THE BASIC QURANIC CONCEPT OF S’ALAAT

THE CONCEPT OF S’ALAAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RITUAL PRAYERS OR NAMAZ

Misconception: S’ALAT (صَّلَاةَ) is normally translated as ritual prayers or Namaz, which is a completely wrong interpretations of this important aspect of Deen.

Basic Meanings to Connect Permanently: Consider for example Surah Nur- Ayah no. 41- “Have you not seen that unto Allah Yusabeh whosoever is in the skies and the earth, and the birds with wings outspread? Each one knows it’s own S’alaat and Tasbih and Allah is aware of what they do”. If we translate the word Salat as ritual prayers namaz, what namaz and rituals is this verse talking about that everything in the earth and skies knows about and performs?

 Similarly in Ayah 9:54, “And what prevents their Nafaqahim (deeds, contributions) to be accepted from them, is nothing except that they do Kufar in Allah and in Allah’s Rasool (Risalat- the Hidayah) and not they come to the S’alaat, except while they Kusaaly (lazily, sluggish manner only done as a show-off to people) and not they Yunfaquun (do deeds, actions, contribute) except while they Karehun (unwillingly, with hate, not wanting to).” S’alat has nothing to do with rituals or prayers at all since here the specific reference is for those who do Kufar, so if we translate the word S’alat as ritual prayer, what sort of ritual prayers are these Kaafireen doing?

Meanings of the word:  The word basically means to connect or to join, like a door is connected to the wall through hinges; it is a permanent connection, not a temporary connection that could be disconnected and then connected again. For instance, in ayah 2:27 the word YuS’ala is used in terms of permanent connection. Similarly in Ayah 13:21 and 13:25 the word Yus’ala is used in similar meanings and context.

In Ayah 4:56 “Indeed, those who do Kufar in our Ayaat, soon, WE will Nus’lehim (Salat) fire…”. Here the word Nus’leehim is normally mistranslated as burn them or roast them, but these are wrong translations. This ayah is basically giving us a description of what is going to happen to those who do Kufar in Allah’s Ayaat, through the phrase Nu-s’le-him (WE-salat-them) of fire means the process, the system of permanent and strong connection of fire. And how this is implemented is then described in the subsequent phrase of the Ayah 4:56.

In ayah 75:31-32, the basic meaning of the word S’ally is to ‘Connect with, commit to, reach out or turn towards with one’s whole being’, because it is used opposite to the word “Tavalla” meaning ‘turned away from, disobeyed, disconnected from’.

Concept of Salat as per Quran: Thus, the word ‘S’alaat’ as per Quran basically means a system, which we establish physically to look after everything and everyone and every life form in that system accordingly, through which we connect (permanently & strongly) to and turn towards Deen with our whole being, to connect not just to Deen, but to all of the humanity through the system of mutual care, compassion and justice; to follow and be obedient of the rules and commandments of Deen, committing to, turning towards, contributing to establishing this system of Salaat- these rules of Deen as given by Allah in Quran, through the system of mutual care, justice and compassion for everyone. This concept of Salaat as a social care system built for mutual care, compassion and justice is beautifully explained in chapter 107- ayahs 1-7.

Aqemy us Salat w Aatuz Zakat: When Quran uses the phrase “Aqemu us S’alaat wa Aat’uz Zakat” as used for instance in ayah 2:43, it means establishing this system of social care and justice and all our contributions towards establishment and maintenance of such a system, as we carry out our day-to-day activities, and our efforts and Amwaal towards S’alaat is termed as Zakaat.

Can read and download the powerpoint presentation HEREBasic Quranic Concept of S’alaat

Can watch the youtube video HERE