Current and Actual Concept about ‘ Akimus Salat ’ (Establishment of Salat )

1. Current and Actual Concept about ‘AkimusSalat’ (Establishment of Salat)

2. Author • Prof. Dr. M. MotiarRahman • FRCS (Glasgow) • Head, Dept. of Surgery • Dhaka National Medical College and Hospital • Chairman • Qur’an research foundation

3. Author • Prof.Dr. Md. MotiarRahmanFRCS (Glasgow) • (The most experienced surgeon • in laparoscopic Gall stone operation in Bangladesh) • Head, Dept. of surgery • Dhaka National Medical College and Hospital • Chairman • Qur’an Research Foundation

5. Correct or wrong? Establishment of Salat means- to offer the ritual of Salat following all its rules and regulations (Arkan-Ahkam) devotedly and to make all arrangements so that people can do the ritual easily and comfortably.

7. Meaning of ‘establishment of Salat’ according to Common Sense

8. Which one is correct? Establishment of Medical science means- • to build beautiful buildings & make all arrangements so that students can perform the ceremonies of Medical college easily and comfortably. • to perform the ceremonies of Medical college devotedly, take the lessons thereof and apply the lessons in practical life.

9. So which one is correct? Establishment of Salat means- • to construct beautiful Mosques so that people can offer the rites of Salat easily and comfortably. • to perform the rites of Salat devotedly, take the lessons thereof and apply the lessons in practical life.

10. The principle of acquiring correct knowledge in Islam is-

11. Any subject Primary decisionby using Common Sense (Allah-gifted general knowledge) {or Science (Allah gifted special knowledge)} Final decision by assessing the Primary decision with the Qur’an (Allah gifted root proved knowledge) If not possible, Final decision by assessing the Primary decision with the Sunnah(Allah gifted proved knowledge)

12. If not possible, final decision by matching the Primary decision with Izma or Qias. The more factual one will be accepted

13. So at this stage we can say that the primary decision of Islam regarding the meaning of ‘establishment of Salat’ is-to perform the ritual of Salat devotedly, take the lessons thereof and apply the lessons in practical life.

15. Meaning of ‘establishment of Salat’ according to Al-Qur’an

16. Fact-1

17. وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِى كُنْتَ عَلَيْهَا اِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَنْ يَّتَّبِعُ الرَّسُوْلَ مِمَّنْ يَّنْقَلِبُ عَلى عَقِبَيْهِ ط Meaning: I fixed the direction you used to face earlier as the Qiblah (of Salat) only to see who follows the Prophet and who goes the other way. (Bakarah/2: 143)

18. Explanation: Here Allah (ST) said that by the order of changing the Qiblah His intention was to segregate those who follow the Prophet (and through him, Allah) and those who go the other way.

19. So it is evident that from the function facing towards Qiblah- Allah (ST) wants to set the mind of the Salat offerer in favour of obeying his order. So that whatever deeds he does outside Salat he tries to do it obeying Allah’s orders.

20. Fact-2

21. … … … … … … مَايُرِيْدُ اللهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ حَرَجٍ وَّلَكِنْ يُِّرِيْدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُوْنَ . (Ma’idah/5: 06)

22. Meaning: …… ... … … … …(By imposing the conditions of ablution and bathing) the Intention of Allah is not to put you into trouble. Rather He wants to make you clean (through teaching the principle of cleanliness) and to complete His Blessings for you. So that you can praise Him.

23. Explanation: It is clear from this verse that the aim of making ablution and bathing compulsory before Salat is to teach the principle of cleanliness of the body.

24. It is clear from Fact-1 and Fact-2 that Allah (ST) wants to teach people something or other from each function of Salat.

25. Fact-3

26. لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ اَنْ تُوَلُّوْا وُجُوْهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ امَنَبِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْاخِرِ وَالْمَليِكَةِ وَالْكِتبِ وَالنَّبِيِّنِ ج وَاتَى الْمَالَ عَلى حُبِّه ذَوِىالْقُرْبى وَالْيَتمى وَالْمَسكِيْنَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيْلِ لا وَالسَّائِلِيْنَ وَفِى الرِّقَابِ ج وَاَقَامَالصَّلوةَ وَاتَى الزَّكوةَ ج... ... ... ... ... ... (Bakarah/2 : 177)

27. Meaning: There is no reward by facing eastward or westward (during Salat); but there is reward in believing Allah, the Hereafter, the Angels, the Scriptures and the Prophets and in spending wealth for relatives, the poor, wayfarers, help-seekers, for the freedom of slaves, in establishingSalat, offering Zakat … … … … … … …

28. Explanation:The information in the portion of the verse related to Salat is- there is no virtue in the functions of Salat but there is virtue in establishing Salat.

29. So, considering the present verse with the previous ones it can be easily said that the meaning of ‘establishment of Salat’ is- to perform the functions of Salat devotedly obeying all the rules and regulations, take the lessons thereof and apply the lessons in practical life.

