Nearness and Guidance -> Knowledge and Wisdom = Peace and Prosperity
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When I have recovered from my shock
http//4.bp.blogspot.com/-5BFO3PDratE/Tv9GFxyXbXI/AAAAAAAAAj8/xjYxSRsI3IU/s400/kiki%2Bemoticon.png
I will try to reveal to you what it is that I really discovered, but I can say it utterly nullifies the delusion that it means anything like "contact prayer". Not even remotely it means "contact prayer".
I still like to perform contact prayer, even if it turns out that contact prayer doesn't have any relation with the order to uphold Salat.
However, I hope what you're going to reveal in this forum (regarding Salat) is true, brother.
I'm ready to listen to your explanations in this regard, inshaAllah.
Peace.
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Peace,
I am a bit fascinated that this is such an important topic to people, but well it is to me too.
It takes a bit of time because when begun to wrestle with it it happens that I started a chain reaction which revealed a ton of more errors on the same level as this one. And to make my corrections fit in I have to change a lot of the other errors too or mine will contradict a lot. And that does not mean I changed anything from what the author, ie God, wanted to convey but rather "turn things right".
The interesting thing is that "islam" looks a whole lot more like "Christianity" with the corrections which should not really surprise anyone considered the origin of the practices. I am actually glad that it turned out that way because I never liked that compulsory islam with exactly timed rituals and such which is just a pagan/associator influence. Without the trinity and Jesus-obsession it is a fine "religion" but it in fact is not any different just the difference is in the amount of falsehood entering the various groups.
And if I solve this last part and it is convincing, damn how many death threats I will get from the sects! rotfl
But after I have done all these changes people can choose themselves what to do with it and I have done my part.
And I thought I was done when coming unto the 'Peace and Prosperity' part of this thread, but interestingly this noob is about to explain this soup.
God bless you
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And if I solve this last part and it is convincing, damn how many death threats I will get from the sects! rotfl
Bold It is not to be laughed at... elektro
You indeed have to be careful... http//3.bp.blogspot.com/-wn2wPLAukW8/U1vy7Ol5aEI/AAAAAAAAGq0/f7C6-otIDY0/s1600/squinting-emoticon.png
Peace.
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Peace,
Do not worry, sister. I die if God allows it and if God wants to protect me then The Master will do so. No reason to be afraid.
They will likely not do anything unless I become a threat anyway.
God bless you
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Peace,
I am a bit fascinated that this is such an important topic to people, but well it is to me too.
It takes a bit of time because when begun to wrestle with it it happens that I started a chain reaction which revealed a ton of more errors on the same level as this one. And to make my corrections fit in I have to change a lot of the other errors too or mine will contradict a lot. And that does not mean I changed anything from what the author, ie God, wanted to convey but rather "turn things right".
The interesting thing is that "islam" looks a whole lot more like "Christianity" with the corrections which should not really surprise anyone considered the origin of the practices. I am actually glad that it turned out that way because I never liked that compulsory islam with exactly timed rituals and such which is just a pagan/associator influence. Without the trinity and Jesus-obsession it is a fine "religion" but it in fact is not any different just the difference is in the amount of falsehood entering the various groups.
And if I solve this last part and it is convincing, damn how many death threats I will get from the sects! rotfl
But after I have done all these changes people can choose themselves what to do with it and I have done my part.
And I thought I was done when coming unto the 'Peace and Prosperity' part of this thread, but interestingly this noob is about to explain this soup.
God bless you
Salaam,
What a anti-climax >(
I was ready to get a big shock >(Now you have put yourself in a difficult situation yes
Salaam
Bender -
I am following this discussion laugh eat
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Peace,
Have patience, dear Bender. You may have your shock if you manage to understand what I am going to reveal. You probably know that if one word is erroneously interpreted it affects more or less all instances within the recitation. And I cannot jump unto an interpretation without verifying it carefully first.
God bless you
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Salamun Alaikum.
Below is the meaning of the English term "salute" from Merrium Webster Dictionary
sa-lute verb \s-l?t\
to give a sign of respect to (a military officer, flag, etc.) by moving your right hand to your forehead to give a salute to (someone or something)
to show respect for (someone or something) / to publicly praise (someone or something)
Note that the term has 2 distinct meanings and each meaning becomes obvious in a given context. Example
- The soldiers saluted the General when he entered the room.
- I salute brother MoF for his excellent effort on this post.
While it is obvious in the first sentence the term "salute" has a more literal meaning (i.e. showing respect by moving your right hand to your forehead), in the second sentence the more subtle meaning (publicly praise) is appropriate. In the given context reader should be able to discern the appropriate meaning. Let me put it this way as if the word has a body and a soul - while the body is the first literal meaning, the soul of the word is really the second subtle meaning. It is interesting to note that in some context only the soul would suffice and in other context both the body and the soul need to come together - but it is never the body alone. I mean just raising the hand to forehead without any intension of showing respect would never be a true "salute" - at least not in the proper essence of the word.
The reason of getting into the details of this word is it is similar to Arabic terms "Ruku" and "Sujud" discussed here. All these words have both literal meanings (body) as well as subtle meanings (soul). What brother MoF has shown here that the souls of the words suffice for understanding of all the relevant verses. Of course they do - and brother MoF has all my "salute" for his effort in showing this. The essence of the word is realy in the meanings that brother MoF has proposed and often in an mechanical translation these meanings are lost. However, let's not make the mistake of ruling out the literal meaning or the body of the word altogether (i.e. ruku = bow down, and sujud = prostrate) . In relevant verses the terms do convey both the meanings - otherwise our Master would not choose these specific words.
