In the Name
of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Five Times
Salaat/Prayers in Quraan
By
Irshad Mahmood – Director, Siraat-al-Mustaqeem Dawah Centre
First look at the
non-Muslims
society, they are losing family lives. Also they are losing community
help, helping neighbors and relatives. Islaam is the only religion
which unites people five times a day in Masjids. Neighbors come closely
to each other through this Prayer (Salaat) system. Although the basic
purpose of the Prayers (Salaat) is not to provide an exercise for
people yet it is being increasingly recognized that it has plenty of
medical advantages for the human body. With the Prayers (Salaat), we
don't give anything to Allah, instead it is to help us. Allah has
created us and Allah knows which is the best for us. Actually the
Prayer (Salaat) may be cure for many known and unknown diseases.
Also the Sajda
(Prostration) in the
Prayers (Salaat) is a unique position as this is the only position in
which the brain (or head) becomes lower than the heart (PUMP) and hence
for the first time the blood gushes towards the brain with FULL force
whereas in all the other positions (even when lying) the brain is above
the heart when it has to work against the gravity to send the blood to
the brain. In the position of the Sajda (Prostration) in the Prayers
(Salaat), due to the increase in the blood supply the brain receives
more nourishment and it has a good effect upon memory, vision, hearing,
concentration, psyche and all other cognitive abilities.
Method of Salaat MUST be taken from the Maqam of Ibrhaim where Imam Kaba stands to lead the Salaat:
The First House [of
worship {Kaaba}]
built for mankind was the one at Becca (Makkah); it is Blessed
and Guidance
for [everyone in] the Universe, (Ref: Al_Quraan_003:096).
In it are Clear
Signs, the standing
place of Ibrahim (where Imaam Kaabaa stands to lead
congregational Salaat/Prayers i.e. Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Ishaa, Salaat al-Janazah, Taraweeh and Eid), and whoever enters it will be secure,
and Pilgrimage to the
House is a duty imposed on mankind by Allah, for everyone who can
afford a way to do so; and whoever disbelieves, then
surely Allah is Self-sufficient, above any need of the worlds, (Ref:
Al_Quraan_003:097).
And when We made the
House a pilgrimage for men and a (place of) security, and: Take as your place of worship the
standing-place of Ibrahim (Maqam of Ibrahim as a Guide for all Salaah, i.e. Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Ishaa, Salaat al-Janazah, Taraweeh and Eid). And We
enjoined Ibrahim and Ismail saying: Purify/Clean
My House (by all means from space, land and sea) for those
who visit (it) and those who abide (in it) for Devotion and those
who Bow
Down (Ruku) (and) those who Prostrate
(Sajood) themselves, (Ref: Al_Quraan_002:125).
And from whatsoever
place you come
forth, turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque; and surely it is the
very truth from your Lord, and Allah is not at all heedless of what you
do. And from whatsoever place you come forth, turn your face towards
the Sacred Mosque; and wherever you are turn your faces towards it, so
that people shall have no accusation against you, except such of them
as are unjust; so do not fear them, and fear Me, that I may complete My
favor on you and that you may walk on the right course, (Ref:
Al_Quraan_002:149-150).
Azaan
(Call to Prayers) is also in the Quraan:
O you who believe! When
the Azaan
(call to prayers) is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of
Assembly), hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah, and leave off
business (and traffic): That is best for you if you but knew!
(Al_Quraan_062:009).
People
in the Hell will accept that one of the reasons for going into the Hell
will be not offered Salaat:
They will answer: We
were not of those who prayed (Salaat), (Al_Quraan_074:043).
Following
Ayaat
points towards Stand, Praise, Recite from the Quraan, Bow Down,
Prostrating, Dress and Humble etc. in Salaat (Prayers), Five Time
Salaat! Fajir, Duhr, Asr, Maghrib, Ishaa, Janazah, Taraweeh, Eid and Tahajjud (extra prayer):
I created the jinn and
humankind only that they might worship Me, (Al_Quraan_051:056).
