call unto The Lord during parts of the day as you need Him for Guidance. To call unto The Lord in the morning and before bedtime is quite obvious to me. It is the first and last thing you do in each day. It ought to come spontaneously in any servant of God.
God bless you
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Thank you @Man of Faith for your contribution.
After some research I returned AGAIN to the conclusion that Dr. Rashad Khalifa was right, and I am accepting again his teachings about the Salat, because there is simply way too much confusion out there and too many doubts and misinformation all over the place from "new" scholars, "interpreters" and charlatans, who are adding to the confusion each day with their "analysis".
After almost a year of being exposed to various points of views and speculations, I re-read Dr. Khalifa's Appendices and Introduction to his translation of the Qur'an again, and for my present level of judgment I say that it is the best acceptable approach to the Qur'anic teachings that work for me.
God bless.
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I think that the Qur'an was revealed i Arabic because it was the best adapted to what God wanted to reveal. I find the Qur'an poliedric, with many faces, which all make sense when looked from a certain perspective. I do not think that God will blame us for getting each the best meaning we can extract from His words. We would be blamed for taking the worst meaning as some people seem to be doing at times, but not for getting the best. Whatever we do we should exact from ourselves the utmost honesty and sincerity. If so, there may be different understandings and each of them give us the means to travel a stretch more on our sirat al mustaqim. We just must not cheat ourselves, be utterly honest to ourselves.
Salaam
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Salam alikom;
I'm very proud of you because the prayers is a wonderful thing when you pray you feel very fresh to be sure that allah order us tp do the prayers from this surat AL-NISA Ayat 103
Allah bless all the muslims and guid usBebo
Thank you very much @bebo.
Glory be to God the Only One
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I dont recall Rashad Khalifa discussing in much detail about how he determined 5 daily salat from Quran, excluding the numerology stuff of course.
Yes he did, in one of his video programs, and in some lectures, as well as using the Qur'an of course explaining the salat in his articles and appendices naming it the Contact Prayer as he coined the title as a translation of salat.
The problem is that people usually do not study or read much outside of the context of their own preconceived notions.
Even if he was based on information in some hadiths, as some people accuse him of, it is still a fact that the format of 5 daily salats remained and was maintained throughout more then ten centuries.
It is unlikely that everybody was so wrong during such a long time...Peace.
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Yes he did, in one of his video programs, and in some lectures, as well as using the Qur'an of course explaining the salat in his articles and appendices naming it the Contact Prayer as he coined the title as a translation of salat.
Can you provide a link to his most detailed explanation?
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Can you provide a link to his most detailed explanation?
http//www.masjidtucson.org/submission/practices/salat/
http//www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rashad+khalifa+contact+prayer
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They are not all unrelated, one should study more and in wider context to arrive to certain conclusions.
But, since you ask for something specific,
here it is
http//submission.org/App15.htmlGod bless
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They are not all unrelated, one should study more and in wider context to arrive to certain conclusions.
But, since you ask for something specific,
here it is
http//submission.org/App15.htmlGod bless
I'm sure you know that link provides very little Quranic detail with regard to timings. I recommend
http//mypercept.co.uk/articles/problems-5-salat-Quran.html -
I'm sure you know that link provides very little Quranic detail with regard to timings. I recommend
http//mypercept.co.uk/articles/problems-5-salat-Quran.htmlI am not competent to discuss or dispute those things, I simply follow what Dr. Rashad Khalifa PhD explained and taught about the Qur'an, because he said far too many excellent things and plenty valuable information about the Qur'an, much more then any other people I've listened from.
PS
And yes, I am familiar with your site and that article, thank you.God bless
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I am not competent to discuss or dispute those things, I simply follow...
Wrong. It is very simple to check it, but many people can't be bothered. Let me provide you one simple example, quote from your link
- The Dawn Prayer must be observed during two hours before sunrise (11114, 245.
- The Noon Prayer is due when the sun declines from its highest pointat noon (177.
- The Afternoon Prayer can be observed during the 3-4 hours preceding sunset (223.
- The Sunset Prayer becomes due after sunset (11114).
- The Night Prayer can be observed after the twilight disappears from the sky (245.
Re point 1)
It is clear the verses referenced for point (1) do not say anything about 2 hours before sunrise, thus Rashad Khalifa (or whoever wrote that article) is incorrect/misleading.etc
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Peace,
Rashad Khalifa knew nothing of the things we know now 24 years after his death. We have studied Arabic words and concluded that they do not mean what is traditionally preached. And we have more or less proved outright that they cannot mean what they are traditionally thought to mean. But if you cannot believe this then follow what Mr. Khalifa said and we see how God will judge between us at the end of days.
There are dozens of problems that arise with the Khalifan understanding of the Recitation.
Like Wakas says; you can without being an expert at Arabic analyze the discourse using logic and intelligence and draw perfect logical conclusions, often through deduction. It is like a puzzle where you have the wrong pieces in the current spot and by simply matching the surrounding pieces you can often figure out that the one currently in place is wrong.
One method is by analyzing ALL occurrences of the word "salah" for example and see that it cannot mean contact prayer. Same with zakat and particularly checking its root's occurrences throughout. Even traditionalists translate related words into purify but suddenly when it comes to zakat together with salah it is translated otherwise. I take one step further and use the English word bless to find an accurate definition.
Charity is a kind of zakat, but has a much wider meaning.
Another issue is that we stare ourselves blind at certain verses without regarding the whole context, and we also stare ourselves blind at particular words without considering its position in a sentence. One example is in 2458 that I have discovered. It is very obvious that the salah al-isha that is spoken of takes place before private bedtime afterwards, because the reason they have to ask for permission is because you may be doing something that is not appropriate for those people knocking to see.
2458 O you who believe, let those among you who are maintained by your oaths, and those who have not attained puberty, request your permission regarding three times before the dawn contact prayer, and when you put off your garments from the noon time, and after the evening contact prayer. These are three private times for you. Other than these times, it is not wrong for you or them to intermingle with one another. God thus clarifies the revelations for you. And God is Knowledgeable, Wise.
And you see that I do not need to know Arabic at all to extract this fact from the context because it does not take linguistic knowledge but only some thinking power. It is obvious that these salah al-isha or salah al-fajr, disregarding whatever they mean, take place before you retire for the day or before you start your daily activities. It is the only answer I can get from the text.
God bless you
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I am not competent to discuss or dispute those things, I simply follow what Dr. Rashad Khalifa PhD explained and taught about the Qur'an, because he said far too many excellent things and plenty valuable information about the Qur'an, much more then any other people I've listened from.
PS
And yes, I am familiar with your site and that article, thank you.God bless
Rashad Khalifa said himself that he wants people to disregard what he said/wrote if it is something that is not in line with the Quran.
You are a blind follower. Read this http//www.19.org/3058/rashadians/