Some of us find it difficult to understand the mechanical body movements associated with the salaat ritual. Allow me share with you an excerpt from the book "Road to Mecca" by Muhammad Asad. The book discusses the author's journey from Judaism to Islam. In the quoted passage the author is discussing the "physical salat ritual" with an old man (hajji).
It somehow disturbed me to see so real a prayer combined with almost mechanical body movements, and one day I asked the hajji, who understood a little English
'Do you really believe that God expects you to show Him your respect by repeated bowing and kneeling and prostration? Might it not be better only to look into oneself and to pray to Him in the stillness of one's heart? Why all these movements of your body?'As soon as I had uttered these words I felt remorse, for I had not intended to injure the old man's religious feelings. But the hajji did not appear in the least offended. He smiled with his toothless mouth and replied
'How else then should we worship God? Did He not create both, soul and body, together? And this being so, should man not pray with his body as well as with his soul? Listen, I will tell you why we Muslims pray as we pray. We turn toward the Kaaba, God's holy temple in Mecca, knowing that the faces of all Muslims, wherever they may be, they turned to it in prayer, and that we are like one body, with Him as the centre of our thoughts. First we stand upright and recite from the Holy Koran, remembering that it is His Word. given to man that he may be upright and steadfast in life. Then we say, "God is the Greatest," reminding ourselves that no one deserves to be worshipped but Him; and bow down deep because we honour Him above all, and praise His power and glory. Thereafter we prostrate ourselves on our foreheads because we feel that we are but dust and nothingness before Him, and that He is our Creator and Sustainer on high. Then we lift our faces from the ground and remain sitting, praying that He forgive us our sins and bestow His grace upon us, and guide us aright. and give us health and sustenance. Then we again prostrate ourselves on the ground and touch the dust with our foreheads before the might and the glory of the One. After that, We remain sitting and pray that He bIess the Prophet Muhammad who brought His message to us, just as He blessed the earlier Prophets; and that He bless us as well, and all those who follow the right guidance; and we ask Him to give us of the good of this world and of the good of the world to come. In the end we turn our heads to the right and to the left, saying, "Peace and the grace of God be upon you" -and thus greet all who are righteous, wherever they may be.'It was thus that our Prophet used to pray and taught his followers to pray for all times, so that they might willingly surrender themselves to God -which is what Islam means -and so be at peace with Him and with their own destiny.'
The old man did not, of course, use exactly these words, but this was their meaning, and this is how I remember them. Years later I realized that with his simple explanation the hajji had opened to me the first door to Islam; but even then, long before any thought that Islam might become my own faith entered my mind, I began to feel an unwonted humility whenever I saw, as I often did, a man standing barefoot on his prayer rug, or on a straw mat, or on the bare earth, with his arms folded over his chest and his head lowered, entirely submerged within himself, oblivious of what was going on around him, whether it was in a mosque or on the sidewalk of a busy street a man at peace with himself.
May all guide us all to the straight route.
Best regards,
Arman -
Peace,
I sincerely doubt that ruku and sujud connote on bowing and prostration because particularly the latter would need a more complex combination of words/letters to be forming that advanced meaning.
If you want sujud to mean prostrate then you need to combine them with fall down sujud for example, but then it means still "he fell down in respect".
So the action depends how what kind of respectful expression that you make.
God bless you
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Peace brother MoF.
It is not always realistic to expect the meaning of the word to be embedded in its root / structure. Words in any language acquire the meaning based on the usage by the people speaking the language and their understanding. That?s what dictionaries and lexicon?s try to capture.
I believe the most appropriate approach to Qur?an is to draw wisdom and inspiration from it and to ponder over it ? not so much to ?interpret? it. Only Allah knows the interpretation (Ref 37). As long as you are saying that you have found a better insight from the Qur?an by focusing on the ?being humble? meaning of the term ?Ruku? etc. - I believe that is perfectly alright. But sometimes your tone (terms like ?Myth Buster? etc.) seems to imply that you have discovered the ?definitive interpretation? of these terms ? that attitude seems to be a bit troubling to me. That will be all from me on this post.
Wish you all the best. May Allah guide us all to the straight route.
Regards,
Arman -
Peace,
God is the author of the narration and words are built around the base meaning of words and it is not based on how people use languages but purely on a structure of grammar using affixes and help through combination of words. And one base word has he same meaning in each reoccurrence no matter context, but compounds based on affixes and/or other words modify the meaning based on the base meaning(s), sometimes two words.
The word for prostration is possible, but it takes a form more complicated than the one implied by s - j -d. Such word only connote on very simple expressions or motions.
Suppose that God is he sole author then The Master would incline on using simplest possible language so that no one can misinterpret it. Ironically people still managed to do that by either inferring a meaning too advanced for the word or by assigning a meaning never there in the first place (refer to wife "beating" or "cutting"of hands). For example, "s - l - w" (used for salah) cannot imply a too complicated expression or motion due to the simplicity of the word.
Even if we were to anticipate that it means "to pray" then its use must suit all occurrences of the word. But would you claim that birds are praying, having no real self-awareness and thus use for it? Does it help them in any way?
This phenomenon is simply because salah does not mean 'to pray'. If you do not have faith in my words I will soon show that the whole narration becomes illogical and unreasonable using this traditional interpretation and it makes much more sense then. And I promise you that "islam" looks nearly identical to the so-called "christianity" minus the Jesus obsession and some misconception that you are supposed to be a passivist.
