بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

‘Salat’ in Arabic is translated as ‘prayer’. Most people, irrespective of what religion they follow, use some sort of prayers to connect to God. Allah teaches in His book, how to establish communication with Allah. A great way to establish communication with Allah is As-Salat (The Prayer). In As-Salat, believers communicate with Allah, in words which are taught by Allah in a specific format which is established in the house of Allah in Makkah. This house of Allah is a guidance for all worlds and prophet Ibraheem (a.s) and prophet Ismaeel (a.s) were ordered to keep the house of the Lord clean for people who do rukoo(bowing down), sujjood (prostrating) and tawaf (Hajj & Umra ritual).

To make As-Salat/the prayer an effective communication tool, it is imperative that we understand what the words mean which we recite in As-Salat. Allah has taught many supplications in His book for various situations which a person may encounter in life. It is important that we recognize the proper supplication, know the meanings, and repeat the supplication in our prayers, in order to ensure response from Allah. As prayers are enjoined on believers several times a day, it is an excellent tool, to enhance familiarity with Quran.  Quran is not unlike other books whose reading once or a few times could be sufficient for learning. Quran is a fascinating book which is meant to be read and understood over and over again. It has several layers of understanding and appeals to all levels of knowledge. Salat is a tool which gives an opportunity to resort to Quran multiple times a day. If normally you don’t find time to resort to Quran every day, you may read a page or some portion of Quran in each ‘raka’ and then ponder on it during the salat and later on. This way we can learn and grow in our understanding of ayahs, and repeat them in As-Salat. If we learn and repeat even a few new verses of Quran in prayers, our understanding of Quran Insha-Allah will grow rapidly.  By learning more ayahs, understanding them and repeating them in As-Salat, our prayers will not be a burden but can become an interesting experience. Quran warns that As-Salat is a burden on Munafiqeen/hypocrites. 

The spirit of as-Salat is learning Al-Quran and its remembrance. Rote repetition of only a few sura’s over and over again like most people do, does not serve the purpose of as-Salat effectively. As-Salat provides the mechanism and adds a discipline to it so that believers are obliged to find time resorting to Al-Quran, several times during the day. Human beings need some discipline, therefore the institution of as-Salat is enjoined by Allah on believers. If people don’t know what is enjoined them by their Lord in His book, how can they act on it. So, Salat is an important tool in understanding what is required by God and then acting on it.

In As-Salat we have to pray in words taught by Allah. For example Allah taught Adam some words to ask forgiveness. When Adam made the supplication in these words, Allah responded to him.

2:37  فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

Thus Adam received ‘Words’ from his Lord, and his Lord turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.

7:23  قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

They both said. “O Our Lord! We have oppressed our nafs/psyche and if You do not have forgiveness for us and mercy for us, definitely we will be of the losers.”

Format of Prayers:

There is also a specific format for As-Salat/the prayers, enjoined in Quran. In this format, ayahs/kalamat of Allah are recited while standing, then the believer bows down and prostrate, symbolizing bowing and submitting to the ayahs that he just recited. This system of prayers is established in Allah’s house in Bakka/Makka. The House of Allah is declared to be for the guidance for the entire world.

3:96  إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ

The first House appointed for mankind is that at Bakka/Makkah: full of blessings and of guidance for all worlds.

What guidance can the world take from the House of Lord? Allah has established place of Ibrahim at the House/Kaaba and ordered mankind to take their ‘mussala’ from the place of Ibrahim, who is the Imam for mankind. See earlier post about procedure of As-Salat from Quran (https://topicsfromquran.com/2017/03/21/salat-procedure/ ).

