How do you do the salat
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Peace all
Recently, I have become concerned about my failure to uphold the salat. This concern has to be weighed up against the fact that I am not too sure what salat is. I used to read the articles posted on this site/others about salat but I became concerned that I was blindly following whoever wrote the article even if I had tried to investigate the issue for myself. God consistently states the importance of upholding (iqama) the salat as well as the zakat (very often the two are mentioned together).
My problems with understanding salat is that is something we are supposed to do, yet it is something that God seems to do and that animals do. In my opinion, therefore, it is difficult to define salat as a form of subordination when God ?sends his salat on the messenger.
From my understanding salat appears to be something communal (629-10,1075, ), done at appointed times (the times are debatable), one must purify oneself before doing (56) it and it involves speech (17110).
The above is what salat may consist of, but I am still not too sure as what salat itself is. The meaning of ?assembly? and others, I have been unable to identify in lexicons/dictionaries. I accept these may not be accurate, but the problem still exists.
So, in light of this, I wanted to ask if anyone here, since rejecting sources of law besides the Quran, does the salat, and what their salat consists of. This is not a ?defend your position? post, but I just wanted to find out what others do or how you are resolving this problem.
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Salam,
What I have understood is that the word salat can mean more than one thing like the case of most of the arabic words.
So uphold salat can mean to follow the obligations from God his system, we humans do it in our way and the birds/animals in their way.
But I do know that Quran talks about salat timings and I believe that these timings are mentioned for us to have something to achieve in our life. These timings are times we are to reachout to God more sincere and in a more private matter due to the timings are when we often are at home and have time to relax and reachout.
But I don't see the bowing and prostrate as a physically act. Because there is no logic in that, and what good does that to bow at the ground!? It must mean that we bow down our soul to the almighty God and that is far more difficult than to bow down physically because all can do that even atheists if they like.
This just what I have in my mind.
What I do in my salat at dawn and dusk I read Alfatiha and praise God, do some do'a and also read from the scripture.
But if you also like to meditate for awhile it's of course good and it can bring you closer to God.
I think there is no exactly rules for what to do in salat, just do what you feel is good for you and your soul. Reading Quran at dawn are witnessed so the it's of course good to do that but the rest is up to you.
Peace sis Majidah
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Peace,
I think there is no exactly rules for what to do in salat, just do what you feel is good for you and your soul.
i second that.
The way i understand, is that human's communication consist verbal and high percentage of nonverbal means. Hm, does anyone bow his/her head or lowering their eyes..etc during or after reading the quran or simply when talking to God? Nonverbal behavior complements, subtitutes, or even emphasizes a messege... So perhaps by bowing and prostate, one's humbleness, or the intention to be humble to God will increase, the actions can strengthen your faith or even can "say" what words cannot describe.
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Salam,
What I have understood is that the word salat can mean more than one thing like the case of most of the arabic words.
Peace
I think that the problem with 'salat' is that it's original meaning has been lost and been replaced with this meaning of 'ritual prayer'. This is clearly not the case. I do not think salat is some allegorical thing that some make it out to be either. While I agree that reading the Quran at dawn is important, I do not think this is salat. Perhaps it is 'doing the salat' which enables people to 'contribute to the zakat'. Perhaps it is some form of government, but not as we understand it, whereby people discuss issues.
I think, on a very superficial level, that the closest think we have to a 'salat' is what the sunnis do on a friday. In my opinion, it must be a communal gathering (jummah) where people talk (do not speak too loudly). But at least three times a day every day? How can a society function like this? And what if there is no community of Muslims? What are we supposed to do? Bearing in mind God's ironic warnings about how most will not believe etc., why was no provision made for this?
So many questions!!
Roshan
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peace
I thought of the idea that salat must be meditation. Meditation allows you to look inside yourself (where God is), I thought if we do that, maybe we'll recieve divine inspiration or something.
