Five Daily Salaat in the Glorious Qur’aan!
By:
Shahid Bin Waheed شاهد
بن وحيد
بسم الله
الرحمن
الرحيم
الحمدلله
رب العالمين
والصلوة
والسلام على اشرف
الانبياء
وسيدالمرسلين
نبينا محمد صل
ا لله عليه
وعلى آله
واصحابه
وازواجه
اجمعين -
امابعد
All the praises and thanks be to Allaah, Sustainer of the Universe, and blessing and salutation to be the most distinguish of the Messengers and foremost among the Prophets, our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allaah be on him and on his wives, children and Companions.
Allaah (SWT) has commanded
Muslims to perform five daily Salaat. In this treatise we will explore the
commands of five daily Salaat (Prayers) in the Glorious Qur’aan and will inSha
Allaah clear up some confusion. The injection of five daily obligatory Salaats
is found in the Glorious Qur’aan, Sunnah and Hadeeth. But in this treatise we
will discuss:
1.
The
evidence of five daily obligatory Salaats in the Glorious Qur’aan.
2.
The
evidence of audible recital of three Salaats of Fajr, Maghirb
& Isha in the Glorious Qur’aan.
3.
The
evidence of silent (inaudible) recital of Zuhr and Asr Salaat in the Glorious
Qur’aan.
A careful study of the
Ayaat about Salaat in the Glorious Qur’aan with co-relation of all Ayaat, we
learn that Salaat was also gradually commanded. The first command after
declaration of Oneness of Allaah was about Salaat as we read:
Surah Al-Muddaththir 1-3
يَا
أَيُّهَا
الْمُدَّثِّرُ (1) قُمْ
فَأَنْذِرْ
(2) وَرَبَّكَ
فَكَبِّرْ (3)
O you (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) enveloped in garments! Arise and warn! And magnify your Lord (Allâh)!
I like
to point out that in the very early days of Islaam only the “Tahajjud”
Salaat was obligatory, which was later made Nafil (voluntary) after the
fixation of the five daily Salaats (See Surah Al-Isra Ayaat
78-79).
Let me briefly cite the
places in the Glorious Qur’aan where five Salaat are mentioned.
Fajr Salaat is mentioned in Surah Ta-Ha, Dahr, Hud, Qaf, Rum
and Nur.
Zuhr Salaat is mentioned in Surah Dahr, Qaf, Ta-Ha, Bani Israel
or Isra and Rum.
Asr Salaat is mentioned
in Surah Baqaraah, Dahr, Hud, Ta-Ha, Qaf and Rum.
Maghrib Salaat is mentioned
in Surah Hud, Ta-Ha, Rum, and Qaf.
Isha Salaat is mentioned
in Surah Muzzammil, Tur, Dahr, Ta-Ha, Hud, Rum, Qaf, and Nur.
Beside
the above all the Salaats have been implicitly mentioned in Surah Al-Baqaraah,
Isra, Ta-ha.
The Arabic
words/phrases used in the Glorious Qur’aan for the five Salaat are as follows:
1.
Ghadu, Ghada, Bukrah, Fajr, Qabl Tulu’
al-Shmas and Heen Tusbehun have
been used for Fajr Salaat.
2.
Duluk al-Shams and Heen Tuzherun have been used for Zuhr Salaat.
3.
Aseel, ashshi, and Qabi
Gharoub al-Shams have been used for Asr Salaat.
4.
Taraf al-Nahar, and Tumsun have been used for Maghrib Salaat.
5.
Min anaine
al-Lail, Ghasq-al-Lail, and Salaat al-Isha have been used for Isha Salaat.
Explanation of the term/phrase “Boundaries
of the Day َأَطْرَافَ
النَّهَارِ” used in Glorious Qur’aan in many
Ayaat regarding Salaat such as:
Surah Ta-Ha 130
فَاصْبِرْ
عَلَى مَا
يَقُولُونَ
وَسَبِّحْ
بِحَمْدِ
رَبِّكَ
قَبْلَ
طُلُوعِ
الشَّمْسِ
وَقَبْلَ
غُرُوبِهَا وَمِنْ
آنَاءِ
اللَّيْلِ
فَسَبِّحْ وَأَطْرَافَ
النَّهَارِ
لَعَلَّكَ
تَرْضَى
So bear patiently (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) what they say, and glorify the praises of your Lord before the rising of the sun, and before its setting, and during some hours of the night, and at the ends of the day (an indication for the five compulsory congregational prayers), that you may become pleased (with the reward which Allâh shall give you).
The Arabic word أَطْرَافَ {Boundaries} is the above Ayaah and/or other Ayaat
is plural and is used to denote at least three. The Glorious Qur’aan and
Sunnah contain overwhelming evidence of five daily obligatory Salaats
(Prayers). Here for the sake of length I will limit to Glorious Qur’aan.
Five Daily Salaats With The Help of Ayaat!
