Salaamun Alaikum.

This article and its vivid reflections on the real life situations is a very wide subject in the view of God as is revealed and ordained in the Quran. In the beginning of the chapter 24 of Quran, God has already informed in advance that this chapter is full of admonishments to be implemented in our actual lives.

The Chapter, we have descended it and have decreed it and We have descended in it, clear commandments so that you may take heed.

Without touching the verses 2 to 26, please allow me to to illustrate of how God commences the subject of setting up of families by the first basic step of entering homes and the methods commanded by Him. Although many may find it negligible and think that there are no stringent rulings to this, but God has commanded it clearly and in details.

Hence, God says that within the house, the compound, when a function is held at the house or at a hall and thus up to the open and general public places, it must be reminded that gazes of believing men and women must be controlled and subdued at moderate levels.

But it all starts at home. In contrary to the common belief that there is not the necessity for women of the house to shoal down their veil to cover their breasts in their own homes, God instructs that you must do it in the presence of visitors and guests to your house. This is with the exception in regards to others in the house like husbands and etc... as in 2431.

"...except to their husbands, or their fathers, or fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or the sons of their brothers, or the sons of their sisters, or their children that come after them, or those who are still their dependants, or the male servants who are without need, or the child who has not yet understood the composition of women..."

All this is to be done for the sake of the purity, modesty and chastisement of members of the families against lewdness. This is because as the house is the station of all human's basic needs and the family as the foundation and bindings of the strong social investments and developments of nations. All the good and the evil root from here. First from entering the house without heeding the sanctions of God then will make advances to its members and consequently, will indulge in fornications or adultery without limits.

If charity does not begin at homes then obscenity and lewdness rush in and take charge of the residents. This can be seen today in the form of indecent and repulsive literature at homes, in television, diskettes, computers and films. While outside, we can see nude and obscenities flagarantly rehearsed and unchallenged.

However, the believers shall control what they have to view inside and outside of home and guard their modesty. They should inculcate to their children to control, subdue their gazes towards opposite genders and to protect their chastisements and purity.

As in 2431, we shall not give up hope to what are happening in today's society but to accept God's invittation to all believers to turn in repentance unto Him in multitudes so that we will become victorious. May God forgive and bless and guide us all to the straight path.

Peace be to All
Salaamun Alaikum.

Salaam Wakas,
Thanks. All praises for God.

Salaam Munzir,
Thanks. All praises for God.

But my problem here is that the first part of the verse is in plural form while the second part is singular with a definite article. Please clarify.

Preserve over the solawats (plural form of solat) and the solat is important. You must stand upright for God steadfastly.

Firstly, God asks us to preserve all the commitments, from performing rituals to fulfilling of bonds, oaths, and physically doing the good deeds of upholding His commandments like offering kindness to parents, family, giving charities to poor and needy and self-prohibition of evil deeds and iniquities like illicit relationship, gambling, taking liquors and so on. These are only few examples which serve as illustrations. Surely, in order for you to carry out these commitments (solawats), you must have the drive, sincerety and self-discipline.

Hence, God says that the solat is important as a method to remind us not to take it too easily or to even neglect it. Thus, as the very first step, we should stand up firm to go through any kind of trials to accomplish our commitments.

An example is like in the army, when the officer gives few instructions to the subordinates to carry out this and that with details of procedures and methods. Then he goes on to remind them that the most important thing is their carrying out their duties with full discipline. Somehow, he will stress the point like, "Remember guys, OK, discipline is very important.

The instructions, details and procedures are plenteous (plural form), while the most important thing which is the discipline, is in the singular form.

There are so many attributes and the kinds solawats that one has to preserve (plural form) but the solat as a common general noun is described as important and must be in the singular form.

I hope this will shed some lights but for further reading, most respectfully, please click to see the detailed postings by Brother Wakas through this link=http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=7727.15

Peace to All
Salaamun Alaikum

Salaam Wakas,
Thanks for the link which brings the truth nearer to us.

Salaam AB,
Your explaination is out of context as you have twisted the translation to suit the English grammar.

Whereas the meaning is evidently clear and direct as how God wants it to be, "And Solat is important."

In direct Arabic translation, the meaning of the phrase Was solaatul wustha, according to your understanding, will be And solat is middle. So when this does not make sense, you switch the adjective to come in front and it does make sense but for the only purpose of suiting the English grammar.

There is nowhere in the AQ that God says that there is a middle solat. This fact has been fortified by the solid and lengthy study made by brother Wakas. If you have the opportunity, most respectfully, you may like to review its contents.

If you are worried to say that verse 2238 is not about the middle solat in case it will be lost by upholding the direct message depicted through this verse by God such as (Solat is important), then please be most assured and trust me that the solat you presume as the middle solat shall never ever be erased.

Humbly, I like to present to you a comparison of how the style of the above phrase is used in the AQ regarding the subject of solat too, as in 1778

If according to your style it would have been like this

And the dawn reading, verily, the dawn reading is witnessed.