God bless you
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Peace,
Just so you know there are 89 EDIT 98 instances with the root and many of them cause lots of contradiction in their current interpretation and sometimes also completely different stories than what the Author originally intended. If you know me I will need to make all 89 right before I even try to present it here or at least a majority of them enough to cause overwhelming "evidence" that proves this point. Not that I really expect 100% of people to have faith in it regardless despite overwhelming signs tempt
So bare with me until I have more meat on my legs.
God bless you
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Peace,
God is the author of the narration and words are built around the base meaning of words and it is not based on how people use languages but purely on a structure of grammar using affixes and help through combination of words. And one base word has he same meaning in each reoccurrence no matter context, but compounds based on affixes and/or other words modify the meaning based on the base meaning(s), sometimes two words.
Salam Brother Man of Faith.
I would respectfully disagree with the notion that "one base word has the same meaning in each reoccurrence no matter context". This cannot be true for any functional language not even Arabic. If you examine words like shahid (witness / martyr) or fitna (provocation / persucation) you'll see that it is not possible to use same word with the same meaning in every verse.
Since you are asking me about the term salaat ? let me humbly provide my understanding of the term. I am sorry if this gets a bit long, but hope you?ll have the patience.
I do believe the primary meaning (essence) of the term is somewhere close to ?respect and loyalty? or ?invocation of respect and loyalty?. Even dictionaries / lexicons would support this. It is in that meaning the angels and the believers invoke salaat on the Prophet. So, when Qur?an says ?establish salaat? we are primarily ordered to formally acknowledge and firmly incorporate the respect and loyalty to the Master of the Universe in our life. However starting from Abraham and Ismael, the prophets of Abrahamic millat have taught their followers certain rites and rituals (manasikan) to formally invoke ?salaat?. . Our last prophet Muhammad (peace be upon all of them) also followed the tradition. The exact format, timing, frequency and mannerism of the ritual of course varied with age and community, and I believe the prophets themselves remained way more flexible regarding these compared to some of their followers ? but the basic components ? humbly stand up ? pray ? bow down ? prostrate remained somewhat common.
When used in connection to a practicing follower of Abrahamic millat, the term ?salaat? incorporates in it those rituals ? just like the term ?salute? incorporates in it the connotation of raising one?s hand to one?s forehead whenever it is used in connection to a military unit; although as a general term ?salute? may or may not always involve that action.
This formal expression of respect is not unique to religion only.. for example, before sports people play national anthem and stand in silence to show respect. This is a form of invocation of respect and loyalty for one?s country. Arguably anyone can be respectful and loyal to a country without standing still during national anthem ? but still that is a prescribed ritual which everyone tends to accept and practice. True loyalty to one?s country involves loyalty in the heart as well as loyalty to the form (national anthem, flag etc.).
I humbly believe that a conscious person (muttaqui) would know that to establish salaat (respect and loyalty to the Master of the Universe) one does not necessarily need to adhere to a particular ritual, but at the same time he would be respectful to ?salat ritual? (more specifically musallat) that has been prescribed to him through generally accepted practice ? just like a true patriot is always respectful to the flag and anthem.
So, when I read Qur?an, if I find the term ?salaat? in connection to inanimate object, I understand the meaning as loyalty ? when I find the term in connection to a follower of Abrahamic millat (e.g. Zechariah), I understand the person is invoking loyalty and respect through a prescribed ritual. When there is a general directive on ?establish salaat? I understand this is a general instruction to firmly incorporate respect and loyalty in our life, but when the prescription is to specifically guard on salaat or salaat at prescribed time ? I understand it is talking about the invocation of respect through a prescribed form of ritual. Allah does not need our salaat ritual ? our predecessors (i.e. prophets) offered the salaat ritual to Allah and our Master acknowledged the ritual as a valid form of invocation of respect and prescribed it upon the believers. Now if we turn back from the ritual ? it would be only we acting arrogant - at our own peril. On the other hand being a salaat ritualist (musalli) without incorporating respect and loyalty in heart is a meaningless, fruitless excercise.
This is how I read and understand Qur?an ? you may or may not agree and I would urge you to take the best meaning based on your conscience and intellect and let me follow mine.
May Allah guide us all to the straight route.
Regards,
Arman -
I have just written in the thread on ribaa and mentionned "excess". I agree here also with Armanaziz, concerning the ritual, but understand that it is also very easy in matters of ritual to fall in excess. We tend to feel the obligation to the ritual and not to the reason of the ritual. When we get to that point, something should be done. Drop the ritual? Change the ritual?
The ritual in a sense has the same value as any other habit. It is a habit. Habits are necessary in our lives, otherwise we would be like a feather in the wind. But we should not be slaves of habit. That is one good thing about the traditional month of ramadan, which breaks habits and therefore any slavery to them.
That is a problem of those we have to solve each of us. Take advantage of habits, or ritual, but not be their servants but their "exploiter". If they are not helpful for us, then we should do something about it. May be make an effort oursleves to be more "present", conscious in our rituals. May be adhere to rituals that fit our disposition better... But to kee balance, to do away with all rituals might make things even more difficult for us than adhering to any of them. We have to make an effort ourselves and try to be always sincere.
And here I would cite a hadith, which in fact I do like
"Religion is sincerity". Very sort, but true, when sincerity goes religion is harmful. Sincerity is the cure of fanaticism. Sincerity works on oneself and not towards the others. We exact from ourselves and do not mind other's people business. Rituals are for our innerselves, not for the market.
