God has stated the history of the Great Feud in 83 verses across 8 suras in the Quran and has blessed us even to confirm it with mathematical proof. The elements addressed in the history of the feud in order to sharpen our vision on our mission on earth are:
1. The Satan and his allies are the most ardent enemies of the human race.
2. Though the angels and jinns are invisible to us but they does exist.
3. The Day of Resurrection and Judgment must occur.
4. The Heaven (Paradise) does exist but the Hell will be brought into existence on the Day of Judgment.
5. The destination of the believers is the Heaven while the destination of the disbelievers is the Hell followed by equitable judgment.
God warned Adam and Eve NOT to get closer to the accursed tree but they ignored His warning and tasted the tree as they were not able to protect the Satan and eventually, they accepted his advice to be a good advice. This event clearly indicates that just our belief in God, no matter how strong it is, is not enough for us to protect us from the Satan. Hence, God being merciful, has given us the religious rites to practice on earth to seek His forgiveness as well as to remember Him to strengthen our souls so we can protect Satan and his allies. It is an evidence to us that why the religious rites are Gifts of God and why we need to just uphold God’s guidance. Hence, we must always remember that God’s guidance is the true guidance.
[2:38-39] We said, “Go down therefrom, all of you. When guidance comes to you from Me, those who follow My guidance will have no fear, nor will they grieve. As for those who disbelieve and reject our revelations, they will be dwellers of Hell, wherein they abide forever.”
[15:49] Inform My servants that I am the Forgiver, Most Merciful.
[15:99] And worship your Lord, in order to attain certainty.
Salat is the most important one of all the rites given by God as it is an opportunity for us to make direct contact with Him several times a day at specific times. The importance of Salat is stated in many verses of the Quran but the gist is found in the following verses:
[20:14] Indeed Me, I am God; there is no other god beside I. So, you (Moses) shall worship Me and shall observe the Contact Prayers for My remembrance.
[29:45] You shall recite what is revealed to you of the scripture, and shall observe the Contact Prayer (Salat). Indeed, the Contact Prayer prohibits from the vice and the evil deeds. But the remembrance of God (through Salat) is the most important objective. God knows everything you do.
We are blessed to have both literary (logical) and mathematical proofs of the method of observing Salat along with what we must recite during Salat. Now it is our responsibility to reflect on each and every word that we recite to observe Salat so it must be observed being reverent to God as required by Him to be responded by Him as the Salat is the primary source of nourishment of our souls. Hence, the Salat must be observed as designed by God what He has taught us through His prophet Ibrahim who also implored Him to teach us these rites of region so we can fulfill our obligations as designed and given.
[23:1-2] Certainly, has succeeded the believers are those – they are humbles during their Salat Prayers (salatihim).
[2:128] “Our Lord, make us submitters to You, and from our descendants let there be a community of submitters to You. Teach us the rites of our religion, and redeem us. You are the Redeemer, Most Merciful.
What we recite during Salat is composed of 7 components, 50 words and 228 letters. Let us consider all these elements so we can realize the relationship of the 7 components and can observe Salat reflecting on each and every element:
1. Starting the prayer at standing – Allahu Akbar
A 2-word Arabic phrase consisting of 8 letters establishes connection with God and keeps the connection alive between God and the Salat observer by intermittent utterance of the phrase realizing that He is God, the One and none equals Him.
[112:1] Say, “He is God, the One.
[112:2] God, the Absolute.
[112:3] He does not beget, nor is He begotten.
[112:4] None equals Him.”
2. Reciting specific words – Al-Fatehah
God gave the specific words to Adam and Eve for their redemption and He has also given us the similar words sura Al-Fatihah consisting of 7 verses, 28 words and 139 letters for our redemption as His system never changes.
[7:23] They (Adam and Eve) said, “Our Lord, we have wronged our souls, and unless You forgive us and have mercy on us, we will be losers.”
[2:37] Then, Adam received from his Lord words, whereby He redeemed him. He is the Redeemer, Most Merciful.