There are so many weaknesses in this kind of translation. Again, translators tend to twist the arrangement of words in the phrase to make it look like having some sense to the whole sentence, subjugated by English grammar.

So do you not consider the dire effects of this translation have unto the whole sentence. It says that, in truth, the Quran recital at dawn is witnessed. So, what about Quran recitals at other times of the day and night? Are they not witnessed or become less important and of less value.

The main subject of this holy verse is about the timing of solat and recital of the Quran. If one is to adopt the sectarian translation, some vital parts of the message are ignored. There is clear indications that the solat and the recital of the Quran shall go hand in hand.

Another shortcoming if one is to hold on to the traditionalists' translations is that the solatul fajri is not witnessed as the verse does not mention it. Whereas, in other verse, solatul fajri is mentioned by name.

As far as I am concerned, dear sir AB, I do not conform to this kind of sectarian translations. Then what is its proper translation?

Quranal fajri directly means Quran's Enlightenment. (Here Quran is referred to by God as the breaking of dawn to give lights to its readers.)

The the phrase continues Inna quraanal fajri kaana mash huudaa.
God reiterates and strengthens His revealation that "Quran's enlightenment is ever witnessed"

So, if we are to refer back to the Solatul Wustha, if one is to follow the sectarian translations, most of them translators is ever happy to offer you a "middle solat" interpretation. Why? Because they need to conform with hadits describing about the greatness middle solat. Other than that, they are not ready to state truly what is the actual and true message of God.

To maintain the meaning of wustha as middle, is to continue to receive happily what the past sectarians and traditional imams had upheld that brought about numerous dire consequences to muslims and mukmins alike for ages. Certainly, wustha is equal to khaira as in (3110 - kuntum khaira ummatin...) and not and will never be to mean middle at all.

Peace to All.
Salaamun alaikum.

Salaamun alaikum,

With respect, I would like to add my opinion based on the earlier thread by Brother Allen on Solatul Wusta also.
I agree with him that Solatul Wusta is actually not the middle solat. It is in fact the something else.

"Preserve the contact-methods, and the middle contact-method"

Wustha here means main/most important and not "middle" as given by most sectarian and orientalist translators.

The translation I agree with is Preserve all the contact-methods as contact-method is important!

The actual transliteration meaning should be
Wa= As
Solatal= Solat
Al= Is
Wustha= Important

To illustrate this verse and simplify it, God says

Preserve all the Solats as Solat is important.

May peace be with all of you.

More than 60% of the Quran IS about bani Israel / Jews..
Quran is a book about bani Israel / Jews..
O children of Israel! call to mind My favor which I bestowed on you and that I made you excel the nations.

Completely agree with all of the above.

Thus, as of 247, the children of Israel is the nation favoured by God. And God has made them to excel above other nations. How can Palestinians fight such a mighty nation. They may fight but not without causing grievous hurts and digh death tolls to the innocent children of Philis. The children of Israel are a special breed of people that they excel in every enterprises they indulge in. They are the best business people of the world that their businesses fluorishes on top of others. They succeed enormously in the fields of education and science. They grow mightier daily in the political and economics arena. Each new products ranging from foods to materials has their endorsements technologically and scientifically in every aspects. Shortly, they will make up the largest and strongest population in the world. Unastonishingly, Africans, Americans, Chinese, Indians, Indonesians and many other races hve been listed as the children of Israel through blood relations.

Salamun alaikum,

In verses 4"43 and 56 of the Quran, where the word tayammum is found, it is followed by "clean soil by wiping your faces and hands." In its arabic form, the word "so'iedan" has been given a meaning as "soil" and for the word "toiyiban" as clean. As far as I understand, the word so'iedan refers to high, that one will have difficulty in breathing such as fine dust. And toiyiban refers to good and clean. This material of a good and clean dust is of course, the ordinary talc powder. This is line with Gods instruction that one should be presentable at each "masjid" sessions as in 731.

Peace be with all of you.

Salaamun alaikum,
I like to share from what I know why the Eidul Fithri & Eidul Adh-ha are celebrated.

For Eidul Fithri, Allah reveals in 2185,

Khalifa that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your
appreciation.

Yusuf Ali (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided
you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.

Pickthal that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you,
and that peradventure ye may be thankful.

Prog Muslim and you shall complete the count, and glorify God for what He Has guided you, that you may
be thankful.

The word walitukabbirullaha=the nearest translation being to magnify.
The word tashkuruun=the nearest translation being to express appreciation.
Therefore in magnifying and expressing appreciation to Allah that this day is celebrated.

And for Eidul Adh-ha, Allah reveals in 108-2,

Khalifa Therefore, you shall pray to your Lord (Salat), and give to charity.

Yusuf Ali Therefore to thy Lord turn in Prayer and Sacrifice.

Pickthal So pray unto thy Lord, and sacrifice.

"Progressive Muslims" Therefore, you shall assemble for your Lord, and sacrifice

Personally, I opine that the nearest translation as Therefore worship your Lord and perform the sacrifice.
I think this is the reason why Eidul Adh-ha is celebrated and hence the sacrifice.

Salaam.