30. Fact-4

31. فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّيْنَ . الَّذِيْنَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلاَتِهِمْ سَاهُوْنَ . الَّذِيْنَ هُمْ يُرَاءُوْنَ . وَيَمْنَعُوْنَ الْمَاعُوْنَ . Meaning: The Jahannam Wail is for those devotees of Salat who are unmindful upon (the time of) Salat, do deeds to show others and denies to help people with even little things. (Ma’un/107 : 4-6)

32. Explanation: The following three are included in the teachings of Salat- • to be punctual, • to do all deeds to please Allah, not to show others, • to donate as much as possible.

33. So the teaching of these verses is that- those Salatofferers who will not implement the teachings of Salat in practical life- • will be banished to Hell • as their Salat will not be acceptable to Allah

34. So, this verse also states that the meaning of establishing Salat is- • not only to establish the ceremony of Salat • but to perform the functions of Salat obeying all its rules and regulations, take the lessons thereof and apply the lessons in practical life.

35. So, from the statements of all these verses it can easily be understood that ‘AkimusSalat’ means- to perform the functions of Salat devotedly, take the lessons Allah wants of give thereof and apply the lessons in personal and social life.

36. So it is clear that the Qur’an strongly supports the primary decision of Islam made through Common Sense about the meaning of ‘AkimusSalat’.

37. So, according to the Islamic principle of acquiring correct knowledge in any subject this is the final decision of Islam regarding the subject.

39. Supportive Hadiths

40. Hadith-1

41. وَعَنْ اَبِىْ هُرَيْرَةَ (رض) قَالَ قَالَ رَجُلٌ يَارَسُوْلَ اللهِ اَنَّ فُلاَنَةً تُذْكَرُ مِنْ كَثْرَةِ صَلاَتِهَا وَصَدَقَتِهَا غَيْرَ اَنَّهَا تُؤْذِىْ جِيْرَانَهَا بِلِسَانِهَا . قَالَ هِىَ فِىْ النَّارِ . قَالَ َارَسُوْلَ اللهِ فَاِنَّ فُلاَنَةً تُذْكَرُ قِلَّةُ صِيَامِهَا وَ صَدَقَتِهَا وَصَلوتِهَا وَاِنَّهَا تَصَدَّقَ بِالْاثْوَارِ مِنَ الْاَقِتِ وَلاَ تُؤْذِىْ بِلِسَانِهَا جِيْرَانِهَا . قَالَ هِىَ فِى الْجَنَّةِ .

42. Meaning: Narrated by Abu Huraira (R), once a man said to the Rasul (S), “O Messenger of Allah, there is a woman who has become famous for her Salat and Zakat, but her neighbors are hurt by her words.” Prophet Muhammad (S) said that she was destined for hell.

43. Again the man said, “O Messenger of Allah, it is heard that there is a woman who performs less Sawm, gives less Zakat and offers less Salat. Her charity is as small as a piece of cheese. But she never hurts her neighbors by her words.” Prophet Muhammad (S) said that she is destined for heaven. (Al Maktabatush Shamelah:Mus.Ahmad,Hadith No.-9673)

44. Explanation: To not hurt neighbors by one’s words is a teaching of Salat.

45. So the first woman who offered lots of Salat was destined for Hell for not applying a teaching of Salat in her practical life.

46. And the second woman evenafter offering less Salat was destined for Paradise for applying a teaching of Salat in her practical life.

47. So, from this Hadith it can easily be understood that ‘AkimusSalat’ means- to perform the functions of Salat devotedly, take the lessons Allah wants of give thereof and apply the lessons in personal and social life.

48. Hadith-2

49. وَعَنْ اَبِىْ هُرَيْرَةَ (رض) اَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ (ص) قَالَ اَتَدْرُوْنَ مَا الْمُفْلِسُ؟ قَالُوْا الْمُفْلِسُ فِيْنَا مَنْ لاَ دِرْهَمَ لََهُ وَلاَ مَتَاعَ . فَقَالَ اِنَّ الْمُفْلِسَ مِنْ اُمَّتِىْ مَنْ يَّاْتِىْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِصَلاَةٍ وَ صِيَامٍ وَ زَكَاةٍ وَ يَاْتِىْ قَدْ شَتَمَ هَذَا وَقَذَفَ هَذَا وَ اَكَلَ مَالَ هَذا وَ سَفَكَ دَمَ هَذَا وَضَرَبَ هَذَا . فَيُعْطَى هَذَا مِنْ حَسَنَاتِهِ و َهَذَا مِنْ حَسَنَاتِهِ . فَاِنْ فَنِيَتْ حَسَنَاتُهُ قَبْلَ اَنْ يُّقْضَى مَا عَلَيْهِ اُخِذَ مِنْ خَطَايَاهُمْ فَطُرِحَتْ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ طُرِحَ فِى النَّارِ .

50. Meaning: Abu Huraira (R) narrated, Prophet Muhammad (S) said, “Do you know who is the poorest among you?” The Companions of the Prophet replied, “He who has no money and his wealth is too little”.