Allah has also ordered Ibrahim (a.s) and Ismaeel (a.s) to purify His house for people. The system of As-Salat is established in this House (2: 125  وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى   ), however in many people’s mind, the House is highjacked by impure people and they have established their incorrect format of As-Salat in the House (8:34). Allah declares that the protectors of Majid Ul-Haram are ‘Muttaqeen’ and those people who adhere to a different format of As-Salat and oppose the Masjid ul Haram, their salat near Masjid is tantamount to clapping and whistling (8:35). Some people say the messenger (pbuh) established As-Salat in different formats/ways, (which are followed by different sectarian Muslims). Had it been a true statement, then the sunnat/practice of the messenger (pbuh) is to establish salat in all different formats, instead of sticking to one way according to one’s sect. The sectarian Muslims should establish salat in all sectarian formats if they are true followers of the messenger (pbuh). But they are actually followers of the imams of their sect therefore they will not do that. We see that as per Quran, there is only one format of As-Salat/the prayer which is established in Masjidul Haram.

7:29  قُلْ أَمَرَ رَبِّي بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَأَقِيمُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَادْعُوهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ ۚ كَمَا بَدَأَكُمْ تَعُودُونَ

Say; “My lord has ordered with justice; and you establish your faces/souls near every mosque and call Him, making your ‘Deen’/judgment pure for Him. As He originated you, so you will return”.

In the above ayat, Allah orders to establish yourselves in all mosques. What we practically see is that. people who go to mosques for prayers they normally prefer to go in the mosques of their sect only. When you know the format of As-Salat from Quran then you can go to mosques of all sects and pray there. In case there is a discussion and engagement about  your format of As-Salat, you can provide your justification of praying according to the format of As-Salat given in Quran.

Salat is not a new phenomena brought by the messenger Mohammad (pbuh), all messengers and prophets of Allah since day one, have been performing the same As-Salat. Some examples of the mention of As-Salat with prophets and people of earlier times in Quran is given below:

Prophet Ibrahim’s supplication:

14:37  رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ

“O’ our Lord, surely I have settled from my offspring within the valley without cultivation/agriculture near your sacred house, O’ Our Lord, so that they establish As-Salat/the prayer, so make the hearts of people loving towards them and provide them with fruits so that they will be thankful.”

Ibrahim, Ishaq, Yaqub are the Imams:

21:73  وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَإِقَامَ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءَ الزَّكَاةِ ۖ وَكَانُوا لَنَا عَابِدِينَ

And We made them the Imams/leaders that they guide with Our order and We inspired towards them to do good deeds and establish As-Salat/the prayer and give zakat/justification and to Us they served.

Prophet Ismail (a.s):

19:54-55  وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَادِقَ الْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولًا نَّبِيًّا  وَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ أَهْلَهُ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ وَكَانَ عِندَ رَبِّهِ مَرْضِيًّا

Also mention in the book, Ismail: He was true to what he promised, and he was a messenger (and) a prophet. He enjoined on his people As-Salat/the prayer and Az-Zakat, and he was most acceptable in the sight of his Lord.

Salat is enjoined on Bani-Israeel:

2:83  وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَقُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنكُمْ وَأَنتُم مُّعْرِضُونَ

When We took a covenant with the Bani-Israeel/Children of Israel that you will serve none but Allah and be good with your parents and with relatives and the orphan and the needy and say to mankind good words and establish As-Salat/the prayer and give Az-Zakat/the Justification then except few from you, turn away avoiding it.

Salat of Prophet Shoaib (a.s):

11:87  قَالُوا يَا شُعَيْبُ أَصَلَاتُكَ تَأْمُرُكَ أَن نَّتْرُكَ مَا يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا أَوْ أَن نَّفْعَلَ فِي أَمْوَالِنَا مَا نَشَاءُ ۖ إِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ الْحَلِيمُ الرَّشِيدُ

They said, “O Shoaib, does your salat/prayer dictates upon you that we must abandon what our forefathers served, or running our businesses in any manner we choose? Surely, you are known for being clement, wise.”

With the help of ‘as-Salat’ as you grow in understanding of the spirit of Allah’s ayahs, you will be bound to abondon the ways of your ancesters if they are in conflict with Al-Quran and spend your wealth as directed by Allah. 

Prophet Zakarya’s Hadith:

3:38  فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي الْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَسَيِّدًا وَحَصُورًا وَنَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

Thus the angels called unto him while he was establishing prayer in the chamber, . “Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya, confirming the truth of a Word from Allah, and Syed (Leader), chaste, and a prophet,- of the company of the righteous.”

