Reminder of life's purpose
Dignity: Muslims in Southern Thailand perform congregational salat in masjid despite security threats. Picture: Reuters
Friday, July 11, 2008
HUMAN beings are prone to forgetfulness and heedlessness. If they fail to use their will and become caught up in the flow of daily life, they move away from subjects to which they should actually turn their attention and cling to.
They forget that Allâh enfolds and surrounds them in all ways, that Allâh sees and hears them at every moment, that they will have to account to Allâh for all they do; they forget death, the existence of Paradise and Hell, that nothing can happen that is not destined, and that there is something auspicious in everything and every event.
By falling into heedlessness they can forget the true purpose of life.
Salat performed five times a day eradicates that forgetfulness and heedlessness, and keeps the believer's will and awareness alive.
It ensures that we constantly turn to Allâh and assists us in living in the light of our Lord's commandments. Standing in the presence of Allâh in order to pray establishes a powerful spiritual bond with our Lord.
It is revealed in one verse that the salat reminds people of Allâh and keeps them away from all forms of evil:
"Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish salat. Salat precludes indecency and wrongdoing. And remembrance of Allâh is greater still. Allâh knows what you do." (surah al-'Ankabut: 45)
Throughout history the prophets, peace be upon them all, have communicated the salat made compulsory by Allâh to their respective peoples, and have been role models for all believers by abiding by this observance in the best and most correct manner.
Among the verses on this subject, Allâh says:
"I am Allâh. There is no god but Me, so worship Me and establish salat to remember Me." (surah Ta Ha: 14)
The salat timings are clearly set out in several verses of the Quran. Some of these verses read:
"So be steadfast in the face of what they say and glorify your Lord with praise before the rising of the Sun and before its setting. And glorify Him during part of the night and at both ends of the day, so that hopefully you will be pleased." (surah Ta Ha: 130)
Our Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, who, by the revelation and inspiration of Allâh, best understood and interpreted the Quran, described for believers the times of day when the five salat prayers begin and finish as narrated by Jarir ibn 'Abdullah:
"The angel Jibril (Gabriel) came to the Messenger of Allâh and said to him, 'Stand and pray', and they prayed the noon prayer when the sun had passed its meridian.
"He then came to him for the afternoon prayer and said: 'Stand and pray', and they prayed the afternoon prayer while the length of a shadow of something was similar to the length of the object.
"Then he came at sunset and said: 'Stand and pray', and they prayed the sunset prayer when the sun had just disappeared. Then he came at night and said: 'Stand and pray', and they prayed the night prayer when the twilight had disappeared. He came again when dawn broke (and they prayed the morning prayer).
"Then Jibril came on the next day at noon and said (to the Messenger of Allâh), 'Stand and pray', and they prayed the noon prayer when the length of the shadow of something was close to the length of the object.
"Then he came for the afternoon prayer and said, 'Stand and pray', and they prayed when the shadow of something was twice as long as the length of the object. Then he came at the same time (as the previous day) for the sunset prayer, without any change.
"Then he came for the night prayer after half of the night had passed ("or," he said, "one-third of the night"). Then he came when the sky was very yellow and said: 'Stand and pray', and they prayed the morning prayer. Then Gabriel said: 'Between these times are the times for the prayers'."
Establishing salat in awe means performing this religious observance in the presence of our Almighty Lord by feeling His might and grandeur with fear and respect.
A believer who wishes to properly fulfill this obligation must take measures against everything that might prevent this awed awareness and display the maximum scrupulousness to ensure the concentration and attention required in salat.
The correct performance of these prayers is a great opportunity to remember our Lord, praise Him, and worship Him as one god in the knowledge He is free of all imperfections.
Harun Yahya International
They forget that Allâh enfolds and surrounds them in all ways, that Allâh sees and hears them at every moment, that they will have to account to Allâh for all they do; they forget death, the existence of Paradise and Hell, that nothing can happen that is not destined, and that there is something auspicious in everything and every event.
By falling into heedlessness they can forget the true purpose of life.
Salat performed five times a day eradicates that forgetfulness and heedlessness, and keeps the believer's will and awareness alive.
It ensures that we constantly turn to Allâh and assists us in living in the light of our Lord's commandments. Standing in the presence of Allâh in order to pray establishes a powerful spiritual bond with our Lord.
It is revealed in one verse that the salat reminds people of Allâh and keeps them away from all forms of evil:
"Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish salat. Salat precludes indecency and wrongdoing. And remembrance of Allâh is greater still. Allâh knows what you do." (surah al-'Ankabut: 45)
Throughout history the prophets, peace be upon them all, have communicated the salat made compulsory by Allâh to their respective peoples, and have been role models for all believers by abiding by this observance in the best and most correct manner.
Among the verses on this subject, Allâh says:
"I am Allâh. There is no god but Me, so worship Me and establish salat to remember Me." (surah Ta Ha: 14)
The salat timings are clearly set out in several verses of the Quran. Some of these verses read:
"So be steadfast in the face of what they say and glorify your Lord with praise before the rising of the Sun and before its setting. And glorify Him during part of the night and at both ends of the day, so that hopefully you will be pleased." (surah Ta Ha: 130)
Our Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, who, by the revelation and inspiration of Allâh, best understood and interpreted the Quran, described for believers the times of day when the five salat prayers begin and finish as narrated by Jarir ibn 'Abdullah:
"The angel Jibril (Gabriel) came to the Messenger of Allâh and said to him, 'Stand and pray', and they prayed the noon prayer when the sun had passed its meridian.
"He then came to him for the afternoon prayer and said: 'Stand and pray', and they prayed the afternoon prayer while the length of a shadow of something was similar to the length of the object.
"Then he came at sunset and said: 'Stand and pray', and they prayed the sunset prayer when the sun had just disappeared. Then he came at night and said: 'Stand and pray', and they prayed the night prayer when the twilight had disappeared. He came again when dawn broke (and they prayed the morning prayer).
"Then Jibril came on the next day at noon and said (to the Messenger of Allâh), 'Stand and pray', and they prayed the noon prayer when the length of the shadow of something was close to the length of the object.
"Then he came for the afternoon prayer and said, 'Stand and pray', and they prayed when the shadow of something was twice as long as the length of the object. Then he came at the same time (as the previous day) for the sunset prayer, without any change.
"Then he came for the night prayer after half of the night had passed ("or," he said, "one-third of the night"). Then he came when the sky was very yellow and said: 'Stand and pray', and they prayed the morning prayer. Then Gabriel said: 'Between these times are the times for the prayers'."
Establishing salat in awe means performing this religious observance in the presence of our Almighty Lord by feeling His might and grandeur with fear and respect.
A believer who wishes to properly fulfill this obligation must take measures against everything that might prevent this awed awareness and display the maximum scrupulousness to ensure the concentration and attention required in salat.
The correct performance of these prayers is a great opportunity to remember our Lord, praise Him, and worship Him as one god in the knowledge He is free of all imperfections.
Harun Yahya International
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