[48:23] Such is God’s system throughout history, and you will find that God’s system is unchangeable.
a. Honoring God (1:1)
[1:1] Bismi Allah Al-Rahmaan Al-Raheem
A 4-word verse consisting of 19 letters is recited at the beginning of our specific words in honor of God who has given us the scripture and rites being kind and merciful on us to become righteous.
[41:2] A revelation from the Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
[2:2] This scripture is infallible; a guidance for the righteous;
b. Appreciating God (1:2-4)
We are to appreciate and thank God for everything what has been given us here as well as what will be given us in the Hereafter realizing that the Satan and his allies try their best to make us unappreciative:
[2:152] You shall remember Me, that I may remember you, and be thankful to Me; do not be unappreciative.
[7:17] “I (Satan) will come to them from before them, and from behind them, and from their right, and from their left, and You will find that most of them are unappreciative.”
[22:64] To Him belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth. Absolutely, God is the Most Rich, Most Praiseworthy [Al-Ghanei, Al-Hameed].
[1:2] Al-Hamdu Lillahi Rabbi al-`Aalameen
A 4-word verse consisting of 17 letters is recited to begin the praise of God who is our Lord of both worlds.
[1:3] Al-Rahmaan Al-Raheem
A 2-word verse consisting of 12 letters is recited realizing that God is the Possessor of Infinite Grace [wa- Allahu Dhu Al-Fadli Al-Azeem].
[1:4] Malik Yawm Al-deen
A 3-word verse consisting of 11 letters is recited reflecting that we must face judgment and will be paid for everything we had done on earth and everyone will be judged equitably, without least injustice which also means that judgment will take place based on His established laws.
c. Total submitting to God (1:5)
[1:5] Iyyaka Na’budu wa-Iyyaka Nas’ta-een
A 4-word verse consisting of 19 letters confirms our total submission to God alone before asking His guidance to lead us in the straight path realizing that none can give us except He what we need as everything in the heavens and the earth belong to Him and He is the Most Rich, Most Praiseworthy.
[20:14] Indeed Me, I am God; there is no other god beside I. So, you shall worship Me, and shall observe the Contact Prayer for My remembrance.
[31:26] To God belongs everything in the heavens and the earth. God is the Most Rich, Most Praise worthy.
d. Expecting guidance from God (1:6-7)
[1:6] Ih’dinaa al-Sirata al-Mustaqeem;
[1:7] Siraata Alladheena An’amta `Alayhim; Ghayri al-Maghduubi ‘Alayhim wa-laa-al-Daalleen.
A 3-word verse consisting of 18 letters is recited to ask God to guide us in the straight path while the 8-word verse consisting 43 letters is uttered to clarify the straight path for us. We may reflect on the following verses so God may help us to fulfill our expectation.
[2:120] … “God’s guidance is the true guidance.” (6:71).
[22:54] … Most assuredly, God guides the believers in the right path.
[6:126] This (Quran) is a straight path to your Lord. And certainly, we have explained the revelations for a people who take heed.
[17:9] This Quran guides to the best path, and brings good news to the believers who lead a righteous life, that they have deserved a great recompense.
3. Glorifying the greatness of God at bowing – Subhaana Rabbee Al-Azeem
When we recite this 3-word Arabic phrase consisting 14 letters to glorify the greatness of God at this humble position, we may reflect on the following verse to realize His greatness.
[39:67] They can never fathom the greatness of God. The whole earth is within His fist on the Day of Resurrection. In fact, the universes are folded within His right hand. Be He glorified; He is much too high above needing any partners.
4. Expecting response from God during returning to standing – Samee-`a Allah Liman Hamidah
A 4-word Arabic phrae consisting of 15 letters is recited during returning from bowing to standing expecting response from God for the prayer, which reminds us that the prayer must be observed to meet criteria required by God to be responded by Him.
[2:186] When My servants ask you about Me, I am always near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to Me and believe in Me, in order to be guided.