Prophet Moosa and Haroon’s Salat:

10:87  وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ وَأَخِيهِ أَن تَبَوَّآ لِقَوْمِكُمَا بِمِصْرَ بُيُوتًا وَاجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ قِبْلَةً وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

And We inspired to Moosa and his brother that you appoint for your people, houses in Egypt and make your houses a Qiblah/direction. And establish As-Salat/the prayer and give good news to the believers.

Group prayers for women:

3:43 يَا مَرْيَمُ اقْنُتِي لِرَبِّكِ وَاسْجُدِي وَارْكَعِي مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ

“O Maryam! Be obedient to your Lord devoutly. Prostrate yourself, and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down.”

Prophet Essa/Jesus words:

3:31  وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ وَأَوْصَانِي بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا

And he has made me blessed where-ever I be, And has enjoined on me As-Salat(the prayer) and Az-zakat as long as I live.

Wise man Luqman’s advise to his son in Quran:

31:17  يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَكَ ۖ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ

“O my son! establish As-Salat/the prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong. and bear with patience whatever befalls on you; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs.

Also, in 19:58-59, it is stated that those who came after the blessed people from the children of Adam, Nooh and Ibrahim and Isreael, wasted their salat. How can one waste his ‘salat’ ? i.e by not making it an effective tool to grow in understanding of Allah’s Words. 

24:41  أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالطَّيْرُ صَافَّاتٍ ۖ كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُ وَتَسْبِيحَهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ

Have you not seen that whatsoever is in the skies and in the earth, praises for Allah and the birds in the rows. Everyone knows his salat/prayers and his praise. And Allah knows with what they do.

Even the birds and other creatures in the Universe know their prayers. We humans don’t know their prayers, Allah has instilled their prayers into them and He knows their prayers. We should be concerned with our prayers which Allah has taught us in His Book. We cannot make assumption of same human Salat for other creatures. The salat of other creature and beings is definitely according to their composition.

33:43  هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَائِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۚ وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا

It is He (Allah) who does salat on you, as do His angels, that He may bring you out from the darkness into the light and He is full of mercy to the believers.

As we don’t know about salat of other creatures like birds, we also don’t know about Salat of Allah, who does salat on believers as per above ayat. Most probably this is His communication to believers to bring them from darkness of ignorance into light of Allah’s awareness. 

Timings of Prayers:

4:103  فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا اطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ ۚ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا

So when you complete the (shortened) As-Salat then remember Allah in standing and sitting and on your sides, so when you are in tranquility then establish As-Salat/prayer, surely As-salat is written over the believers on appointed times.

Every person has a biological clock built in him, which is tuned to a 24 hours day. According to this clock we get up in the morning, eat food, do work, take rest and finally go back to sleep. If a person for example goes to a place where the Sun last for 6 month at a stretch, he will still be following his 24 hour internal clock for sleeping, working and eating food.

30:17-18  فَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ حِينَ تُمْسُونَ وَحِينَ تُصْبِحُونَ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَعَشِيًّا وَحِينَ تُظْهِرُونَ

So glorify Allah’s praises, when you make your evenings and when you make your mornings; and the night and when you make your noons, and for him is the praise in the heavens and the earth.

The above ayahs state that when ever you do you mornings, evenings, days and nights, glorify Allah’s praise. Even if you are at a place where the time is different than 24 hours day, you are to follow your biological clock inside you, which follows the 24 hours day system.

The 24 hours day is according to the movement of Sun. We experience different times in it, a reference of which we can find in different ayahs of Quran; some given as below:

89:1 وَالْفَجْرِ

(FAJR) By the day when it breaks.

81:18 وَالصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ

And the Dawn as it breathes

92:2 وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّىٰ

By the day when it shines.

