---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 10:34:02 -0800 (PST)
From: Madiba Saidy <[log in to unmask]>
To: saidy <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: THE TENETS OF ISLAM (re-post #3)
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SOLAT-THE FIVE DAILY PRAYER
All praise is for Allah, the Lord and Cherisher of the Universe. We praise
Him and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the
evil of ourselves and the wickedness of our own deeds. Whomever Allah
guides, cannot be lead astray and whomever Allah does not guide, none can
guide him. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except
Allah, alone without associate, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His
Messenger. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his
household, his companions and all those who follow them in righteousness
till the Day of Judgement.
Allah the Exalted says, "Recite what is sent of the Book (Qur'an) by
inspiration to thee (Muhammad) 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
you do." Q29:45
"Men who celebrate the praises of (remember) Allah standing, sitting and
lying down on their sides and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the
heavens and the earth (with the thought): "Our Lord! You have not created
(all) this without purpose! Glory to thee! Give us salvation from the
penalty of the fire." Q3:191
"Those who believe and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance
of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find
satisfaction."Q13:28
"So woe to the worshippers. Who are neglectful of their Prayers (Salat).
Those who (want but) to be seen (of men). But refuse (to supply) (even)
neighborly needs." Q107:4-7
Despite the fact that Islam emphasizes that faith, righteous deeds "and
Allah's Grace are needed for salvation, many Muslims have completely
forgotten about righteous deeds. "If any do deeds of righteousness be they
male or female and have faith they will enter heaven and not the least
injustice will be done to them." Q4:124. Allah says in Q29:45 that solat
(five daily prayer) is a form of remembrance of Him, also it is to prevent
us from shameful deeds. Let us examine ourselves. Is our solat doing these
purposes in our life? Can someone who is conscious of Allah engages in sin
again and again? Let us be careful, we should not reduce our solat and
other acts of worship to mere routine activities rather we should be
conscious of the goals of these acts of worship. Allah warns us in
Q107:4-7.
Solat is very important in Islam. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was reported to
have said that the first righteous deed that will be examined on the Day
of Judgement is the solat. And whoever fails in this will fail in other
things. Solat is to be observed at prescribed periods "When you pass
(congregational) prayers celebrate Allah's praises standing, sitting down
or lying down on your sides; but when you are free from danger set up
regular prayers: for such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated
times." (Q4:103). Do we fulfil this requirement?
We should note that remembrance of Allah is not limited to sitting down in
the mosque and chanting Allahu akbar, Lailaha ila Allah, etc. It includes
reading and pondering on verses of the Holy Qur'an in the language we
understand (Q3:191). The Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his companions
demonstrated this. It is narrated in a hadith that the prophet (PBUH)
requested of one his companions to recite verses of the Qur'an for him.
The companion was reciting until he recited a verse something like, "One
day We shall raise from all peoples a witness against them from amongst
themselves: and We shall bring thee (Muhammad) as a witness against these
(Muslims): and We have sent down to thee the Book explaining all things a
guide a Mercy and glad tidings to Muslims." (Q16:89). The Holy Prophet
started crying and asked the companion to stop. Prophet (PBUH) knew that
he will give an account of his leadership to Allah, this made him cry
because it a great responsibility.
Furthermore, the story of three men trapped in a cave is another example
of remembrance of Allah. Of interest is the man who had a female cousin.
He had desire for her and made illicit advances to her but she turned him
down. At a time of famine, the family of the woman was in need and she
approached the man for a loan. The man said he would not give her anything
unless she agrees to sleep with him. The woman reluctantly agreed (Hum!
Nowadays, many women have to sleep with their boss to retain or get a
job). But at the time he was about to enter her she said," Fear Allah and
do not deflower what does not belong to you". The man froze; he left the
woman and gave the money as a gift and not a loan (How many men are this
God conscious?). Then man said in the cave, " O Allah! I refrained from
the illicit desire I had for my cousin because I fear you so save us from
this problem". The other two men also beseeched Allah with good deeds they
have done and they were saved. The stone that blocked the entrance of the
cave moved. There are lessons in this story:
1) We should do righteous deeds to please Allah alone. Islam teaches
that all acts of worship should be preceded by intention because Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) said, " All actions will be judged by intentions".
2) If we need something from Allah, we may pray like this, " O Allah!
I deed so and so because I fear You and want You favor therefore do so and
so for me". This is not pride in Islam. Your prayer is between you and
Allah and nobody knows what you have said except Allah.
I urge those of us who have not read "INNER DIMENSIONS OF WORSHIP" by Imam
Al-Ghazali to please get and read this book. The book explains the goals
of each Islamic act of worship and how we can achieve them using the
Qur'an, ahadith and sound logic. May Allah accept our acts of worship and
have mercy on us.
"And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember: then
is there any that will receive admonition?" (Q54:17)
Peace be on you.
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