To Those Who Prohibit Reciting Prophet's Name For Shahadat and Duroot.
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But is Muhammad the one mostly talked about in the quran? Why select him before the other ones mentioned in the quran? Can we really consider hadith n sunna trustworthy information about the prophets/messengers? If not, then we have to rely upon what the quran gives as information. Whom of the messengers/prophets is described most?
Peace brother
Salamun alaika brother Zulf.
You are sometimes going out of the point of discussion and being unnecessarily harsh with me. I am not a fan of "so called" hadis and sunnah any more than you are. I do not take for granted any folklore about Muhammad (pbuh) other than what is explicitly vetted by Qur'an. However, for me Qur'an depicts enough of the personality and life of Muhammad (pbuh) to respect him as an individual - not just a shadowy figure in the history - just like I respect you as an individual - not as a bot or something.
My intention was to discuss the directive of "non-differentiation" with like-minded folks like you so that our collective understanding of this requirement improves. I tried to argue that, in principle, "do not differentiate" does not mean "do not be selective".
When I have decided to spend 80% of my personal study time to study Qur'an and may be 20% for other books (including Bible / Geeta etc.) I have already chosen to pay most attention to the message brought by Muhammad over other messengers - peace be upon them all. I believe and understand that all messengers brought the same universal message of peace for mankind, following any of them correctly is sufficient for right guidance - and on that basis they are all at par. That is how I do not differentiate among them. But my personal knowledge, exposure and circumstances have led me to be selective of one messenger over others. And I am not hypocritical enough to deny that.
When it comes to the issue of blessing and "darood" - I do not find any problem in blessing or praising one prophet (be it Muhammad, Jesus, Moses or Siddhartha), a selected few, or all of them. I definitely do not believe blessing on Muhammad or any specific prophet is at all essential for salvation in afterlife. However, nor do I see such practice violating the directive of non-differentiation in any way. Just like all other gifts to us by Allah, messengers are also gifts to us - blessing on them; be it one of them, a few or all; is a form of showing our acknowledgement and appreciation of this gift. Just like our prayer and blessings for our parents is a kind of appreciation of the wonderful gift that parents are to us. If a person has recently lost his father and hence focusing more on blessing and prayer for his father - would you say he is differentiating against his living mother? If I am focusing on the message of one particular messenger - he will have a more prominent space in my thought - and may be subject to greater appreciation and blessings for me. As long as we are conscious that all our submission and prayers are to Allah alone - I do not see this practice to be harmful in any way.
May Allah guide us all to the straight route.
Regards,
Arman -
Salaam, I will answer based on what I know so far. Why should we pray for Mohammad or any Prophet in Salats? Aren't Salats to contact God and to praise God?? Why should Humans be involved in it? Yes, we can make supplications for others, but that's different than the the prayer/Salat God told us to do in Qur'an. When God talks about Salats, he never says to involve humans or anyone else in it than God alone. If you read when God talks about Salat, it is always about God and how we should pray. It never involves others.
Even before knowing this all from Qur'an, when I used to pray in Sunni way, I used to find praising Mohammad, Abraham, and their families/companions in Salat very disturbing and just did not feel right about it.We can honor messengers, we can respect others too just like we make supplications for ourselves and our family etc and should be thankful to God. Messengers will honored if we follow God as that's what there message was about by God's guidance. There message was about God, not about themselves. They were just messengers of God.
Of course, I am still learning. So I can be wrong somewhere, but I am sure I am right here. God knows the best though and may God always guide us.
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Salamun Alaika FindingRightPath.
You raise another interesting point - why darood in salaat. The members of this forum are highly divided in what salaat actually means - everyone seem to have their own definitions ) For me establish salaat means establish respect (for Allah). The musallah or "salat ritual" is merely a form of expression of our respect. The very idea that a fixed format of this ritual is essential for our salvation is problematic - it gives rise to all sort of sectarian attitude - rather we should view this as a "customary practice" that traditionally has come down to us as a recommended form of expression of our respect for Allah.