Then I read Idolfree1's concept of salat, and it kind of fit with my interpretation as well, but it made more sense.
If zakat is purification, and salat is done for the effect of zakat, then his concept makes most sense.
What brings us closer to God isn't emotional attachment (we are supposed to transcend emotions, not follow them), but it's getting closer to God's ideals mentioned in the Koran. How do we get closer? the answer is salat.
The fact is that we can't just change ourselves. When we smoke, we can't just quit whenever we want.
So we need salat to change ourselves for the better, until our souls have been purified (zakat).and it definitely has 2 times.
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So, in light of this, I wanted to ask if anyone here, since rejecting sources of law besides the Quran, does the salat, and what their salat consists of. This is not a ?defend your position? post, but I just wanted to find out what others do or how you are resolving this problem.
Peace.
"Observe the Salat (Contact Prayers) for it prohibits evil and vice." 2945.
"You shall glorify and praise your Lord and be with the prostrators, and worship your Lord until you attain certainty." 1598-99.
"Surely, those who recite the book of God, observe the Contact Prayers and are charitable both discreetly and openly can hope for an investment that never loses. He will recompense them generously and will multiply His blessings upon them. He is Forgiving, Appreciative." 3529-30.
"You shall recite what is revealed to you of the Scripture, and observe the Salat (Contact Prayers), for the Salat prohibits evil and vice. But the remembrance of God (through the Contact Prayers) is the most important objective. God is aware of all that you do." 2945.
"I am God, there is no other God but Me, you shall worship Me and observe the Salat (Contact Prayers) to commemorate Me." 2014."O you who believe, do not observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) while intoxicated, till you ( so that you ) know what you are saying." 443.
"O you who believe, when you observe the Salat (Contact Prayers) you shall wash your faces, wash your arms to the elbows, wipe your heads and wash your feet to the ankles." 56.
"I am God; there is no other god beside Me. you shall worship Me alone, and observe the Salat (Contact Prayers) to remember ME." 2014.
"Wherever you go, you shall turn your face (during Salat) towards the Sacred Masjid; wherever you might be, you shall turn your faces (during Salat) towards it." 2150."The angels called to him as he was STANDING praying in the sanctuary "God gives you good news of John; a believer in the word of God, honorable, moral, and a righteous prophet." 339.
"We appointed Abraham to establish the Shrine "You shall not idolize any other god beside Me, and purify My shrine for those who visit it, those who live near it, and those who BOW and PROSTRATE." 2226."You shall recite what is revealed to you of your Lord's Scripture (the Quran). Nothing shall abrogate His words, and you shall not find any other source beside it." 1827.
Although there is no specific command to read the Key (Fatihah) in particular in the salat, yet since it is the opening of the book and it comprises a call to Allah in all its words, then it is appropriate to read it in the opening of our Salat.
Bearing in mind that God informs us that He does not wish us any hardship in practicing our religion, thus it is sensible to read the relatively longer passages (such as the Key) in the standing position rather than the bowing or prostrating so that the ill and old would not over-burden their frail bodies. Consequently, the recitation of the Key (Al-Fatiha) in the standing position is what all Muslims do.
The phrase 'Allahu Akbar' is uttered frequently during Salat in compliance with God's command to magnify Him as in 2185 and 17111.
'Sobhan Rabi Al-Azeem' (Praise my Lord the Great). This is in compliance with "You shall glorify the name of your Lord, the Great" 5674. These words of praise are usually spoken in the bowing position as many times as desired.
'Sobhan Rabi Al-Aala' (Praise my Lord the Most High). This is in compliance with "Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High" 871. These words of praise are usually spoken in the prostrating position as many times as desired.
Praising God is encouraged at all times and specifically after prostration
"During the night you shall glorify Him, and after prostrating" 5040.The Shahada (Testimony of Faith) is the first pillar of Islam and is a declaration of our monotheistic faith. The Shahada may be uttered at any stage in the Salat and any number of times
The words of the Shahada are Ash'hadu ana la illaha ila Allah' (I bear witness that there is no God other than God).
