Assalaamu alaikum

I always wondered why so much emphasis on namaaz, Even those whose

Lives reflect materialistic approach attach importance to it . Mere bending and prostrating should in
return fetch such everlasting bliss promised by the Creator Himself If my salvation was on namaz and
Zakat , then it is a good bargain for paradise.

But this was to be wishful thinking after I read the follwing two articles.
Some excerpts from both ….
.

Ist article

The Arabic word Salaat is normally translated as Prayer in English. [It is translated as Namaaz in Urdu and
Persian. “Namaaz” is an old Persian (Pahlavi) word which the Zoroastrians (fire worshippers) used for their
prayer. It should be translated as Pooja in Hindi! However, no Muslim of the subcontinent would dare say
that he is going to do Pooja but he feels perfectly satisfied and honored in saying that he is going to do
Namaaz!!] Since no translation of the word “Salaat” could fully reflect its meaning, we have to first
understand what Salaat means.

The root meaning of this word is “to follow someone closely.” For example, in a horse race, if the second horse
follows the first horse so closely that its head is always overlapping the first horse’s body, then it is called Al-
Musalli, and the first horse is called Saabiqun. [Taj-al-‘Urus, vol. 10, page 213; Lisan-al-‘Arab, vol. 7, page
398.]

Therefore, Salaat means to follow Allah closely. The only way we can follow Allah is to follow His Book, Al-
Qur’an, to remain within the limits imposed by it, and never to transgress these limits. This implies that we
have to establish a system so that we lead our lives according to the Code enshrined in the Qur’an.
Establishment of this system is referred to as Aqeemus Salaat by the Qur’an. This is quite different from
theocracy where religious leaders rule in the name of God using their own version of ‘shari’ah’ rather than the
‘Shari’ah of God’, the Qur’an.

Aqeemus Salaat means “to establish Salaat” as a permanent and balanced system in which human beings
can follow the Divine Code in all aspects of their lives individually, as well as collectively. This obviously
requires an independent and sovereign land in which the Divine Code can be enforced as a living
constitution. This is the essence of prayer and, in fact, an essential requirement for the establishment of
Salaat. The Qur’an is very specific on this point when it says:

“These are the people who, when they will have power in the land (24:55), then they will establish Salaat…”
(24:21). Salaat is a system and not a ritual. Prayer (performed five times a day) is only a component of
Salaat. Within this system, prayer is a powerful and effective means of achieving the Quranic goals
mentioned earlier. Outside the system, however, it becomes a soulless ritual repeated solely for getting
rewards in the hereafter.

Praying five times a day is only one part of Salaat. When we finish our prayers in the Masjid, we are not
done with Salaat. It is not something to do and finish. It involves every aspect of life, keeping it within the
guidelines of the Divine Code twenty-four hours a day

Salaat is the mechanism by which the Qur’an is implemented in mankind. This is how Allah’s laws can be
engrained within us; this is how the Prophet (P) and the Sa’haba (R) found it so natural to follow the
Qur’an, and the results they produced within 30 years speak for themselves. Needless to say, our prayers are
not producing the same results although we have been praying for more than a thousand years in ever
increasing numbers.
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Excerpts from the 2 nd article

O Shuaib! When you had asked us not to interfere in your obedience to Allah, we had thought that it
meant only your worship of Allah. Now we see that it goes beyond that. Your Salaat does not allow us to
adhere to the religion of our ancestors, nor to use our wealth as we like 11; 87. (Exposition of the holy Quras)

Yaa shuaibu aslaatuka ta-amruka an…... ( .kya teri salaat tujhe hukm deti hai ki…)

The word Namaaz was used for the old method of worship popular among the pre Islamic fire worshipping
Persians. (A word not to be found in quran) Many of early Indian muslim rulers were Persian in oirigin and
this word was used for the congregations of Salaat; now this same word is in vogue

The word Salaat that has come in the Quran is very vast and comprehensive. Its basic meanings are “ to comply
some one from within or to submit and to be under the command of some one.” In this way, according to
the Quran, Salaat is a collective process through which a true Quranic Society is established.

The Quran has used the term aqaa mate salaat (i) as the establishment of the System of Islam and (ii) as the
establishment of the congregations of Salaat. The establishment of Salaat – so far I could grasp the Quran -is an
extremely comprehensive and scholarly term of the Quran. Its aim is to develop a society where the Divine
Laws are practically implemented

The establishment of the Islamic Society is founded on the Divine Laws. And the objective of the congregation
of Salaat is basically the reminding of this very foundation. That is why the concept of Salaat can not be
imagined without the ( recitation of ) Quran. Its very purpose is to divert the attention of the members of the
society to the Quran. – These gatherings have been stemmed for the sake of reminding this very purpose. So
the Quran is repeatedly recited in these congregations so that this conviction (the aim of life) is revitalized
– that we have to establish ourselves alert to rise against every non-Quranic Order; we have to surrender down
from the deepest recesses of our heart to its decisions alone

But when this system of Salaat vanishes, the mosque and the State become two separate entities. Then, as the
human psychology corroborates the fact that the “material-worshipers of the world,” attain the life facilities by
virtue of their intellectual chicaneries and hence get satisfaction of their passions. And the “Religionists” gain
the sang-froid of their passions by the individual worship. When the Quran said

Fakhalafa min baAAdihim khalfun azaa-us- salaata wattabaAAoo alshshahawati fasawfa yalqawna
ghayyan (19: 59)

After the Anbiya, their followers wasted the Salaat ( i. e. performed regularily but of little use) , and followed lasciviousness,
licentiousness, wantonness, so its consequence was destruction and devastation. Then by the word itte ba-e-shahawaat –
“the following of lasciviousness, licentiousness” - meant “these people wanted the satisfaction of their passions
by other means and ways instead of Divine Laws”.

As far as prayer is concerned, religious leaders are very particular to mention—and rightly so, that it occupies a
central place in religion. But their emphasis is more on the act of prayer rather than its spirit and purpose.
Performing the act of prayer is an end in itself to them. They do not emphasize the fact that prayer is a means to
achieve some concrete goals in life. This aspect of prayer is normally overlooked and consequently the prayer
becomes a soulless ritual done primarily to please God and for individual personal salvation in the hereafter. In
other words, they do not want people to find out the true essence and meaning of prayer in order to revive it.

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Do the above excerpts mean …..

Namaz is reading Arabic words we don’t even understand or repeat the same verses always (as our quranic
vocabulary is limited, or find difficuty in memorizing as it is still a foreign lingo to us) can it be gate-pass to
paradise ?

And salaat is practicing what ever is read in namaaz in our daily life. ( .”aslaatuka ta-amruka …11-87 “ …
kya teri salaat tujhe ye sikhati hai ki …)

wassalaam