103:1  وَالْعَصْرِ

By the (time of) squeeze/summary

92: 1  وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰ

By the night when it envelopes

93:2  وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَىٰ

By the night when it darkens

74:33  وَاللَّيْلِ إِذْ أَدْبَرَ

By the night when it retreats

11:114  وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ ۚ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّاكِرِينَ

And establish As-Salat/the prayer, the two sides of the day and in the advances of the night. Surely the goodness will take away the badness. That is the remembrance for those who remember.

We had previously seen that the ‘Mussala’ i.e the system of Salat is to be taken from ‘Masjid-ul Haram’. That system  comprises 5 mandatory prayers during 24 hours cycle. There are different interpretations for the timings of Salat in the above ayat. One interpretation could be that this ayat is referring to the three out of 5 salats which are Fajr, Maghrib and Isha.   

17:78  أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا

Establish As-salat by the sun’s decline till the darkening of the night and the reading (of Quran) at dawn, (Fajr) surely the reading (of the Quran) at the dawn is witnessed.

The above ayat states that the salat to be established from the decline of the Sun to the darkening of the night. During day time when the sun reaches its peak and begins to decline from the peak until beginning of night are the 2, day-prayers i.e Zuhar and Asar. From beginning of darkness is Maghrib and with further darkening of night is Isha prayer, and little before beginning of day is Fajr prayers. The above Ayat states that there is no mandatory prayer during the time after Fajr i.e from start of the day till the decline of the sun (before Zuhr) and after that from decline of the Sun to the darkness of the nights the  prayers can be performed (as per system established in the Sacred Mosque) 

17:79  وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا

And in some hours of the night, strive with it (Quran), This is additional for you, so it may be that your Lord will raise you to a standing position of praise.

Nafal is optional. Night time is a peaceful time without expected disturbance to strive with Quran.

Conditions when one is not to establish As-Salat:

4:43  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَقْرَبُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَارَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِي سَبِيلٍ حَتَّىٰ تَغْتَسِلُوا ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّنَ الْغَائِطِ أَوْ لَامَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا

“O’ you who believe, you do not go near to As-Salat/the prayer with a mind befogged, until you can understand what you say; and nor in a state of stranger except you are crossing the way until you have washed yourselves, if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you come from offices of nature, or you have been in contact with women, and you find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand, and therewith rub your faces and hands, for Allah does blot out sins and forgive again and again.”

Sukara is a condition of either intoxication, or confusion, when your mind is not focused and you are not able to understand  and focus on what you are saying. In this state it is not permissible to establish Salat.

Purpose of Salat:

20:14  إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي

“Surely I am Allah, there is no god except Me, so serve Me and establish As-Salat/the prayer for My remembrance”.

As-Salat is for remembering Allah and his Kalamat/Words.

29:45  اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ ۖ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ

Recite what is inspired to you from The Book and establish As-Salat/the prayer. Surely As-Salat/the prayer stops from obscenity and that which is disguised. and definitely remembrance of Allah is great. And Allah knows what you fabricate.

Salat is about getting the ‘Spirit’ of the ‘Word’ of Allah. The below ayat states that the people who are rewarded, when they hear what is recited in ayahs of Allah they fall in prostration, crying. You can only get the feel of the ayahs of Quran when you understand the spirit behind the ayahs. Without understanding them, is like being deaf and dumb to the ayahs. So the rewarded people don’t fall upon the ayahs of Quran, deaf and dumb.

19:58  أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ آدَمَ وَمِمَّنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْرَائِيلَ وَمِمَّنْ هَدَيْنَا وَاجْتَبَيْنَا ۚ إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ خَرُّوا سُجَّدًا وَبُكِيًّا ۩

Those were among the prophets for whom Allah has blessed from the offspring of Adam and from those whom We carried with Nooh and from the offspring of Ibrahim and Israel and from those whom We guided and We chose, when the ayats/signs of the Most Gracious were recited on them they fall down prostrating, weeping. ۩(Sajda)

25:73  وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَمْ يَخِرُّوا عَلَيْهَا صُمًّا وَعُمْيَانًا

And when they are reminded with the ayahs / signs of their Lord they do not fall down over them, deaf and blind.