Prophet
Zakaria (Peace-Be-Upon-Him) was offering Salaat (prayers) in Standing:
While he was Standing
in Salaat (prayer) in the chamber, the angels called unto him: "Allah
doth give thee glad tidings of Yahya, witnessing the truth of a Word
from Allah, and (be besides) noble, chaste, and a prophet, of the
(goodly) company of the righteous", (Al_Quraan_003:039).
And be steadfast in
prayer; practice regular charity; and Bow Down
your heads (Rukoo)
with those who bow down (in worship), (Al_Quraan_002:043).
It is not righteousness
that you turn
your faces towards the East and the West (Towards Kabaa during Salaat
and Hajj etc.), but righteousness is this that one should believe in
Allah and the last day and the angels and the Book and the prophets,
and give away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the
orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for (the
emancipation of) the captives, and keep up prayer and pay the
poor-rate; and the performers of their promise when they make a
promise, and the patient in distress and affliction and in time of
conflicts-- these are they who are true (to themselves) and these are
they who guard (against evil), (Al_Quraan_002:177).
Guard strictly your
(habit of) prayers (Five Time Prayers), especially the Middle Prayer (Duhr
and Asr
Salaat); and Stand
before Allah in a devout (frame of mind), (Al_Quraan_002:238).
If you FEAR (under
unusual
circumstances), you may pray (Salaat) while walking or riding (for
travelers). Once you are safe, you shall commemorate GOD as He taught
you what you never knew, (Al_Quraan_002:039).
O you who believe! do
not go near
prayer when you are Intoxicated until you know (well) what you say, nor
when you are under an obligation to perform a bath-- unless (you are)
traveling on the road-- until you have washed yourselves; and if you
are sick, or on a journey, or one of you come from the privy or you
have touched the women, and you cannot find water, betake yourselves to
pure earth, then wipe your faces and your hands; surely Allah is
Pardoning, Forgiving, (Al_Quraan_004:043).
When you travel through
the earth (during the war), there is no blame on you if you shorten
your prayers (Qasr),
for fear the Unbelievers
May attack you: For the Unbelievers are unto you open
enemies, (Al_Quraan_004:101).
And when you are among
them and keep up the prayer for them (during the war), let a party of
them stand up
with you, and let them take their arms; then when they have prostrated
themselves let them go to your rear, and let another party who have not
prayed come forward and pray with you, and let them take their
precautions and their arms; (for) those who disbelieve desire that you
may be careless of your arms and your luggage, so that they may then
turn upon you with a sudden united attack, and there is no blame on
you, if you are annoyed with rain or if you are sick, that you lay down
your arms, and take your precautions; surely Allah has prepared a
disgraceful chastisement for the unbelievers, (Al_Quraan_004_102).
The hypocrites think
that they are
deceiving GOD, but He is the One who leads them on. When they get up
for the Contact Prayer (Salaat), they get up lazily. That is because
they only show off in front of the people, and rarely do they think of
GOD. sends astray, you will never find a way to guide him,
(Al_Quraan_004:142-143). Think,
what about those who don't offer regular prayers (Salaat).
The hypocrites will be
committed to the lowest pit of Hell, and you will find no one to help
them, (Al_Quraan_004:145).
O children of Adam, you
shall be
clean and dress nicely when you go to the Masjid. And eat and drink
moderately; Surely, He does not love the gluttons, (Al_Quraan_007:031).
The only people to
frequent Allah's
Masjids are those who believe in GOD and the Last Day, and observe the
Contact Prayers (Salaat), and give the obligatory charity (Zakaat), and
do not fear except Allah. These will surely be among the guided ones,
(Al_Quraan_009:018).
You shall not observe
the funeral
prayer for any of them (hypocrites) when he dies, nor shall you stand
at his grave. They have disbelieved in GOD and His messenger, and died
in a state of wickedness, (Al_Quraan_009:084).
And establish regular
prayers at the two ends of the day (Fajir,
Asr
and Maghrib)
and at the approaches of the night (Ishaa):
For those things, that are good remove those that are evil: Be that the
word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord),
(Al_Quraan_011:114).
And certainly We have
given you seven
of the oft-repeated (all the verses of Al_Fatiha) and the great Quraan,
(Al_Quraan_015:087). Al_Fatiha must be recited in every rakaat of each
Salaat as well as every time before you start reading the Quraan.