"God bears witness that there is no god except He, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge" 318.
In 17111 we read the following words
"Al-Hamdu l'Allah alazee lam yatakhez waladan, wa lam yakun lahu shareek fee al mulk, wa lam yakun lahu waleyon min al zol."
These words translate to
"Praise be to God who has never begotten a son, nor does He have a partner in His kingship, nor does He need an ally out of weakness" 17111
In 17110 God commands us to use a moderate voice in our Salat, immediately after which God commands us
"AND SAY, 'Praise be to God, who has never begotten a son??."
The words "AND SAY"at the beginning of verse 111 indicate that the subject is STILL Salat (the subject of 110). This means that God is commanding us to utter these specific words during our salat.
It is interesting to note that these 3 phrases have significant meanings
1- "Praise be to God who has never begotten a son,"
These words purify us from the claim of the Christians who gave God a son.
2- "nor does He have a partner in His kingship,"
These words purify us from the corrupt Muslims who made Muhammad a partner with God in everything they say or do ........
3- "nor does He need an ally out of weakness"
These words purify us from the Jewish scholars who claim that God is not able to do certain things ... etc
In effect, by uttering these words, and constantly being aware of the danger and corruption of these groups, we purify our souls and maintain the purity of our religion.
These words must be uttered during our salat.
To follow these words we should then magnify God frequently (Allah Akbar) ....
The 'ending' of the Salat
Since the ending of the Salat conducted by almost all Muslims today does not conform to Quranic teachings, thus this issue will be given special analysis here.
The traditional ending spoken by most Muslims today is
'Al-Salamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatu'. (Peace be upon you as well as God's mercy and His blessings). This phrase is uttered twice at the conclusion of the Salat, once with the head turned to the right and once with the head turned to the left.
However, if we were to pause and consider the validity of this phrase we would immediately be faced with the following questions
Who are we addressing when we utter these words? Surely we cannot be addressing God because we cannot be saying to God, 'may God's mercy and blessings be upon you'!
Some will say that these words are addressed to other fellow believers who are praying alongside us. But this excuse is false, simply because these words are spoken by believers even when they are praying all on their own!
Some others will say that these words are addressed to the two angels who are recording all our deeds, one of whom is on our right shoulder and one is on our left.
Here we must inquire why should we address the angels? After all, our Salat is not directed to them! The Quran makes the point very clear that every word in our Salat should be to God and nobody else
"Say, 'My Contact Prayers (Salat), my worship practices, my life and my death, are all devoted absolutely to God alone" 6162 (also see 3911 and 2014)
To direct any words in our Salat to any other than God is indeed against the teachings of the Quran and must be totally rejected.
If these words are not directed to God and must thus be rejected, then what are the correct words to be uttered to end our Salat? As usual, God has once again shown us that the Quran offers explanations to all things (1689). Indeed, God has given us in the Quran the exact words that should be uttered to end the Salat. These are found in the following verse
"As for those who believe and lead a righteous life, their Lord guides them by virtue of their belief. Rivers will flow beneath them in the garden of bliss. Their prayer therein is, 'Be you glorified our God' their greeting therein is, 'Peace' and the ending to their prayer is, 'Al-Hamdu l'Allah Rab Al-Alameen (Praise be to God, Lord of the Universe)" 109-10
This verse speaks of the model believers who will be rewarded in the gardens of heaven. We are told about the last words in their prayers 'Al-Hamdu l'Allah Rab Al-Alameen' (Praise be to God, Lord of the Universe). It makes perfect sense that we should follow their example (if we would like to end up in heaven too) and end our prayers in praise of Almighty God and not bidding farewell to the angels!
1- Bismi Allah, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Raheem.