How can one waste his Salat/prayer? by not understanding the spirit of the ayahs he is reciting and not using ayahs to correct one’s mistakes by acting on them. Just doing as ritual to desire ‘Sawab’ from prayers will have little benefit.

19:59  فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّا

Thus after them, succeeded successors who wasted As-Salat/the prayer and followed the desires, so soon they shall encounter wrong.

If As-salat becomes burdensome, it is a characteristic trait of hypocrites. If it is performed as a ritual of duty with rote repetition of few suras, and is not being used to increase awareness of Allah’s ayahs, it is likely to become burdensome.

4:152  إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

The hypocrites (think that they) are deceiving Allah, but He deceives them. When they stand for As-salat/the prayer they stand sluggishly, to be seen by men, but little do they hold Allah in remembrance.

The mention of funeral prayers is in Sura 9: Funeral prayers are not for hypocrites but for believers.

9:84 وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَىٰ قَبْرِهِ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ

Nor do you ever pray for any of them who dies, nor stand at his grave; for they rejected Allah and His Messenger, and died in a state of perverse rebellion.

Shortened Prayer:

4:101  وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُوا مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَن يَفْتِنَكُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ۚ إِنَّ الْكَافِرِينَ كَانُوا لَكُمْ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا

When you strike in the earth, there is no blame on you if you shorten your prayers, if you fear that those people who disbelieved would inflict you with fitna/temptation. Verily the unbelievers are for you, open enemies.

When you are striving on earth i.e at work in offices or sites (does not necessarily mean travelling 2:273), where management is mainly non-muslim or where establishing As-Salat may not be looked upon favorably or interfere with work/site work/meeting etc, then it is permissible to shorten the prayers. The shortened prayer will follow the practice established during Hajj in Makkah. In offices or work places there is usually a lunch break. During that break the Zuhar prayer and Asar prayers may be combined with 2 rakas each. If the work has extended time in the evening, then you may combine Maghrib and Isha prayers when you come back home from work, offering Maghrib prayers at Isha’s time with Maghrib 3 Raka and Isha as 2 rakas.

2:239  فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالًا أَوْ رُكْبَانًا ۖ فَإِذَا أَمِنتُمْ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَمَا عَلَّمَكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْلَمُونَ

So if you are in fear, then (pray) on foot or riding. So when you are in security remember Allah as He taught you, which you knew not.

If you are travelling and you fear or are concerned that you may not be able to establish As-Salat in time, then you may do As-salat mentally while on a vehicle or walking during your travel. This is an exception for travelers. However, safety first therefore if you are driving your self then better to stop at the side for a break and do prayers in the car.

The prophet Ibrahim’s prayers:

14:40-41  رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ  رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

“O’ my Lord! make me one who establishes As-Salah/the prayer and also from my offspring and O my Lord! you accept my call. O’ our Lord! have forgiveness for me, for my parents and for the believers when the day of account is established!”.

Notes:

A detailed lecture explaining, Salat, timing of Salat, procedure of Salat in Quran by Scholar Mohammad Shaikh in in below link. This post is mainly an excerpt of this lecture:

https://www.iipccanada.com/category/english-video-lectures/direction-of-belief/

Root word: ص ل و

صَلِّي = To pray

الصَّلَاةَ= The Prayer (the specific format of Prayer whose format is preserved at the sacred non-agricultural valley of Makkah)

صَلُّوا عَلَيْ= Pray for ( صَلُّو when comes with عَلَيْ, means to pray for ‘some one’)

Critics of Ritualistic salat:

There are people who don’t consider ‘as-salat’ to be a ritualistic practice. They mostly interpret the establishment of ‘as-salat’ as the establishment of Allah’s system of rules. While there is no disagreement on the end result of establishment of Allah’s rules, some points need to be considered.

We know that not all people in the world have equal capabilities. For example, in a large corporation, some employees can work well within a ‘management by objectives’ system. These employees can typically accomplish their goals without much supervision. Management is not overly concerned with how they achieve results. However, this approach cannot be applied to all employees. Therefore, the company uses a system of rules to provide structure for the majority, helping them achieve their goals.