Salaam
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Peace,
Arabic root words connote either on the same mental image or physical motion modified by compounds and affixes, but always keep their fundamental meaning although changing the perspective. But the ones for traditionally prostrate is still too complicated an action for sujud with only two syllables. People derive too complicated meanings out of the poor Arabic words and that is the point here just to justify motions in traditional islam. Nowhere in Quran it mentions positions for salat. If it is saying, traditionally, stand for God dutifully it means stand (by) God dutifully and not some position but a kind of service or devotion.
As for those times it traditionally says bow with those who bow it means to be humble with others who are humble.
As for salah I will soon show that it has been gravely misinterpreted for many many years.
You can use sujud for prostration, but then you have to add more words and letters. Otherwise it implies on respect. To pay homage is sujud, like saluting someone is sujud or to prostrate.
And I am not intending to remove your prayer practices completely because they are there in our faith. But I only want to show you that it is not a ritualistic neanderthal religion. You call upon your Master because you want to do so because you have grasped a wonderful thing. And you can express yourself with your body in whatever way you want. And I got crazy the other day and ran around throwing myself on the ground after breaking the linguistic myth with the recitation and salah. It is a motion that comes automatically for a reverent person that becomes very happy for what God is doing.
God bless you
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I hate ritualism and, even if I wanted, I would find it very difficult to stick to ritualism like a clock, however, regarding sujud, for instance, I cannot do it, because of my knees, which wuld be killing them and becoming maimed very fast. And I must say, I miss it even if I hate reitualism, and I miss it not because it is a rite, or a ritual, but because I did feel so good with it, it was such a felling of peace and rest, and happiness... I really concentrated in HU, the divine, the intimate God... I do miss it. May be it doesn't feel the same thing for everybody, but I do miss it. I experience its loss as a trial for me, as a challenge to gain that same state of peace and total happiness even while the body does nto accompany it. But I recommend it to everybody who is capable of doing it, at lest try while you feel that you are God's, only God's that all your being is being God's.
Salaam
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Harmony be with you sister,
but because I did feel so good with i
There is absolutely nothing wrong with prostrating physically to God out of reverence. It is a sujud (show of respect) and it is perfectly okay. I suppose that is how the word got connoted with this practice in the first place.
But you can also show respect with your heart and soul and you can tip your head forwards and cross your hands out of reverence to God.
But I recommend it to everybody who is capable of doing it, at lest try while you feel that you are God's,
And verily I say to you all that if you really have faith in God then you will want to express yourself emotionally.
I cannot do it, because of my knees, which wuld be killing them and becoming maimed very fast.
I am sorry for your hurts.
I hate ritualism and, even if I wanted, I would find it very difficult to stick to ritualism like a clock
Good news for you with my latest research is that this scheduled ritualism may be an invention by a play with the Arabic language.
God bless you
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Harmony be with you brothers and sisters,
Well, I suppose it is time for the unraveling of probably one of the biggest scandals in human history. The extreme misunderstanding of what the Arabic passages really want to convey that will have those who have faith in it probably get as shocked as I was the other day when I realized that my suspicions actually were true. You know that I have been experimenting with the word 'salat' for quite some time now because it always felt misplaced no matter what kind of interpretation you tried for it. I tried link, bond, connection, contact, communion and melding. The last one I used was nearly right, but it is yet not accurate. So what does the word really mean, i.e. the base meaning of root ? I spent a few full-time workdays working to figure it out and part of the nights, and once I finally figured it out, by the grace of God, it suddenly came so clear. And it has been a silly meaning just in front of our portrayal of ritualistic religion and a grumpy bearded old man that want us to prostrate and kneel systematically through the days. But the truth was another story.
The word you are looking for to place within the sentences where the word 'salat' occurs is 'unity' ! Continue to study the copy-pasted passages with sometimes corrected grammar to truthfully portray the true scenario. You need to realize that the faith that you adhered to was just what is commonly called christianity in disguise and the "contact prayer" is a gathering together to unite as a group of people both in unity as a group and towards God. And as you will find out it means to unite those who do not have faith in God from before by preaching about God in their city, town or village and to go out looking for ties to unite the people. I will begin with the al-wusta dispute
2238 Maintain the unities and the best unity and be in honorable service to God.
2239 If you are (still) thinking then you do so while walking or riding. If you become faithful, then remember God as He has taught you what you did not know. Note that above translation of 2239 is a bit experimental, but the meaning is somewhat like that.But let us start from the beginning of the whole recitation and go step by step. Sorry that this post will be very long.
23 Those who have faith in the unseen, and establish the unity, and
from Our provisions to them they spend.243 And uphold the unity, and contribute towards purification, and be humble with those who are humble.
244 Do you exhort the people to do good, but forget yourselves, while you are reciting the Book? Do you not comprehend?
245 And seek help through patience and through the unity. It is a difficult thing, but not so for the submissive.
246 The ones who conceive that they will meet their Master and that to Him they will return.283 And We took the covenant of the tribes of Israel ?You shall not serve except God, and do good to your parents, and regard the relatives, and the orphans, and the needy, and say kind things to the people, and uphold the unity, and contribute towards purification.? But then you turned away, except for a few of you; you were objecting.
284 And We have taken a covenant with you ?You shall not spill the blood of each other, nor expel each other from your homes.? And you agreed to this while bearing witness.Blue I.e. work against unity, disunity.
Just to mention something about how to think of unity; it means to keep together, and not separate into sects.
