بِسمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيـمِ

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

Al-Salat

Introduction

What is the definition of Salat? and from where can be obtain the literal meaning and definition of Salat? Establishing Salat is the first commandment given to muslim in quran and it is being practiced by millions of muslims but is it in accordance with the Quran? As Allah mentions quran is complete and fully detailed and Allah has not missed out anything from the Quran and is the only source of law.

Quran Al-Anam 6:114

أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّـهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا ۚ وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ مُنَزَّلٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ

[Say], “Then is it other than Allah I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book explained in detail?” And those to whom We [previously] gave the Scripture know that it is sent down from your Lord in truth, so never be among the doubters.

Allah is asking a question to those who seek books other than Quran as source of law i.e hadith belivers.

Quran Al-Anam 24:35

وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّا أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم ۚ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الْكِتَابِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ

And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you. We have not neglected in the book a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.

Allah has not missed out anything from Quran, like hadith believers claim quran is incomplete, not detailed, not enough, unclear just to justify their belief in hadiths and their poor knowledge of Quran.

What is the definition Salat?

Quranic word Salat (صلاة) literally means “Contact” and word Akeemu Al Salat (أَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ) means establishing contact, Root word for Salat (صلاة) is Tasil (تصل) meaning “Contact”.

Quran Al-Bakarah 2:43

وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلٰوةَ وَآتُواْ ٱلزَّكَٰوةَ وَٱرْكَعُواْ مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ

And establish Contact and give zakah and bow with those who bow .

In the Quranic context Akeemu Al Salat (أَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ) is defined as “Establishing contact with Allah”.

Definition of Salat from Quran

Word Salat is used multiple times in the Quran and following verses will help us with the better understanding/Meaning of Salat.
Definition of the Root word Tasil (تصل) from the Quran.

Quran Al-Tawba 9:84

وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَىٰ قَبْرِهِ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّـهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ

And do not contact any of them even when they die – ever – or stand at his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient.

Allah is refraining prophet from contacting (تُصَلِّ) any of the hypocrites who refused to fight with him in battle and remained behind even if they die and told not to stand on their grave.
Definition of the Root word Tasil (تصل) and Salat (صلاة) from the Quran.

Quran Al-Tawba 9:103

خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ إِنَّ صَلَاتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

Take, [O, Muhammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify it and purify them, and remain in contact with them. Indeed, your contact is reassurance for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

In Quran 9:103 Allah has used word Salat صَلَاتَ and Root word Sil صَلِّ to clarify the meaning as quran is no doubt detailed, As most would object to the literal translation and come up with imaginary meanings as done by Sahih International and other translators, What would Quran 9:103 be like if not translated from Quran but an external source? here is an example ” Take, From their wealth charity to purify it and purify them and pray to them as your prayer is reassurance for them” as most scholars translate word صَلَاتَ Salat as prayer but they will not in case of 9:103 and translate word as Blessings when no where in quran word salat means blessings as Quranic word for Blessings is Baraka (بَارَكًا) and Allah is precise with usage of words in Quran.

Salwat of Allah

Salawat (صَلَوَاتٌ) is the plural for word Salat (صلاة) which means remaining in contact and no dictionary explains Salwat better than Quran.

Quran Al-Bakarah 2:157

أُولَـٰئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۖ وَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ

Those are the ones whom Lord remains in contact with and is merciful and they are the ones guided.

in contact of verse Allah is clear in Quran 2:156-157 those who say “Indeed to Allah we belong and indeed to him we will return” have achieved the Salwat (صَلَوَاتٌ) contact of Allah.

Salat of Allah and angels on believers

Word يُصَلِّي is another form of Salat literally meaning contact.

Quran Al-Ahzab 33:43

هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَائِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۚ وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا

It is he who’s contact with you and the angels that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light. And ever is He, to the believers, Merciful. .

it is the contact of Allah that can bring bring believers out of darkness as Allah gives back salat to those who establish salat and the word similar to Salat is Dhikr ذْكُرْ as Allah clarifies his contact in Quran 2:157 Remember me and i will remember you.

Salat of Allah and angels on prophet

Quran Al-Ahzab 33:56

إِنَّ اللَّـهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا

Indeed, Allah and his angels are in contact with the prophet, O! you who have believed contact him and submit and accept.

In Quran 33:56 Allah is has once again justified the meaning of Salat but to understand the context of contact from Allah and Angels can be found in the Quran that how they remained in contact with him in battles and supported throughout his life. Conclusion Based on the Quranic verses we can conclude word salat literally means contact and Akimusalat means establishing Salat only from the Quran.

Salat defination in sunnism and mainstream islam

According to mainstream sunni scholars word Salat (صلاة) means “Prayer”, maybe they never checked english dictionary before coming to a conclusion or their understanding of english is poor similar to their poor knowledge of quran. Definition of prayer in English by Oxford dictionary A solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or another deity. Oxford dictionary explains word “Prayer” as request meaning meaning “Making a Wish ” in religious sense. Quranic word for Prayer/Request/Wish is Dua دُعَا not Salat. Example  A person can pray for some other person but can a person do Salat for someone else? Of course not as individual has to establish salat himself and its a personal matter with God and no one can establish salat on behalf of someone else.  

3 Comments

  1. Zehra
    Zehra on July 20, 2020 at 2:05 pm

    Brilliantly explained.
    Ahsant Jazakallah!

    Reply
  2. M.A.Hakeem
    M.A.Hakeem on July 28, 2020 at 7:12 pm

    Assalam Alaikum, The more appropriate meaning of the word صلاة is Favour/Support mechanism instead of contact.

    Reply
    • Admin
      Admin on July 30, 2020 at 5:52 pm

      Depends on the context brother and your also correct.

      Reply

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