While not every member of the community may be fit or required to establish Allah’s system of rules, but everyone should be aligned with the concept. Salat is a tool for familiarization with the Quran and understanding Allah’s message. It is a means to achieve the final objective. The reward comes not from the means itself but from the end result—i.e developing one’s character in line with Quran’s instruction. The tool of ‘salat’ helps compels people to set aside time and resort to Quran several times during a day. Quran is not a book whose reading once or twice in a life time is sufficient. It has to be read again and again and does not cease to bring new insights every time.

Allah established the system of Salat to provide structure for the masses to communicate with Him and understand His rules by resorting to His book every day. Some people, akin to the loose example of MBO, would like focus on the end result without adhering to the structure. They might believe that ritualistic Muslims do not benefit from their Salat, reinforcing their perspective. However, for the nation as a whole, the system must be inclusive, aiming to bring everyone on board with a common objective.

No doubt, the objective of Salat in the minds of the masses needs reform. It should become an effective tool for reading and understanding al-Quran, and then applying al-Quran in their lives. Rote repetition of a few suras in every Salat will not achieve the objective. One very simple practical way of increasing familiarity with al-Quran can be to read e.g one page of Quran in every raka from the book, instead of repeating a few sura’s all the time by rote. After the salat, the meaning of the ayahs recited should be pondered upon.

One more point: attacking the institution of Salat as non-Islamic will not gain mainstream acceptance. It will only create divisions and rancor among Muslims. The Quran recounts an incident involving the prophet Haroon, who faced an even greater abomination of his nation committing shirk. Yet, he refrained from taking extreme action out of fear of dividing the nation.

Similarly the mosques can perform useful roles in the community one example could be reducing cost of marriages by encouraging people to have Nikah ceremony in the mosque. A nikah in the mosque will be a fraction of a cost of arranging the function anywhere else. Other useful function of community center may also be thought of and introduced in the mosques.

The congregation of salat in a mosque is provides important lesson in social equality. No where other than in a mosque people could witness people of all social classes as being equal, where a peon of a company can stand shoulder to shoulder to the CEO. No one has the privilege to stand in the first row except who comes first all humble towards God in unison.

Objection that Islamic salat copied from Zoroastrian sources:

The objection that As-Salat is derived from Zoroastrian prayer practices is a common one, based on the premise that Zoroastrianism predates Islam by centuries. Critics argue that certain Islamic rituals, stories, and concepts—such as the Prophet’s ascension to the heavens, the Kaaba’s black stone, pilgrimage, and other elements—were borrowed from earlier religions, including Zoroastrianism, pagan practices, and Biblical sources.

However, this claim overlooks a fundamental principle conveyed in the Quran: Allah has consistently emphasized that the message delivered to the Messenger (pbuh)is not new. The Quran explicitly states that its teachings and directives are the same as those given to all previous prophets. Thus, a resemblance between Islamic practices and rituals in other religions, such as Zoroastrian prayer, reflects those practices that have since been distorted over time. Quran states that nothing new is said and ordered to the last prophet and the Shariat has been the same from the first to last prophet. Therefore, those practices and concepts in other religions which have some similarity with those of al-Quran, but are different, are actually the distorted ones over period of time. Rituals of As-Salat and the Hajj have been preserved in the Holy city of Bakkah/Makkah, as a testament to their divine origin and continuity throughout history deduced by order of Quran that the first house made for mankind is in Bakkah (Makkah) and is guidance for the whole world ( in all times)

Salat as a system for establishment of Allah’s writ in the world

Then there are people who think that as-Salat is a system of God to be established and not actually the ritual that people perform. However from below ayat we see that Salat has an ending and a beginning as well that you do a wazoo washing of certain parts of body (5:6), and is ordained on appointed times, therefore Salat itself cannot be a system but a tool to gain understanding of Allah’s word and then be prepared to establish the system of Allah.

4:103 فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا اطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ ۚ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا

So when you complete the (shortened) As-Salat then remember Allah in standing and sitting and on your sides, so when you are in tranquility then establish As-Salat/prayer, surely As-salat is written over the believers on appointed times.