But
285 But then here you are killing each other and expelling a group of you from their homes; you act towards them with evil and animosity. And if they come to you as prisoners, you ransom them while it was unlawful for you to expel them! Do you believe in part of the decree and disbelieve in part? The punishment for those among you who do so is humiliation in this worldly life, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be delivered to the most severe retribution. God is not unaware of what you all do.
2109 Many of the people of the decree have wished that they could return you to being opponents after your faith, out of envy from their souls after the truth was made clear to them. You shall forgive them and overlook until God brings His will. God is capable of all things.
2110 And uphold the unity, and contribute towards purification; and what you bring forth of good for your souls you will find it with God. God is watching what you do.
2111 And they said ?None shall enter the Paradise except those who are Jewish or Nazarenes;? this is what they wish! Say ?Bring forth your proof if you are truthful.?
2112 No; whoever harmonize himself to God, while doing good, he will have his recompense with his Master. There will be no fear over them, nor will they grieve.
2113 And the Jews say ?The Nazarenes have no basis,? and the Nazarenes say ?The Jews have no basis,? while they are both reciting the Book! Similarly, those who do not know have said the same thing. God will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection in what they dispute.
2114 And who are more wicked than those who prevent them the ones who show respect that His name be mentioned; and they seek their harm? They will not be able to approach them except in fear; they will have humiliation in this world and in the Hereafter a painful retribution.Green Experimental translation not perfect based on my realization that buildings are not mentioned in the recitation.
Another experimental translation that may or may not be completely accurate
2125 And We have made the assembly to be an example for the people and confidence and you shall take, from the ways of Abraham, a way of ones who unite. And We entrusted to Abraham and Ishmael ?You shall purify My assembly for those who visit, and those who are devoted, and the respectfully humble.?
2126 And Abraham said ?My Master, make this a faithful land, and provide for its inhabitants of the fruits for whoever has faith in God and the Last Day.? He said ?As for he who oppose, I will let him enjoy for a while, then I will force him to the retribution of the Fire. What a miserable destiny!?2153 O you who have faith, seek help through patience and through the unity, God is with the patient ones.
2154 And do not say of those who are killed in the cause of God that they are dead; no, they are alive but you do not perceive.
2155 And We will test you with some fear and hunger, and a shortage in money and lives and fruits. And give good news to those who are patient.
2156 The ones who, when afflicted with adversity, they say ?We are to God and to Him we will return.?
2157 For those there will be unity with their Lord and grace, they are the guided ones.2177 Piety is not to turn your minds towards left or right, but pious is one who has faith in God and the Last Day, and the angels, and the decree, and the prophets, and who gives money out of love to the relatives, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and those who ask, and to free the slaves; and who upholds the unity, and who contributes towards purification; and those who keep their pledges when they make a pledge, and those who are patient in the face of adversity and hardship and when in despair. These are the ones who have been truthful, and these are the righteous.
2238 Maintain the unities; and the best unity; and be in honorable service to God.
2277 Those who have faith and do good works, and uphold the unity, and contribute towards purification; they will have their recompense with their Lord and there is no fear over them nor will they grieve.
339 So the angels called to him while he was "in service" uniting the ones who struggle ?God gives you glad tidings of John, authenticating the word from God, and a master, and steadfast, and a prophet from the upright.?
Green Sorry I had to find a paraphrasing that was viable for the sentence.
Here is a very controversial passage with many doubtful words included that seems traditionally to derive an interpretation based on traditions. I cross out the latter part because it is so unlikely to mean what it is translated as.
443 O you who have faith, do not approach the unity while you are drowsy until you know what you are saying and not tired, except if you have a way to teach until you are restored. And if you are ill, or traveling, or one of you has excreted feces, or you had sexual contact with the women, and could not find water, then you shall select from the clean soil; you shall wipe your faces and hands. God is Pardoning, Forgiving.
Red This interpretation is based on countless hours of cross-checking words in the recitation to find its true one. I gave up on the latter part after some more hours and hope that God will help me find the right interpretation at some point.
477 Did you not see those who were told ?Cease your aggression, and uphold the unity, and contribute towards purification.? But when fighting was decreed for them, a group of them were concerned towards the people as they would have been concerned towards God or even more so. And they said ?Our Lord, why did You decree fighting for us? If only You would delay for us until another time.? Say ?The enjoyment of this world is little, and the Hereafter is far better for those who are aware; you will not be wronged in the least.?
Here comes a complete surprise, if you have faith in what I have worked on
4101 And if you go forth in the land, then there is no harm that you avoid the unity, if you think that the opponents will try you. The opponents are to you a clear enemy
4102 and if you are with them and you make the unity with them, then let a group of among those with you and let them bring their weapons; and then when they have showed respect then let them stand by you; and let the group which has not yet united come and let them unite with you, and let them be wary and let them bring their weapons with them. The opponents hope that you would neglect your weapons and goods so they can come upon you in one blow. There is no sin upon you if you are impeded by rainfall, or if you are ill, that you place down your weapons. And be wary. God has prepared for the opponents a humiliating retribution.
4103 Then, if you have made the unity, remember God while standing, or sitting, or on your sides. Then, if you are confident in them upholding the unity. Indeed, the unity for those with faith is an important decree.