Perform As-Salât (Iqamât-as-Salât) from mid-day till the darkness of the night (i.e. the Zuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib and ‘Ishâ’ prayers), and recite the Qur’ân in the early dawn (i.e. the morning prayer). Verily, the recitation of the Qur’ân in the early dawn is ever witnessed (attended by the angels in charge of mankind of the day and the night) {2} .
So bear with patience (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) all that they say, and glorify the Praises of your Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting (i.e. the Fajr, Zuhr, and ‘Asr prayers)
And remember the Name of your Lord every morning and afternoon (i.e. offering of the Morning (Fajr), Zuhr, and ‘Asr prayers).
The
Above Ayaat refers to Asr Salaat. The Asr Salaat has also been called ‘Salaat
al-Wusta’ (The middle Salaat), in Surah
Al-Baqaraah Ayaah 38, because among the daytime Salaats it occurs between Zuhr
and Maghirb.
III
And perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night (i.e. the five compulsory Salât (prayers)). Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins). That is a reminder (an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice).
Note: The two ends of the day are Fajr and Maghrib. Also this is the early Makkan Ayaah and the first Ayaah
with command of all five daily Salaats (Prayers).
IV
O you who believe! Let your slaves and slave-girls, and those among you who have not come to the age of puberty ask your permission (before they come to your presence) on three occasions: before Fajr (morning) Salât (prayer), and while you put off your clothes for the noonday (rest), and after the ‘Ishâ’ (late-night) Salât (prayer). (These) three times are of privacy for you; other than these times there is no sin on you or on them to move about, attending to each other. Thus Allâh makes clear the Ayât (the Verses of this Qur’ân, showing proofs for the legal aspects of permission for visits) to you. And Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
V
O you
who believe! Let your slaves and slave-girls, and those among you who have not
come to the age of puberty ask your permission (before they come to your
presence) on three occasions: before Fajr (morning) Salât (prayer), and while you put off your clothes for the
noonday (rest), and after the ‘Ishâ’ (late-night) Salât (prayer). (These) three times are of privacy for you; other than
these times there is no sin on you or on them to move about, attending to each
other. Thus Allâh makes clear the Ayât (the Verses of
this Qur’ân, showing proofs for the legal aspects of permission for visits) to
you. And Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
The
commands for silent recital in Zuhr and Asr and audible recital in
Fajr, Maghrib & Isha are found in Ayaat:
Surah
Al-Muzzammil 2-4 & 6-7; Al-Mumin 55; Al-Ahzab 42; Al-Fat-h 9; Al-A’raf 205;
Al-An’am 52; Al-Nur 36-37; Al-Khaf 28; Al-Tur 48-49; Al-Hud 114; Bani Isaril
78-79; Al-Insan {Al-Dahr} 25-26; Al-Ta-Ha 130; Al-Rum 17-18; Al-Qaf 39:40;
& Al-Nur 58.
Surah Al-Muzzammil 6-7
إِنَّ
نَاشِئَةَ
اللَّيْلِ
هِيَ أَشَدُّ
وَطْئًا
وَأَقْوَمُ
قِيلًا (6)
إِنَّ
لَكَ فِي
النَّهَارِ
سَبْحًا
طَوِيلًا (7)
Verily,
the rising by night (for Tahajjud prayer) is very hard
and most potent and good for governing oneself, and most suitable for
(understanding) the Word (of Allâh).
Verily,
there is for you by day-prolonged occupation with ordinary duties.
The Glorious
Qur’aan has itself defined the wisdom behind the silent recital in Zuhr and Asr
Salaats & for the audible recital for Fajr, Maghrib & Isha,
in the above Ayaat (especially in 73: 6-7). The hours of Fajr, Maghrib and Isha
people are normally not occupied, means, they are quite and resting and are at
ease. During these hours (timings) people have none or less in their minds,
therefore, the recital at these hours is more effective on the hearts and minds
of the people. This effect is confirmed in the Glorious Qur’aan at many places
and in Ayaat 73:6 cited above. In the same way silent and/or inaudible recital
at the hours of Zuhr and Asr is not without reason as mentioned
in the Glorious Qur’aan at many places and Ayaat 73:7 cited above (as an
evidence). During these hours that we may also call business hours where
all kinds of activities are in place in the markets and at homes (during the
daytime). Peoples' hearts and minds are occupied in many tasks/issues. In short
life is very animated, thus, it is very difficult to concentrate and be
respective like the hours of Fajr, Maghrib, & Isha when the
heart is synchronized with the tongue and the tongue with the ear. That is why
we have silent recital during the hours and/or in the Salaats of Zuhr
and Asr.
The above are the five
times Salaat from the Glorious Qur’aan for which Muslims have been commanded to
remember Allaah (SWT). Another thing that I like to mention is that Salaat is a
time related Pillar of Islaam. This means that Allaah has specified certain
times for all obligatory Salaats for Muslims as we read in the Glorious
Qur’aan:
Surah An-Nisaa 103
…إِنَّ
الصَّلَاةَ
كَانَتْ
عَلَى
الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
كِتَابًا
مَوْقُوتًا
…Verily, As-Salât (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed
hours.
Friday, December 03, 2004