[11:61]…“You shall seek His forgiveness, then repent to Him. My Lord is always Near, Responsive [Inna Rabbee Qareebun Mujeebun]”.
5. Glorifying the highness of God at prostration – Subhaana Rabbee Al-A’alaa
When we recite this 3-word Arabic phrase consisting of 14 letters to glorify the highness of God at the most humble position, we may reflect on the following verses to realize His highness.
[70:3-4] … Possessor of the highest Height [Dhee Al-Ma’aarij]. The angels, with their reports, climb to Him in a day that equals fifty thousand years.
6. Dedicating the prayer to God at sitting – Ash-Hadu An Laa-Elaha Ella Allah; Wahdahu; Laa-Shareeka Lah.
A 8-word Arabic phrase consisting of 30 letters Tashahhud is recited to reconfirm that we are striving to be submitters, truly devoting our worship to God alone.
[3:18] God bears witness that there is no god except He, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge. Truthfully and equitably, He is the absolute god; there is no god but He, the Almighty, Most Wise.
[47:19] You shall know that: “There is no other god beside God,” and ask forgiveness of your sins and the sins of all believing men and women. God is fully aware of your decisions and your ultimate destiny.
7. Ending the prayer at sitting – Al-salaamu ‘Alaykum
A 2-word Arabic phrase consisting of 8-letters is recited to end the prayer wishing the peace from God for all the true believers on earth realizing that He is the One who provides us with peace and security, which may also eliminates our natural stinginess.
[5:16] With it, God guides those who seek His approval. He guides them to the paths of peace, leads them out of darkness into the light by His leave, and guides them in a straight path.
[106:4] For He is the One who fed them after hunger, and provided them with security after fear.
[59:10] Those who became believers after them say, “Our Lord, forgive us and our brethren who preceded us to the faith, and keep our hearts from harboring any hatred towards those who believed. Our Lord, You are Compassionate, Most Merciful.”
Practicing religious rites as given by God are our opportunities and means of achieving success to ensure our safe return to Him. They are the essential nourishment required for the growth and development of our souls, and failure to feed the soul through these prescribed religious rites leads to spiritual starvation and eventual loss of the soul (7:9).
Salat is the most important one of all the rites given by God as it is an opportunity for us to make direct contact with Him several times a day at specific times. Many of us may think that Salat is just bowing and kneeling through recitation of a few Arabic words at certain times of the day to fulfill our obligation but it is more than that. Its sole objective is to achieve something that causes direct impact on our souls being the primary source of nourishment of souls that has reflected in the crucial verse, 20:14 – “I am God; there is no other god beside Me. You shall worship Me alone, and observe the Contact Prayers to remember Me.” Thus. we can build our souls stronger through our regular practicing of Salat as we can become a muscle man through our regular exercise.
In its 7 components (distinct recitation) we recite 50 Arabic words consisting of 228 letters that are repeated to observe 17 units of Salat at 5 times on a regular day and 15 units on Friday following a straight forward method. Thus, Salat is simple, easy and short. There are many good reasons of it but universal comprehension, practicability, perfectness and continuance are worthy of mention. The words we recite are appropriate words at appropriate postion, which are befitting to meet the requirements to be responded by God. However, it can also be supported by a simple mathematical confirmation to strengthen our heart. If we add the number of components, which is 7, and the number of words, which is 50 and the number of letters, which is 228 in the recitation of the prayer, the total is a multiple of 19 => 7 + 50 + 228 = 285 = 19x15 being a letter level confirmation conforming to the commandment of Salat in the Quran (20:14). However, we may shorten our Salat at certain situations (4:101) but we are to observe Salat at all circumstances being humbled to God (23:1-2):
[4:101] When you travel, you commit no error by shortening your Contact Prayers (Salat) if you fear that the disbelievers may attack you. Surely, the disbelievers are your ardent enemies.
[23:1-2] Certainly, has succeeded the believers are those – they are humbles during their Salat Prayers.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (12/12/2014)