4104 And do not be weak in the looking for the group. If you are feeling exhausted, then they are also feeling exhaustion as you are; and you are aware of God while they are not aware. God is Knowledgeable, Wise.Of course 4102 is not to the letter exact from Arabic, but I tried to make a decently paraphrased translation. I saw that the whole interpretation was wrong because when I realized salat was not contact prayer then something was fishy with these passages. I have not conjectured while re-rendering the passages but I have compared about every word with other instances in the recitation and the above interpretation is viable. For some people this may come as a mockery and for some I hope it will feel comforting. This is my own definite understanding anyway.
4142 The hypocrites seek to deceive God, while He is deceiving them; and if they are to uphold the unity, they do so reluctantly, only to show the people; they do not remember God except very little.
4143 They are swaying in-between, neither with this group nor with that group. Whoever God will misguide, you will not find for him a way.Obviously they do not know if they want to follow the true assembly of God or go to the sects.
4162 But those of them who are well founded in knowledge, and the ones with faith, they have faith in what was sent down to you and what was sent down before you; and the ones who unite, and those who contribute towards purification, and those who have faith in God and the Last Day; to these We will give them their recompense greatly.
Skip 56 because current translation is unbelievable and I could not spend more hours on it. It could be washing your body to be clean for being in an assembly though.
512 God has taken the covenant of the tribes of Israel and raised from them twelve representatives, and God said ?I am with you if you uphold the unity, and contribute towards purification, and believe in My messengers, and support them, and lend God a loan of righteousness; then I will cancel your sins and admit you into estates with rivers flowing beneath them.? Whoever opposes after this from you, then he has strayed from the path.
513 But because of them breaking their covenant, We have cursed them, and made their hearts become hardened; they take the words out of context; and they forgot much of what they were reminded of. And you will still discover betrayal in them except for a few; so pardon them and overlook; God loves the good doers.
514 And from those who have said ?We are Nazarenes,? We have taken their covenant and they have forgotten much of what they were reminded of; so We planted between them animosity and hatred until the Day of Resurrection; and God will inform them of what they had done.They broke their covenant because they broke into sects and did not uphold the unity and begun calling themselves various weird things, even such as muslims today.
555 For your supporter are God and His messenger and those who have faith; they establish the unity and contribute towards purification, and they kneel.
556 And whoever allies God and His messenger and those who believe; then the party of God are the ones who will be victorious.
557 O you who have faith, do not take as allies those who have taken your system for mockery and play from among those who have been given the decree before you and the opponents. And be aware of God if you are ones with faith.
558 And if you call to the unity, they take it for mockery and play. That is because they are a people who do not comprehend.See how obvious the understanding of unity is considered following phrases.
591 The devil only wants to cause strife between you through alcohol and gambling, and to repel you away from remembering God and from the unity. Will you be deterred?
5106 O you who believe, witnessing shall be done if death is approaching one of you and a will is being made, by two among you who are equitable. If you have gone forth in the land, and death is approaching, then any two may suffice - if you have doubt regarding them, then detain them after making unity, and they will swear by God ?We will not purchase with it any price, even if it was from a near relative, and we will not conceal the testimony of God, else we are of the sinners.?
671 Say ?Shall we call upon other than God what cannot benefit us or harm us, and we turn back on our heels after God has guided us?? This is like the one whom the devils have managed to mislead on the earth, he is confused, having friends who call him to the guidance ?Come to us!? Say ?The guidance is the guidance of God, and we have been ordered to submit to the Lord of the worlds.?
672 And you shall uphold the unity, and be aware; and to Him you will be gathered.
673 And He is the One who has created the heavens and the earth with the truth, and the day He says ?Be,? then it is! His saying is truth; and to Him is the sovereignty the Day the horn is blown. Knower of the unseen and the seen; He is the Wise, the Expert.
674 And Abraham said to his father, Azar ?Will you take statues as gods? I see you and your people are clearly misguided.?691 And they did not appreciate God as He deserves to be appreciated, for they said ?God has never sent down anything to any human being.? Say ?Who then has sent down the decree which Moses had come with, a light and a guidance for the people? You treat it simply as paper for display, and you conceal much; and you were taught what neither you nor your fathers knew.? Say ?God has.? Then leave them playing in their folly.
692 And this is a decree which We have sent down, blessed, authenticating what is between his hands, and that you may warn the capital of the towns and those around it. And those who believe in the Hereafter have faith in it, and they maintain their unity.
693 And who is more wicked than he who invents lies about God, or says ?It has been inspired to me,? when We did not inspire anything to him; or who says ?I will bring down the same as what God has sent down.? And if you could only see the wicked at the moments of death when the angels have their arms opened ?Bring yourselves out, today you will be given the severest punishment for what you used to say about God without truth, and you used to be arrogant towards His revelations.?6161 Say ?My Master has guided me to a straight path, an upright system, the creed of Abraham the monotheist; he was not of the associators.?
6162 Say ?My unity, and my rites, and my life, and my death, are all to God, Lord of the worlds.?
6163 ?He has no partner, and it is to this that I was commanded, and I am the first of those who have harmonized.?7170 As for those who hold fast to the decree, and they uphold the unity; We will not waste the reward of the righteous.
83 They establish the unity, and from Our provisions to them they spend.
835 And their unity at the assembly was nothing but noise and aversion. Taste the retribution for what you have opposed.
836 Those who have opposed, they spend their money to turn others away from the path of God. They will spend it, then it will become an anguish for them, then they will be defeated. Those who have opposed will be gathered to Hell.
837 This is so that God will distinguish the bad from the good, and so that the bad will be gathered together into one heap then He will cast it all into Hell. These are the losers.95 So when the restricted months have passed, then you may kill the associators wherever you find them, and take them, and surround them, and stand against them at every point. If they repent, and they uphold the unity, and they contribute towards purification, then you shall leave them alone. God is Forgiving, Merciful.