2- Al-Fatiha (The Key)
3- 'Allahu Akbar' (God is Greatest) to be spoken frequently, 2185 and 17111.
4- 'Sobhan Rabi Al-Azeem' (Praise my Lord the Great). 5674
5- 'Sobhan Rabi Al-Aala' (Praise my Lord the Most High). 871
6- The Shahada (Testimony) "Ash'hadu ana la illaha ila Allah" (I bear witness that there is no God other than God). 318
7- "Al-Hamdu l'Allah alazee lam yatakhez waladan, wa lam yakun lahu shareek fee al mulk, wa lam yakun lahu waleyon min al zol". (Praise be to God who has never begotten a son, nor does He have a partner in His kingship, nor does He need an ally out of weakness). 17111
8- The Salat ends with the words
"Al-Hamdu l'Allah Rab Al-Alameen (Praise be to God, Lord of the Universe)" 1010.Peace.
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Peace everybody,
Comme je manque de temps, je vous ?cris en fran?ais, et j?esp?re que le traducteur vous aidera ? comprendre mon post.
Pour moi et de mani?re g?n?rale, la ? salat ? et la ? zakat ? sont intimement li?s, de la ? salat ? r?sulte la ? zakat ? et la zakat se fait ? l?aide de la ? salat ?.
Depuis quelques mois, je fr?quente un nouveau forum qui n?a rien ? avoir avec ? les religions ?. Ses membres m?ont ouvert les yeux sur diff?rentes choses. Ce sont des gens qui, ind?pendamment de leurs convictions et sans rentrer dans le d?tail, mettent en pratiques la salat et la zakat dans leur vie quotidienne. Ils cherchent ? vivre en harmonie avec leur environnement et participent au d?veloppement de ceux qui ont en ont besoin.
Mettre en pratique ces deux concepts de vie consiste ? mener une vie consciente dans tout ce qu?on fait du r?veil jusqu?au coucher.
Je Commence ? faire le m?nage dans ma vie, c?est beau et ?mouvant de mener une vie consciente dans chaque geste du quotidien. Ce n?est que le d?but d?un long chemin et reste beaucoup ? faire et ce jusqu?? la derni?re minute de mon souffle.Voici quelques aspects de la salat et de la zakat j?essaie de r?duire au maximum ma d?pendance au p?trole, produire peu de d?chets en utilisant un maximum de choses lavables, utiliser des produits naturels et non polluants, faire un maximum de chose moi-m?me notamment la fabrication du pain, savon artisanal muti-usage (bain, lessive, vaisselle), produits cosm?tiques, et produits d?entretien m?nager?.etc le tout ? base de produits naturels et non polluant?etc), encourager tout ce qui est produit localement, participer au commerce ?quitable, lutter contre la faim?etc
Bonne continuation et surtout bon m?nage !
peace -
Peace all,
Sis Marie could you please be kind and translate that into english?
Thank you and
Peace
FJPeace everybody,
Comme je manque de temps, je vous ?cris en fran?ais, et jesp?re que le traducteur vous aidera ? comprendre mon post.
Pour moi et de mani?re g?n?rale, la ? salat ? et la ? zakat ? sont intimement li?s, de la ? salat ? r?sulte la ? zakat ? et la zakat se fait ? laide de la ? salat ?.
Depuis quelques mois, je fr?quente un nouveau forum qui na rien ? avoir avec ? les religions ?. Ses membres mont ouvert les yeux sur diff?rentes choses. Ce sont des gens qui, ind?pendamment de leurs convictions et sans rentrer dans le d?tail, mettent en pratiques la salat et la zakat dans leur vie quotidienne. Ils cherchent ? vivre en harmonie avec leur environnement et participent au d?veloppement de ceux qui ont en ont besoin.
Mettre en pratique ces deux concepts de vie consiste ? mener une vie consciente dans tout ce quon fait du r?veil jusquau coucher.