If I understand correctly the last segment of the traditional salaat ritual - is a free form segment. Here one can pray any dua' etc. that one chooses. Our so called "Imams" of questionable judgement have tried to standardize the duas - if you find the traditional dua and darood not upto your liking - why not feel free to change to what you like? Just FYI - I am also trying to change. As long as your prayers are for "good" things, not too much focused on specific "worldly" gain and addressed exclusively to Allah - I do not see any problem - neither in logical thinking, nor from a traditional or Quranic perspective. However, this does not give us any reason to denounce the traditional practice or practitioner as "Mushrik" etc. Most of them pray like parrots without understanding what they are saying anyway - that's more of a problem than that they are blessing on the prophet.
Oh, By the way, I am not overly obsessed that in the salaat ritual I cannot mention or think of anything except God. Even when I recite Surah Fatiha - I am saying "Guide us to the straight route, - route of those whom You approved upon - not who have anger upon them ? and nor (of) the deviating ones." That already has reference of "other people" in it - though not by name. I do not believe in "a deity" in the heaven who is obsessed with people setting aside time to remember "Him alone".
May Allah guide us all to the straight route.
Regards,
Arman -
Salamun Alaika FindingRightPath.
You raise another interesting point - why darood in salaat. The members of this forum are highly divided in what salaat actually means - everyone seem to have their own definitions For me establish salaat means establish respect (for Allah). The musallah or "salat ritual" is merely a form of expression of our respect. The very idea that a fixed format of this ritual is essential for our salvation is problematic - it gives rise to all sort of sectarian attitude - rather we should view this as a "customary practice" that traditionally has come down to us as a recommended form of expression of our respect for Allah.
If I understand correctly the last segment of the traditional salaat ritual - is a free form segment. Here one can pray any dua' etc. that one chooses. Our so called "Imams" of questionable judgement have tried to standardize the duas - if you find the traditional dua and darood not upto your liking - why not feel free to change to what you like? Just FYI - I am also trying to change. As long as your prayers are for "good" things, not too much focused on specific "worldly" gain and addressed exclusively to Allah - I do not see any problem - neither in logical thinking, nor from a traditional or Quranic perspective. However, this does not give us any reason to denounce the traditional practice or practitioner as "Mushrik" etc. Most of them pray like parrots without understanding what they are saying anyway - that's more of a problem than that they are blessing on the prophet.
Oh, By the way, I am not overly obsessed that in the salaat ritual I cannot mention or think of anything except God. Even when I recite Surah Fatiha - I am saying "Guide us to the straight route, - route of those whom You approved upon - not who have anger upon them ? and nor (of) the deviating ones." That already has reference of "other people" in it - though not by name. I do not believe in "a deity" in the heaven who is obsessed with people setting aside time to remember "Him alone".
May Allah guide us all to the straight route.
Regards,
ArmanSalaam,
I don't like the fix format of Salaat either. What you said about Surah Fatiha is true, but the person praying is seeking God's guidance for himself or herself. Surah Faiiha is all about God only. Yes, it talks about others, but what I meant that God never mentions others meaning God never mentions to pray for others in Salaat. Salaat is about remembrance of God, and an act of personal contact with God. However, when I was Sunni and read Durood's translation as I was curious what I was reading in my Salaat, it was about giving blessings to Abraham, his family, and then giving blessings to Mohammad and his companions. That's what I remember. The durood had nothing to do with praying to God, but it was about Prophets and their families/companions.
That's my pov, I might learn slightly differently as I read and understand the rest of Qur'an and seeking God's guidance. So far, I think I am right though.
Others can have their opinions in it, but I don't think it is right to say we prohibited reciting Prophet's name and Durood. We can not prohibit anything. If anything is prohibited, it is because of God. No human can change it even if he thinks he can by disillusioning himself for a while. -
You are sometimes going out of the point of discussion and being unnecessarily harsh with me.
Apologies for sounding harsh. I guess my wordings at times have a tendency to come across like that. Rest assured that I had no intention of being harsh, especially on a personal level, but sometimes I do end up harsh towards a certain concept or topic. Obviously it would be naive of me to think people don't feel it also on a personal level. We all do. So again, I apologize for any harshness from my side. And thanks for your elaborate reply on your stance.
Peace and cheers