You see here that the faith is not dogmatic in this case but is just based on a "misunderstanding".
910 They do not respect those who have faith, nor a kinship, nor a pledge. These are the transgressors.
911 If they repent, and they uphold the unity, and they contribute towards purification, then they are your brothers in the system. We explain the revelations for a people who know.
912 And if they break their oaths after making their pledge, and they challenge the authority of your system; then you may kill the leaders of opposition. Their oaths are nothing to them, perhaps they will then cease.917 It was not for the associators to remain ones who show respect while they bear witness over their own opposition. For these, their works have fallen, and in the Fire they will abide.
918 Rather, the ones who show respect of faith in God and the Last Day, and he upholds the unity, and he contributes towards purification, and is only concerned by God. It is these that will be of the guided ones.
919 Have you made the watering of the pilgrim (?) and remaining ones who show respect to the restrictions the same as one who have faith in God and the Last Day and he strives in the cause of God? They are not the same with God. And God does not guide the wicked people.954 And what prevented what they would spend from being accepted from them except that they opposed God and His messenger, and they do not establish the unity except reluctantly, and they do not spend except unwillingly.
971 And the believing males and the believing females, they are allies to one another. They order good and prohibit vice, and they establish the unity, and they contribute towards purification and they obey God and His messenger. God will have mercy on them; God is Noble, Wise.
984 And do not form a unity for any of them who have died, nor stand at their grave. They have rejected God and His messenger and died while they were wicked.
999 And from the Nomads are those who believe in God and the Last Day, and he looks upon what he spends to make him closer to God, and the unities of the messenger. It indeed makes them closer. God will admit them in His mercy; God is Forgiving, Merciful.
9103 Take from their money a charity to purify them and develop them with it, and make unity with them; for your unity is a tranquility for them; and God is Hearer, Knowledgeable.
1087 And We inspired to Moses and his brother ?You shall form assemblies for your people in Egypt; and have your assemblies to "be a model", and uphold the unity. And give good news to the ones with faith.?
Red I interpret 'qiblah' to mean something you look up to that is in front of you to be a good model.
1187 They said ?O Shu?ayb, does your unity order you that we leave what our fathers served, or that we do not do with our money as we please? It seems only you are the compassionate, the wise!?
What the thing he wants to unite around, i.e. the ways of God and this unity among people. They did not like the things he came with due to adherence to old traditions and their greed to do mischief.
11114 And observe unity part of the day, and the near part of the night. The good deeds take away the bad. This is a reminder to those who remember.
I interpret it that the person receiving this is to do heed the people in the assembly. I have not seen any compulsory timing as in traditional "islam".
I skip some occurrences with salat as I see they follow the same logic as until now. Sorry.
1431 Say to My servants who have faith, that they should establish the unity, and spend from what provisions We granted them secretly and openly, before a Day comes when there is no trade therein, nor will there be any friends.
1437 ?Our Master, I have resided part of my progeny in a barren valley near your assembly of those who restrict. Our Master, that they may establish the unity, so let the hearts of the people incline towards them and give provisions to them of the fruits that they may give thanks.?
Sorry. Perhaps not perfect translation of the Arabic words, but it is nearly the right meaning.
1440 ?My Master, let me of those with unity, and also from my progeny. Our Master, and accept my prayer.?
1778 Uphold the unity till the setting of the sun; to the murkiness of the night; and the Qur?an at dawn - the Qur?an at dawn is witnessed.
I boycott the traditional understanding at all, but I am tired of sitting down trying to rephrase it. What I think it means is to keep unity from start of the day until nightfall, i.e. around the clock. And read of recitation at dawn.
17110 Say ?Call on God or call on the Almighty; by whichever you call on, to Him are the best names.? And do not be too loud in making your unity, nor too quiet; but seek a path in between.
I do not deny assemblies with commemoration of God, but I am unsure if this is the right interpretation. However it is true that you may have to keep a decent tone of voice.
1930 He said ?I am a servant of God, He has given me the decree and made me a prophet.?
1931 ?And He has made me blessed wherever I am, and He has charged me with the unity and purification as long as I am alive.?
1932 ?And to be dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a mischievous tyrant.?1955 And he used to instruct his family to the unity and purification, and his Master was pleased with him.
1958 Those are the ones whom God has blessed from among the prophets from the progeny of Adam, and those We carried with Noah, and from the progeny of Abraham and Israel, and from whom We have guided and chosen. When the revelations of the Almighty are recited to them, they fall down in respect, and in tears.
1959 Then, generations came after them who lost the unity, and followed desires. They will find their consequences.
1960 Except for whoever repents and has faith and does good works; they will be admitted to the Paradise, and they will not be wronged in the least.2012 ?I am your Master, so take off your slippers; you are in the holy valley Tuwa.?
2013 ?And I have chosen you, so listen to what is being inspired.?
2014 ?I am God, there is no god except Me, so serve Me and hold the unity for My remembrance.?
2015 ?The Hour is coming, I am nearly keeping it hidden, so that every soul will be recompensed with what it strived.?2240 The ones who were driven out of their homes without justice, except that they said ?God is Our Master!? And if it were not for God defending the people against themselves, then many places of gathering, and markets, and unities, and ones who respectfully commemorate the name of God, would have been suppressed. God will give victory to those who support Him. God is Powerful, Noble.
