Salah (prayer) has a special place among all of the forms of worship for a Muslim, for it is the most important worship which will save the hereafter of a person. The fact that Salah is performed five times a day and at special predetermined times shows its importance. For the most part, a person cannot perform any religious activity while he is busy with his daily activities. Moreover, he will inevitably fall into heedlessness if he does not come across something to remind him of the hereafter. Especially with…
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Namazgâh and prayer in the open field
The word “namazgâh” – which means ‘place of prayer’ – is a compound of Persian word ‘namaz’ and preposition ‘gâh’ – which mean prayer and place respectively. Muslims have esteemed the prayer (i.e. salah) very much for centuries. And they have not neglected this worship even in the most difficult conditions including travelling. In Ottoman times, the places that were built in the countryside where there was no nearby mosque or masjid were called ‘namazgah.’ They are outdoor places of worship that are mostly used in summers and allocated for…
Read MoreGetting Motivated to Perform Salah
The five daily prayers, our first and most important duty, are the key to the happiness in this life, preventing us from starving spiritually, and in the Hereafter, bringing us eternal Paradise. risaleonline.com There are three separate booklets in Risale-i Nur written in order to make people eager for salah (i.e. five daily prayers) under the title of the 4th, the 9th and the 21st Words. Some explanations that motivate us to salah in the 21st Word, which is the most detailed one of those risales, can be compiled as…
Read MoreWhat Do the Movements in the Prayer Mean?
What do the movements of salah such as qiyam, ruku’ and sujud represent? Answer: Niyyah (intention of prayer): Niyyah is the decision of the heart,the declaration of the reasons behind each action. It means to intend saying ‘yes’ to Allah (SWT) by obeying His commands. Iftitah Takbir (the Opening Takbir): By saying Allahu Akbar (‘Allah is Greater’), we toss the entire world behind us with our hands and seek refuge in the mercy of Allah (SWT). It is to affirm that Allah (SWT) is the greatest by saying takbir (Allahu…
Read MoreWhat prevents a Muslim from Prayer?
Salah, the prescribed prayers, are very valuable for a Muslim. It is the pillar of the religion. It is the first thing that Allah will hold us to account for in the day of judgement. If a Muslim can successfully give account for Salah, he will easily pass all the other judgements inshaallah; because Salah keeps a Muslim away from wrongdoings and sins in his life. Our souls, however, does not want to perform this great worship which almost guarantees our eternal happiness. There are numerous and unreasonable reasons for…
Read MoreMystery and Necessity of Salat
WE PERFORM SALAT, SALAT MAKES US HUMAN The reason for the creation of the universe, namely humans is worship, which is stated in the versicle of the Quran as “I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me.” (az-Zariyat, 56). In order to conform to the commands and prohibitions of Glorified Allah it is essential to place the grandness of Allah, who has created everything with craft in minds. And this would be possible only with ordinance of faith. The development and improvement of ordinance of faith…
Read MoreKHUSHU AND KHUDHU IN SALAH
Khushu (Humility) means veneration and involves submission and bowing down through expressing one’s reverence. According to one’s view, it has an identical meaning with that of khudhu (veneration). According to another view, khudhu (veneration) refers to showing humbleness with your body, namely with your limbs, while khushu particularly means showing one’s humility and submission through voice and eyes. Khudhu is also used to express tranquillity and abasement. It is stated in Sura al-Taha, verse 108: “All sounds shall humble themselves in the Presence of (Allah) Most Gracious.” (Kamus al-Muhit Translation,…
Read MoreMaxims about Salah
The prayers and supplications for rain are a form of worship. Drought is the time for such worship. Worship and supplications of this sort are not in order to bring rain. If they are performed with that intention alone they are not worthy of acceptance, for they are not sincere worship. (Words) The spirit, the heart, and the mind find great ease in prayer. And it is not trying for the body. Furthermore, with the right intention, all the other acts of someone who performs the prescribed prayers become like…
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