And they were not commanded except to worship Allah , [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion. [Q98:5]
Abstract
In this space age, astronauts undergo an extensive and comprehensive program to rigorously train for the intended journey. Establishing regular prayers is critical to our preparation to proceed on the journey we hope to be taken on which will lead us to The Gardens of Eternity, to dwell there forever!
Full Text
In Surah alIsra, we are commanded to establish regular prayer:
أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا
وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا
وَقُل رَّبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِي مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَاجْعَل لِّي مِن لَّدُنكَ سُلْطَانًا نَّصِيرًا
وَقُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا
وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا
Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.
And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.
And say, "My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance and to exit a sound exit and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority."
And say, "Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, [by nature], ever bound to depart."
And We send down of the Qur'an that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.
[Al-Quran 17:78-82, Translation: Sahih International]
Surah alIsra begins with the ayat about Prophet Muhammad's ascension, when Allah took him on a journey to meet Allah Himself, and then sent him safely back to Earth. It goes on to emphasise that the travel of humans is a sign - something worthy of consideration, gratitude and reflection. Ayaat 78 and 79 command the believers to establish prayers, in the hope of being raised to a praised station. Scholars generally assume that this ayat is for the Prophet only; however, the ayat itself does not specify that it a single position and/or is for him only. Allah knows best! Then ayat 80 and 81 teach a prayer which is about being given a supporting authority (سُلْطَانًا نَّصِيرًا).
In this space age, we know that to leave this planet, we need to be travelling at a minimum velocity of 11.186km/s away from the surface of the Earth. We also know that to travel to any other place in the Universe, we need much more planning, training and support to ensure that the journey and its mission is successfully accomplished. Astronauts undergo an extensive and comprehensive program to rigorously train for the intended journey.
Surah alIsra also narrates the refusal of Iblis to prostrate/submit to Adam, and the limited license Allah has granted him to mislead mankind. Ayat 50 of Surah alKahf informs us that Iblis is a Jinn, and that he and his progeny are the enemies of mankind.
In Surah arRehman, we again come across the word سُلْطَانٍ :
سَنَفْرُغُ لَكُمْ أَيُّهَ الثَّقَلَانِ
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
يَا مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَن تَنفُذُوا مِنْ أَقْطَارِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ فَانفُذُوا لَا تَنفُذُونَ إِلَّا بِسُلْطَانٍ
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
يُرْسَلُ عَلَيْكُمَا شُوَاظٌ مِّن نَّارٍ وَنُحَاسٌ فَلَا تَنتَصِرَانِ
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
فَإِذَا انشَقَّتِ السَّمَاءُ فَكَانَتْ وَرْدَةً كَالدِّهَانِ
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
We will attend to you, O الثَّقَلَانِ.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
O company of jinn and mankind, if you are able to pass beyond the regions of the heavens and the earth, then pass. You will not pass except by authority [from Allah ].
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
O company of jinn and mankind, if you are able to pass beyond the regions of the heavens and the earth, then pass. You will not pass except by authority [from Allah ].
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
There will be sent upon you a flame of fire and smoke, and you will not defend yourselves.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
And when the heaven is split open and becomes rose-colored like oil -
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? -
Words formed with the root thā qāf lām (ث ق ل) are generally translated as heavy, burden, weighty. The Quran informs us that humans and jinns were sent to the Earth after Adam was misled by Iblis. Only those whom Allah permits and authorises to leave the Earth and pass through the gates that open up in the first Sky (Universe?) will be able to ascend. We learn from other ayaat of The Quran that the Earth has seven skies/heavens(universes?) above it. We also learn that the doors of the sky/heaven will not be open for the criminals, and they will not be able to ascend...
Surah alQamar warns that The Hour has approached:
اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ
...
بَلِ السَّاعَةُ مَوْعِدُهُمْ وَالسَّاعَةُ أَدْهَىٰ وَأَمَرُّ
إِنَّ الْمُجْرِمِينَ فِي ضَلَالٍ وَسُعُرٍ
يَوْمَ يُسْحَبُونَ فِي النَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ ذُوقُوا مَسَّ سَقَرَ
The Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two].