2278 And strive in the cause of God its truly deserved striving. He is the One who has chosen you, and He has made no hardship for you in the system, the creed of your father Abraham; He is the One who named you ?ones harmonized? from before and in this. So let the messenger be witness over you and you be witness over the people. So uphold the unity and contribute towards purification and hold tight to God, He is your patron. What an excellent Patron, and what an excellent Supporter.
Check this one out and see the combination of words in it while giving salat a new light
2441 Do you not see that everything in the heavens and the earth glorifies God? Even the birds in formation, each knows its unity and its glorification. And God is fully aware of everything they do.
273 Those who establish the unity, and contribute towards purification, and regarding the Hereafter they are certain.
274 As for those who do not have faith in the Hereafter, We have made their work appear pleasing to them, so they walk around blind.2945 Recite what is inspired to you of the decree and uphold the unity, for the unity prohibits immorality and vice; but certainly the remembrance of God is the greatest. God knows everything you do.
Green Based on how this word is often used I anticipate that it means to keep to the decree and uphold unity.
3117 ?O my son, uphold the unity and advocate righteousness and prohibit vice, and be patient to what befalls you. These are the most honorable traits.?
Misogynist warning in the traditional interpretation here! Check correction.
3333 You shall be relaxed in your assemblies, and do not show off like in the old days of ignorance. You shall uphold the unity, and contribute towards purification, and obey God and His messenger. God wishes to remove any taint from you, O people of the Sanctuary, and to purify you completely.
Green Sorry I could not find a good translation )
These women are not to be confined to their homes but behave properly while in the assembly, just like anyone else though
3341 O you who have faith, you shall remember God frequently.
3342 And glorify Him morning and evening.
3343 He is the One who makes unity with you, along with His angels, to bring you out of darkness and into the light. And He is ever Merciful towards the believers.3356 God and His angels make unity with the prophet. O you who have faith, you shall make unity with him, and comply completely.
3357 Surely those who harm God and His messenger, God will curse them in this world and in the Hereafter; and He has prepared for them a shameful retribution.
3358 And those who harm the faithful males and the faithful females, with no just reason, they have brought upon themselves a slander and a gross sin.3529 Surely, those who recite the decree of God and uphold the unity, and spend secretly and openly from what We have provided them, they are seeking a trade that can never lose.
4237 And those who avoid major sins and immorality, and when they are angered, they forgive.
4238 And those who have responded to their Master, and they hold the unity, and their affairs are conducted by mutual consultation among themselves, and from Our provisions to them they give.
4239 And those who, when injustice befalls them, they seek justice.5813 Are you reluctant to offer a charity before such meeting? If you cannot do such, and God has forgiven you; then you shall uphold the unity, and contribute towards purification, and obey God and His messenger. God is fully Aware of everything you do.
629 O you who have faith, if the unity is called to at the gathering day, then you shall hasten towards the remembrance of God, and cease all selling. This is better for you, if only you knew.
I take this thing just as it is practiced by the group called Christians and means a day like in the church but with your assembly of God aloners.
985 And they were not commanded except to serve God and be loyal to His system, monotheists, and establish the unity and contribute towards purification. Such is the valuable system.
And here my post ends after all this work. I hope there will be someone that understands the flaws in the old understanding. And I encourage you to check all occurrences with salat yourselves and perhaps take help from all the examples above.
The thing is that we have more or less reshaped a non-idolatrous often called "Christianity" instead of the barbaric "religion" "Islam". They really made a ridicule of Muhammad after he was there working hard to spread unity by causing that mess called "Islam". Talk about twisting their tongues with what they knew and it is the worst perversion I have almost known except the deification of Jesus. They did exactly, I mean exactly, the same thing as the other sects did and delved into conjecture and made another system than God had decreed for them. And so there was no unity and just a lot of sects with their "mumbo jumbo". And they even made a humiliation of the word salat and nearly every other word as well.
And an imaginary Muhammad is their god.
That is why I was so overwhelmed when I solved the mystery of the delusive sect Islam, and I would call it "Muhammadism" if it was not in disrespect to him.
God bless you
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I hate ritualism and, even if I wanted, I would find it very difficult to stick to ritualism like a clock, however, regarding sujud, for instance, I cannot do it, because of my knees, which wuld be killing them and becoming maimed very fast. And I must say, I miss it even if I hate reitualism, and I miss it not because it is a rite, or a ritual, but because I did feel so good with it, it was such a felling of peace and rest, and happiness... I really concentrated in HU, the divine, the intimate God... I do miss it. May be it doesn't feel the same thing for everybody, but I do miss it. I experience its loss as a trial for me, as a challenge to gain that same state of peace and total happiness even while the body does nto accompany it. But I recommend it to everybody who is capable of doing it, at lest try while you feel that you are God's, only God's that all your being is being God's.
Salaam
Peace huruf,
Why not worship sitting ? There are many folks who perform the salat sitting because of health problems, yours
included.Good rituals and habits are cool, as for those who say they do not like habits or rituals I say it depends on
how important the habit/ ritual is! Many people have the habit/ritual of going to work to get money, or
attending sporting events or pre sex rituals, or seeking adoration, or recognition. Islamic rituals are for the
development of the soul and pleasing to God. I think part of the problem is the "fard" misconception promulgated
by the sects, creating rote among many Muslims, saying you must make all five salats, creating an unnecessary
hardship. The Quran says perform the salat at specific times These times are our windows/opportunities to
perform the salat. If one is not able for any reason to make five, then make four or three or two or one or
whatever is sincere worship because we cannot fool God.God bless
peace