Prayer (صلاة)
In a sense, this works as an extension of my article on human independence, so feel free to read it before carrying on with this input. Prayers… why is there such importance put on this, and 5 times a day? Is believing not sufficient?
سورة العنكبوت ٢
أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ
Surah Al-Ankaboot 29:2
Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, “We believe”, and that they will not be tested?
As it is, many may hold the impression that prayers are for Allah’s benefit…
سورة الزمر ٧
إِن تَكْفُرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنكُمْ ۖ وَلَا يَرْضَىٰ لِعِبَادِهِ الْكُفْرَ ۖ وَإِن تَشْكُرُوا يَرْضَهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
سورة العنكبوت ٦
وَمَن جَاهَدَ فَإِنَّمَا يُجَاهِدُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ
Surah Az-Zumar 39:7
If ye reject (Allah), Truly Allah hath no need of you; but He liketh not ingratitude from His servants: if ye are grateful, He is pleased with you. No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. In the end, to your Lord is your Return, when He will tell you the truth of all that ye did (in this life). for He knoweth well all that is in (men’s) hearts.
Surah Al-Ankaboot 29:6
And if any strive (with might and main), they do so for their own souls: for Allah is free of all needs from all creation.
Since humans are easily distracted, we easily lose sight of the fact that there is more to life… that we are under a trial… anything that happens to us is, in fact, a test of our character as muslims…
Prayers are not only important for the act of staying faithful to Allah, but also for remembering Him through the trials of our day.
سورة الأعراف ١٨٦
مَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ ۚ وَيَذَرُهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
سورة يونس ١١
وَلَوْ يُعَجِّلُ اللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ الشَّرَّ اسْتِعْجَالَهُم بِالْخَيْرِ لَقُضِيَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَجَلُهُمْ ۖ فَنَذَرُ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَاءَنَا فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
سورة آل عمران ١٦٠
إِن يَنصُرْكُمُ اللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَن ذَا الَّذِي يَنصُرُكُم مِّن بَعْدِهِ ۗ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Surah Al-A’raaf 7:186
To such as Allah rejects from His guidance, there can be no guide: He will leave them in their trespasses, wandering in distraction.
Surah Yunus 10:11
If Allah were to hasten for men the ill (they have earned) as they would fain hasten on the good,- then would their respite be settled at once. But We leave those who rest not their hope on their meeting with Us, in their trespasses, wandering in distraction to and fro.
Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:160
If Allah helps you, none can overcome you: If He forsakes you, who is there, after that, that can help you? in Allah, then, Let believers put their trust.
Our faith is dependent on that connection…
سورة البقرة ٢٣٨
حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ
Surah Al-Baqara 2:238
Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind).
There is a commentary in the bilingual “The Meaning of the Holy Qur’an” by Abdullah Yusuf Ali *, in reference to aya 238 of Surah Al-Baqara, that states…
“The Middle Prayer: Al Salat al wusta: may be translated “the best or most excellent prayer.” Authorities differ as to the exact meaning of this phrase. The weight of authorities seems to be in favour of interpreting this as the ‘Asr prayer (in the middle of the afternoon). This is apt to be the most neglected, and yet this is the most necessary, to remind us of Allah in the midst of our worldly affairs.”
I think one of the misconceptions about prayers is that… a lot of people see it as an “obligation” in the way that parents tell a child to do their homework for school. There is a lot more to it than that. Prayers ensures a connection with Him throughout the day. We are tried in the things that we are given, (we should not forget Who gave it to us), and the fact that we are not only alive because of Him… but also sustained in every moment by Him… not to mention the countless other blessings and gifts that we have been given.
سورة الحج ٦٦
وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَحْيَاكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَكَفُورٌ
سورة الجاثية ٢٣
َأَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَجَعَلَ عَلَىٰ بَصَرِهِ غِشَاوَةً فَمَن يَهْدِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ اللَّهِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Surah Al-Hajj 22:66
It is He Who gave you life, will cause you to die, and will again give you life: Truly man is a most ungrateful creature!
Surah Al-Jaathiya 45:23
Then seest thou such a one as takes as his god his own vain desire? Allah has, knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart (and understanding), and put a cover on his sight. Who, then, will guide him after Allah (has withdrawn Guidance)? Will ye not then receive admonition?
Prayers are of a much larger purpose than simply praising. At the end of the day, they are more for our own sake than for Him, as they bring a clarity and focus necessary to face the daily challenges in life….
سورة العنكبوت ٤٥
اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ ۖ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ
سورة آل عمران ١٨٦
لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا أَذًى كَثِيرًا ۚ وَإِن تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَإِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ
Surah Al-Ankaboot 29:45
Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do.
Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:186
Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and ye shall certainly Hear much that will grieve you, from those who received the Book before you and from those who worship many gods. But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil,-then that will be a determining factor in all affairs.
* “The Meaning of the Holy Qur’an” – Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Isbn: 0915957760