Je Commence ? faire le m?nage dans ma vie, cest beau et ?mouvant de mener une vie consciente dans chaque geste du quotidien. Ce nest que le d?but dun long chemin et reste beaucoup ? faire et ce jusqu? la derni?re minute de mon souffle.Voici quelques aspects de la salat et de la zakat jessaie de r?duire au maximum ma d?pendance au p?trole, produire peu de d?chets en utilisant un maximum de choses lavables, utiliser des produits naturels et non polluants, faire un maximum de chose moi-m?me notamment la fabrication du pain, savon artisanal muti-usage (bain, lessive, vaisselle), produits cosm?tiques, et produits dentretien m?nager.etc le tout ? base de produits naturels et non polluantetc), encourager tout ce qui est produit localement, participer au commerce ?quitable, lutter contre la faimetc
Bonne continuation et surtout bon m?nage !
peace -
Peace all,
i try a fast translation of marie's post as i think it is an important one and at the same time would like to ask her to give us the link to this forum. Please Marie, object if there's something you don't like about the translation - but i think it should be better that babel fish...
Marie's post
In my eyes and in general, salat and zakat are closely related "salat" being a result of "zakat", and one does "zakat" with the help of "salat".
Since a few month i'm on a new forum which has nothing to do with "religions". Its memebers have opened my eyes on different things. They are people, that independently from their convictions and without entering details, pratice salat and zakat in their daily life. They try to live in harmony with their environment and participate in the development of those in need.To put into practice these two concepts, one has to live a conscious life from getting up in the morning until going to bed at night every day.
I started the cleaning (apply these concepts in my life) - it feels good to be conscious of each and every gesture. This is only the beginning of a long road, much is left to be done until the end of my life.Some aspects of salat and zakat i try as much as possible not to depend on fuel, to generate the less waste that i can through the use of washable things, use natural, non pollutant products, do as much as i can myself like baking nread, producing soaps for different usages (body and house cleaning), producing cosmetics and other products for house-keeping, all with natural non-pollutant products, encourage local production, participate in equitable trade, fight against hunger aso...
I would like to add that i have this view for quite some time now - that salat is not prayer as such, but an ongoing process of working on our "total" behaviour. Marie told us some practical aspects and i believe that a very important one is how we treat other people in our every day life.
lk
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Peace sister LK,
Thank you very much for your good translation and comments. Indeed, when I have said "to live a conscious life", that concerns all aspects of our daily life; to honor our obligations toward the people and the planet.
Thanks http//www.kimitsu.org/plaisirs/images/smiles/calin.gif
You can find the link of the forum in the smiley above. This is a french forum -
Peace Elke, marie and all
Just to correct the translation for marie's post, to avoid the confusion; there's a problem in the first sentence
marie Pour moi et de mani?re g?n?rale, la ? salat ? et la ? zakat ? sont intimement li?s, de la ? salat ? r?sulte la ? zakat ? et la zakat se fait ? l?aide de la ? salat ?.
Elke In my eyes and in general, salat and zakat are closely related "salat" being a result of "zakat", and one does "zakat" with the help of "salat".
Me In my eyes and in general, salat and zakat are closely related "zakat" being a result of "salat", and one does "zakat" with the help of "salat".
And for the link, look at here ?? ???
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someone is absolutely right, i inversed salat and zakat in the translation
who's absolutely right?
But one question to Marie and Elke. If salat is an ongoing process (which I kind of agree with), why are specific times given? I am sure that there are 2 times mentioned. Why? what is so special about these times if salat is an every minute, every second thing.
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Peace Phoenix,
On the contrary. During spiritual practices one leaves the SELF behind! and so the gains and achievements of the SELF! One stops achieving and learns to loose! There is no search for improvement! There is no search involved at all. MIND gets out of the way and Ego looses its main tool to operate. HEART feels of its own accord the LOVE, peace and harmony! stop intellectual work and start the EXPERIMENT!
peace,