Salat = Education-Process
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Linguistic Semantics is the study of meanings as inherent at the levels of words, phrases, sentences and larger units of discourse-text. It is used for understanding human expression through language. The discourse-text of Grand Qur'aan is in Arabic a perspicuous, eloquent, distinctive and precisely expressive language; the language of the sons of soil of Arabian Peninsula.
Experts suggest that it is useful to view the vocabulary of a language/text as a set of words referring to a series of conceptual fields. In linguistics, these divisions are called Semantic fields. A semantic field or semantic domain is a set of words grouped by meaning referring to a specific subject; languages will have fields of distance, location, size, shape, time, emotion, beliefs, economics, academic subjects, natural phenomena, etc. Each field can have many sub-divisions or lexical sets actual words and expressions. Semantic fields are arranged hierarchically, going from the more general to the more specific. Linguists generally refer the general word by umbrella term "superordinate" and the specific word as "hyponym". The propositional meaning carried by a general word or superordinate is part of the meaning of each of its hyponyms but not vice versa.
The Root has specific, defined, distinct, conspicuous and apparent concept, phenomenon, perception and signification folded in it. It is the source, the reservoir of knowledge. Roots can be termed as "repertory of frames" of Arabic language if we follow frames approach to semantic analysis.
The amazing fact about the Roots of Arabic is that the perception infolded in them is reflective of physical?scientific realities pertaining both to matter and life. They seem as if they are the baseline for scientific study and investigation.
Semantics of Qur'aan is like "semantics" of DNA?triplet schema
Wow!! !
I believe the above idea is the most effective to understand what is 'salat.'
A semantic field or semantic domain is a set of words grouped by meaning referring to a specific subject;
In this case 'salat' is a semantic domain that is intended to cover a range of words that represent the spiritual drive an individual to "bond" with Allah.
Communion is a good word but it is very 'Christian.' Perhaps "bonding" may be a better and neutral word.Bonding; noun
- Psychology, Animal Behavior.
a relationship that usually begins at the time of birth between a parent and offspring and that establishes the basis for an ongoing mutual attachment.
the establishment of a pair bond. - a close friendship that develops between adults, often as a result of intense experiences, as those shared in military combat.
So 'Salat' can be Spiritual or Divine Bonding.
In a bonding situation all the actions are very intense and geared toward very positive optimal results for both parties.
The subset of 'salat' in this case are prayers, glorifications, praises, and the likes.I believe in the brain the salat or divine bonding algorithm is supported by root neurons with its various sub-roots for the subset processes.
Btw, I am not recommending we must use the term 'bonding' for salat in all cases. If the context is 'prayer' then we retain the term 'prayer' but one must be mindful 'salat' represent the semantic domain of 'divine bonding'.
- "Connection/Communion" fail in 984 when someone has died.
- "Communion" fails in 3356 when God and His angels "Yusaloon" upon the Prophet and the believers.
Prayer to someone has died, pray for someone to get well, are a subset of 'Prayer' which is not related to 'divine' bonding even thought the root words SLW are the same.
It is the same for "Yusaloon" in 3356 which is outside the scope of 'salat' which is a bonding process and actions between believers and Allah only.Btw, salat = process of divine bonding is a subset of budu Allah .
- Psychology, Animal Behavior.
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peace all,
In this case 'salat' is a semantic domain that is intended to cover a range of words that represent the spiritual drive an individual to "bond" with Allah.
Similar to here.
I think there has been a preoccupation with some people (myself included, to some degree) to find a word that fits everywhere and slots in perfectly. Sure that would be nice, and sometimes it does happen, but sometimes it's not necessary, and I'll explain why
For example with "salat", or "hajj", or "zakat" etc it doesn't really matter what you call it in English, but what matters more is what these concepts entail, i.e. what do we have to do to fulfil them.
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For example with "salat", or "hajj", or "zakat" etc it doesn't really matter what you call it in English, but what matters more is what these concepts entail, i.e. what do we have to do to fulfil them.
It's the case with the all words in the Qur'an. But, when we wanna talk (or write) about them it's important to find some word that reflects what we understood, even it can't be 100%.
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peace all,
Similar to here.
I think there has been a preoccupation with some people (myself included, to some degree) to find a word that fits everywhere and slots in perfectly. Sure that would be nice, and sometimes it does happen, but sometimes it's not necessary, and I'll explain why
For example with "salat", or "hajj", or "zakat" etc it doesn't really matter what you call it in English, but what matters more is what these concepts entail, i.e. what do we have to do to fulfil them.
Peace 2 all
I agree what matters is 'what the concepts entails' , i.e. the 'referent' is more important than the 'reference'.
However, I believe putting things within categories helps and facilitates in an intended purpose. It can be problematic if the words, concepts and referents are misplaced. Thus exceptional care has to be taken.
The classification of animal species, i.e. taxonomy could be used as a parallel to classify human nature, actions, mental states;
Taxonomy (from Ancient Greek taxis, "arrangement", and - -nomia, "method") is the science of defining groups of biological organisms on the basis of shared characteristics and giving names to those groups. Organisms are grouped together into taxa (singular taxon) and these groups are given a taxonomic rank; groups of a given rank can be aggregated to form a super group of lower rank, thus creating a taxonomic hierarchy.
What is interesting with the earlier article is its reference to the DNA, thus the genomic elements. This is an exciting exploration of new knowledge to complement knowledge of the Quran.
I think it would more interesting to link the root system of Arabic words involving human actions to the arrangement of neurons in the brain.
Note the http//www.humanconnectomeproject.org/
where neuroscientists are embarking on a project to map all the brain connectivity to all human actions, mental states, etc.My hypothesis is the 'salat' processes will match with the 'bonding' process in a major percentage in terms of neurons activities. It is not only the neurons but we need to take into considerations chemicals in the body and brain plus activities in other parts of the body, e.g. the DNA, the heart, etc.
Noted your article here.
I will take that into consideration but will keep an open mind to explore more on the basis of DNA, neurons and other aspects of human nature to tie in with what is in the Quran. -
Peace,
Arabic words have a range of meanings based on the context
Like so.
So on its own is quite ambiguous, but when you say like so, the like gives or expands on the meaning of so.
I think in trying to determine a one size fits all interpretation, words can often loose the depth of meaning, unless you can truly capture the es-sense
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What do you say? Arabic words are never ambiguous because they easily say what is to be said. That is the strength with the language. An Arabic word is descriptive in structure innately.
On their very own obviously words can be ambiguous. If I say "boat" in English, this does not mean anything semantically. If I say "call", this has a limited meaning. But the words themselves are very clear in what they mean.
Be well
Qarael Amenuel -
Salam,
I just wanted to add a small footnote to this topic which might help in providing some context to the functionality of Salat (education-process).
In the days before the industrial revolution, a village/town at most would have 5-6 written copies of the Quran and probably 10 or so people who had the Book memorized. Most people therefore don't have access to the words/laws in their homes and when they woke up, before heading off to the farms or market, they would attend an open recitation of the Quran where it's laws could be heard and contemplated. They would then go about their business, thinking of what they had heard that morning, and, around noon there is an opportunity to attend the Salat again, and also in evening before they turned in, they could attend the Salat one last time to listen to some more words/laws that they could think about when they went home and before they slept.
This is how the laws and stories were transmitted and learned by the generations.
Exactly that's what I thought.
I think/Do you know how non-Arabic speaking peoples established salah ?
