Salat: Our only hope
- Details
- Category: Philosofaith
- Written by M. U. Ndagi
- Hits: 1155
Allah (SWT) admonishes in Qur’an 2:238 “Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the middle prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind)”. The weight of authorities seems to be in favor of interpreting “the middle prayer” as the “Asr” prayer (in the middle of the afternoon). This is apt to be most neglected, and yet most necessary to remind us of God in the midst of our worldly affairs. Abu Hurayrah (RA) reports on the authority of Attirmidhi that the messenger (SAW) of Allah (SWT) said “the first deed upon which a servant (of Allah) would be judged on the Day of Judgment is salat; if it is found satisfactory, he prospers and succeeds; if otherwise, he despairs and loses…”. Similarly, Ibn Mas’ud (RA) reports on the authority of all the six authentic compilers of hadith that he asked the prophet (SAW) to tell him about the best of deeds and the prophet (SAW) answered: “(observing) prayer at its prescribed time…” These oral traditions of the prophet (SAW), therefore, make salat the only hope particularly for a generation of Muslims in the fifteenth century of Islam that devotes little time and attention to the genuine worship of Allah (SWT). It is in the light of this that this column focuses, this week, on salat.
With the spread of Islam to the farthest distance on earth, it is not only amazing but equally disturbing to find some Muslims especially in rural Muslim communities still living in the dark about certain basics of Islam including salat. Such group of ignorant Muslims exhibit lack of knowledge about purification of the body, clothes and place of worship. Some are also very much unaware of the varying status of the acts of worship in salat. This underscores the need for more preaching particularly in the rural areas even though our modern mallams and scholars prefer to patronize urban settlements where, perhaps, preaching should center more on aspects that govern the entire life of man on earth.
It is not just enough to perform ablution and stand to observe prayers in a manner that is as hasty as may be found convenient by one. Knowing the conditions for the validity of prayer as well as being able to distinguish between acts that are obligatory from others that are prophetic or recommended is the foundation of a truly sincere worship.
We need to know which category of water can be used for purification (taharah) and ablution (wudu’u) just as it is essential we know the status of every act we perform in ablution and in salat. While some are obligatory, others are prophetic traditions or acts instituted by jurists. While wudu’u and salat may remain valid even with the omission of a recommended act, their validity is threatened with the omission of any act that is classified as obligatory; signifying the importance of acquiring the knowledge of these acts.
Concentration (Tumaaneenah) is one of the compulsory acts of salat. Yet, many Muslims observe salat with their attention very much divided among many worldly matters including schedule of meetings and appointments, business proposals and trips, and the acquisition or consolidation of wealth and/or power. Mobile phones have become the most recent sources of distraction during salat. It is worrisome that some worshippers, Inspite of warning notices against such on walls within mosques, cannot switch off their phones for the short period of time it takes them to observe salat. Inattention affects the quality of our salat and thus places its validity under cross-examination.
Every act of salat particularly the obligatory and prophetic aspects must be observed with a sense of unreserved commitment and not in a speedy manner that sometimes makes it difficult for us to distinguish between the bending (ruku’u), prostration (sujud) and sitting (julus) positions of salat. The knowledge of things that vitiate (i.e. mubtilat) wudu’u and salat is crucial in the spiritual life of Muslims, and should therefore be sought. It is also of great consequence that we get acquainted with the rules governing the prostrations of Qabli and Ba’di .
The salat of a worshipper who lacks knowledge of mubtilat and of the imperatives of Qabli and Ba’di is certainly open to discussion. Our poor attitude to salat generally, could perhaps, explain why some of our prayers for a prosperous life are not being answered because Allah (SWT) reminds us in Qur’an 29:45 “…And establish regular prayer: for prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds…”. May Allah (SWT) guide us to observe salat promptly and in the prescribed manner; giving it the seriousness it deserves, amin.
Articles
Salat: Our only hope
Category: Philosofaith Written by M. U. Ndagi Hits: 1155
Allah (SWT) admonishes in Qur’an 2:238 “Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the middle prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind)”. The weight of authorities seems to be in favor of interpreting “the middle prayer” as the “Asr” prayer (in the middle of the afternoon). This is apt to be most neglected, and yet most necessary to remind us of God in the midst of our worldly affairs. Abu Hurayrah (RA) reports on the authority of Attirmidhi that the messenger (SAW) of Allah (SWT) said “the first deed upon which a servant (of Allah) would be judged on the Day of Judgment is salat; if it is found satisfactory, he prospers and succeeds; if otherwise, he despairs and loses…”. Similarly, Ibn Mas’ud (RA) reports on the authority of all the six authentic compilers of hadith that he asked the prophet (SAW) to tell him about the best of deeds and the prophet (SAW) answered: “(observing) prayer at its prescribed time…” These oral traditions of the prophet (SAW), therefore, make salat the only hope particularly for a generation of Muslims in the fifteenth century of Islam that devotes little time and attention to the genuine worship of Allah (SWT). It is in the light of this that this column focuses, this week, on salat.
With the spread of Islam to the farthest distance on earth, it is not only amazing but equally disturbing to find some Muslims especially in rural Muslim communities still living in the dark about certain basics of Islam including salat. Such group of ignorant Muslims exhibit lack of knowledge about purification of the body, clothes and place of worship. Some are also very much unaware of the varying status of the acts of worship in salat. This underscores the need for more preaching particularly in the rural areas even though our modern mallams and scholars prefer to patronize urban settlements where, perhaps, preaching should center more on aspects that govern the entire life of man on earth.
It is not just enough to perform ablution and stand to observe prayers in a manner that is as hasty as may be found convenient by one. Knowing the conditions for the validity of prayer as well as being able to distinguish between acts that are obligatory from others that are prophetic or recommended is the foundation of a truly sincere worship.
We need to know which category of water can be used for purification (taharah) and ablution (wudu’u) just as it is essential we know the status of every act we perform in ablution and in salat. While some are obligatory, others are prophetic traditions or acts instituted by jurists. While wudu’u and salat may remain valid even with the omission of a recommended act, their validity is threatened with the omission of any act that is classified as obligatory; signifying the importance of acquiring the knowledge of these acts.
Concentration (Tumaaneenah) is one of the compulsory acts of salat. Yet, many Muslims observe salat with their attention very much divided among many worldly matters including schedule of meetings and appointments, business proposals and trips, and the acquisition or consolidation of wealth and/or power. Mobile phones have become the most recent sources of distraction during salat. It is worrisome that some worshippers, Inspite of warning notices against such on walls within mosques, cannot switch off their phones for the short period of time it takes them to observe salat. Inattention affects the quality of our salat and thus places its validity under cross-examination.
Every act of salat particularly the obligatory and prophetic aspects must be observed with a sense of unreserved commitment and not in a speedy manner that sometimes makes it difficult for us to distinguish between the bending (ruku’u), prostration (sujud) and sitting (julus) positions of salat. The knowledge of things that vitiate (i.e. mubtilat) wudu’u and salat is crucial in the spiritual life of Muslims, and should therefore be sought. It is also of great consequence that we get acquainted with the rules governing the prostrations of Qabli and Ba’di .
The salat of a worshipper who lacks knowledge of mubtilat and of the imperatives of Qabli and Ba’di is certainly open to discussion. Our poor attitude to salat generally, could perhaps, explain why some of our prayers for a prosperous life are not being answered because Allah (SWT) reminds us in Qur’an 29:45 “…And establish regular prayer: for prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds…”. May Allah (SWT) guide us to observe salat promptly and in the prescribed manner; giving it the seriousness it deserves, amin.