Establish worship at the
going down of the sun (Maghrib)
until the dark of night (Ishaa),
and (the recital of) the Quraan at dawn (Fajir).
Lo! (the recital of) the Quraan at dawn is ever witnessed. And some
part of the night (Tahajjud)
awake for it, a largess for thee. It may be that your Lord will raise
thee to a praised estate, (Al_Quraan_017:078-079).
Say, "Call Him GOD, or
call Him the
Most Gracious; whichever name you use, to Him belongs the best names."
You shall not utter your Prayers (Salaat) too loudly, nor secretly; use
a moderate tone, (Al_Quraan_017:110).
Therefore, be patient in
the face of their utterances, and praise and glorify your Lord before
sunrise (Fajir)
and before sunset (Asr).
And during the night ( and MaghribIshaa)
glorify Him, as well as at both ends of the day (Fajir,
Asr
and Maghrib),
that you may be happy, (Al_Quraan_020:130).
O you who believe! Bow
down and
prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord, and do good, that haply
you may prosper, (Al_Quraan_022:077).
Successful indeed are
the believers, who are humble in their prayers, (Al_Quraan_023:001-002).
And who spend the night
before their Lord, prostrate
and standing,
(Al_Quraan_025:064).
Therefore, you shall
glorify GOD when you retire at night (Ishaa),
and when you rise in the morning (Fajir).
All praise is due to Him in the heavens and the earth, throughout the
evening, as well as in the middle of your day (Dhur
and Asr),
(Al_Quraan_030:017-018).
Bear, then, with
patience, all that they say, and celebrate the praises of your Lord,
before the rising of the sun (Fajir)
and before (its) setting (Asr).
And during part of the night (Maghrib
and Ishaa),
(also,) celebrate His praises, and (so likewise) after the postures of
adoration, (Al_Quraan_050:039-040).
O you who believe! When
the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday
(the Day of Assembly, after Fajir and before Asr), hasten to
Remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): That is
best for you if you but knew! And when the Prayer is finished, then may
you disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah: and
celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that you may
prosper, (Al_Quraan_062:009-010).
Or a little more; and
recite the Quraan in slow, measured rhythmic tones, (Al_Quraan_073:004).
So woe to the
worshippers, Who are
neglectful of their prayers, Those who (want but) to be seen (of men),
But refuse (to supply) (even) neighbourly needs,
(Al_Quraan_107:004-107).
So the Salaat we offer
is really
according to the Quraan and Authentic Sunnah. In Salaat, we Stand,
Praise, Recite for the Quraan, Bow Down, Prostrating, Dress and Humble
etc. in Salaat (Prayers). Authentic Sunnah helps us to do so in a
particular order.
Invite (all) to the Way
of your Lord
with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that
are best and most gracious: for your Lord knows best, who have strayed
from His Path, and who receive guidance, (Al_Quraan_016.125).
Quraan
as well as Worshipping Methods and Kabah are Protected:
Allah
has protected the Quraan as well as all worshipping methods and Kabah,
which Allah has asked us to follow, since that is our guide,
(Ref: Al_Quraan_002:001-007, 002:149-150, 015:009, 105:001-005).
Basic
concept of the Quraan is to invite people towards One Allah, One
Universal Region (Islaam), One Universal Sect, One Universal Holy Book
(the Quraan) & One Universal Worshipping Method, without any
compulsion in Religion, rather invite people with wisdom to go to
heaven together.
Islaam
is a complete way of Life/Deen, (Ref: Al_Quraan_005:003). Change yourself according
to the Quraan not reverse. If
the Quraan cannot convince you nothing will.
Follow/Practice
all Directives/Guidance of Allah on all matters of life, (Ref:
Al_Quraan_003:007).
It is my
humble request to all Masjid organizers to start Quraanic Arabic
Language Course in Masjids for free.
It will help Ajmi Muslims to understand the Quraan and communicate to
Allah directly in Salaat-Prayer-Namaz. Once people will start
understanding the Quraan, you will see Masjid will start filling
enormously, Inshaa Allah. Also then you will sure need to build more
Masjids and more Muslims contributing for this good deed, Inshaa Allah.
Please circulate and get Great Reward from Allah. Thanks.