...
But the Hour is their appointment [for due punishment], and the Hour is more disastrous and more bitter.
Indeed, the criminals are in error and madness.
The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces [it will be said], "Taste the touch of Saqar."
[Al-Quran 54:1...46-48, Translation: Sahih International]
Surah alMuddasir swears by the moon and describes the Saqar (سَقَرَ), which is mentioned in Surah alQamar:
سَأُصْلِيهِ سَقَرَ
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا سَقَرُ
لَا تُبْقِي وَلَا تَذَرُ
لَوَّاحَةٌ لِّلْبَشَرِ
I will drive him into Saqar.
And what can make you know what is Saqar?
It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing [unburned],
Blackening the skins.
عَلَيْهَا تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ
وَمَا جَعَلْنَا أَصْحَابَ النَّارِ إِلَّا مَلَائِكَةً وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ وَيَزْدَادَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِيمَانًا وَلَا يَرْتَابَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَلِيَقُولَ الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَالْكَافِرُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَمَا هِيَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْبَشَرِ
Over it are nineteen [angels].
And We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And We have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve - that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is hypocrisy and the disbelievers will say, "What does Allah intend by this as an example?" Thus does Allah leave astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And mention of the Fire is not but a reminder to humanity.
كَلَّا وَالْقَمَرِ
وَاللَّيْلِ إِذْ أَدْبَرَ
وَالصُّبْحِ إِذَا أَسْفَرَ
No! By the moon
And [by] the night when it departs
And [by] the morning when it brightens,
إِنَّهَا لَإِحْدَى الْكُبَرِ
نَذِيرًا لِّلْبَشَرِ
لِمَن شَاءَ مِنكُمْ أَن يَتَقَدَّمَ أَوْ يَتَأَخَّرَ
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ رَهِينَةٌ
Indeed, the Fire is of the greatest [afflictions]
As a warning to humanity -
To whoever wills among you to proceed or stay behind.
Every nafs, for what it has earned, will be retained
إِلَّا أَصْحَابَ الْيَمِينِ
فِي جَنَّاتٍ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ
عَنِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
Except the companions of the right,
[Who will be] in gardens, questioning each other
About the criminals,
مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ
[And asking them], "What put you into Saqar?"
قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ
وَلَمْ نَكُ نُطْعِمُ الْمِسْكِينَ
وَكُنَّا نَخُوضُ مَعَ الْخَائِضِينَ
وَكُنَّا نُكَذِّبُ بِيَوْمِ الدِّينِ
حَتَّىٰ أَتَانَا الْيَقِينُ
They will say, "We were not of those who prayed,
Nor did we used to feed the poor.
And we used to enter into vain discourse with those who engaged [in it],
And we used to deny the Day of Recompense
Until there came to us the certainty."
[Al-Quran 74:26-47, Translation: Sahih International; edited translation in italic]
Ayat 37 of Surah alMudassir states: To whoever wills among you to proceed or stay behind. To escape the fire in the Hereafter is an option given to each person, and a lifetime to prepare for it. The people who will not be escape Saqar will list their lack of preparation: top of the list will be that they were not of those who prayed the contact prayers. Next on the list will be that they did not feed the poor, wasting time in vain discourse or activities, and their lie that the Day of Recompense will not occur!
Surah alBayyina summarises the Deen as:
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ
And they were not commanded except to worship Allah , [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion.
[Al-Quran 98:5, Translation: Sahih International]
Establishing regular prayers is critical to our preparation to proceed on the journey we hope to be taken on which will lead us to The Gardens of Eternity, to dwell there forever!
Scientists realise that the Earth will eventually become uninhabitable, and that the only hope for humans is to find another planet which supports life. The Quran promises such a wonderful place, and describes in detail the eligibility criteria for it.
Last updated on December 13, 2018
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