The Middle Prayer & The
Declining Sun
Glad Tidings: A Flourishing Future
Abstract
Allah is the one and only true God, the only
one worthy of worship. Allah is unlike anything conceivable or imaginable. The
Quran repeatedly reminds us of our رَبِّ, the Lord, the Sustainer of the
Worlds. It is Allah who creates, sustains and causes to flourish. Though this
world and everything in it is destined to perish, the Believers are given glad
tidings of a flourishing life in the Hereafter.
Sun-worshippers
typically worship the rising sun, while The Quran enjoins prayer timings from
the decline of the Sun till early morning, before sunrise.
Muslims
are required to guard their prayers, especially the middle prayers. The middle prayer, as established religious practice, is also found in The Bible. People
debate whether Asr (the late afternoon prayer) is or not the middle prayer. The
Quran relates the loss Prophet-King Solomon suffered due to his negligence of
a prayer, his repentance and how his repentance was accepted, appreciated and magnificently rewarded.
Full
Text
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Praise be to Allah, the
Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;
The
Quran repeatedly
reminds us of
اللَّهِ our
رَبِّ, the Lord, the Sustainer of the Worlds. It is Allah
who creates, sustains and causes to flourish. The Quran enjoins strict
monotheism. Allah is the only, one and true God, the only one worthy of worship.
Allah does not have a family, so there is no concept of a partnership or
pantheon of gods. The Quran also clarifies that there is nothing like Him.
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Say: He is Allah, the One
and Only;
Allah, the Eternal,
Absolute;
He begetteth not, nor is He
begotten;
And there is none like unto
Him.
The
Quran introduces us to many aspects of Allah through various names. It also informs us that Allah is the Nur of the Heavens & Earth:
اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His
Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in
Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: Lit from a blessed Tree, an
Olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well-nigh luminous,
though fire scarce touched it: Light
upon Light! Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light: Allah doth set
forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things.
(Lit is such a Light)
in houses, which Allah hath permitted to be raised to honour; for the
celebration, in them, of His name: In them is He glorified in the mornings and
in the evenings, (again and again),-
Note: I do not think 'star' is a correct translation of كَوْكَبٌ in the above ayah, as explained in another post. Nur is generally translated as light; Further insights on نُورُ and كَوْكَبٌ.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ
وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ
وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ افْتَرَىٰ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا
Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him;
but He forgiveth anything else, to whom He pleaseth;
to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin Most heinous indeed.
Sun Worship
People
have deified the Sun, Moon,
Stars, Trees
and many other objects and beings, since ancient times, across many cultures,
and the practice continues till today. For example, the Hindu worship of the
rising sun (Lord Surya) every morning facing the East with chants and
offerings.
Along
with Sun-worship, the concept of trinity also keeps cropping up in many
mythologies, followed by a pantheon of gods and the idols that represent them. Thus,
the sun has been revered as the only god in some monotheistic mythologies, and
as the head of a pantheon in other polytheistic mythologies.
Fire-worship
and fire as a religious symbol also has its roots in antiquity and continues
till today, such as in Zoroastrian and Hindu belief systems.
The
Quran informs us that Abraham’s people worshipped the sun among other objects.
Surah alAn’am relates the story of Abraham starting from ayat 74. Then we read
in ayat 78:
فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي هَٰذَا أَكْبَرُ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ
And when he saw the
sun rising, he said, "This is my lord; this is greater." But when it
set, he said, "O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with
Allah .
From
Egyptian history, we know that the people of Pharaoh worshipped the sun, sometimes as the only god, and most of the time as the head-god in their
pantheon through various periods of their civilization. The Quran informs us
that the Pharaoh and his forces were destroyed when he exceeded all bounds and eventually claimed to be the most high god
himself, rejecting all the clear signs shown through Moses, even though he knew it is was the truth. The Quran informs us that the Pharaoh and his people
were made leaders inviting to ‘the fire’:
وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَدْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لَا يُنصَرُونَ
And We made them
leaders inviting to the Fire, and on the Day of Resurrection they will not be
helped.
In
Surah Taha,
Surah anNaml and in
Surah alQasas, we read about when God first
spoke with Moses. Moses saw a fire and told his family to wait while he went to
get some information or guidance or some burning torch for warmth from it. I
think it is important to bear in mind that Moses, even though a bani Israel, and most
probably already on the faith of his forefather Abraham, as it seems from the
ayaat of Surah alQasas; Moses was brought up in the palace of the Pharaoh as a
prince, and thus was not only exposed to the religion of the Pharaoh, but also knew
their beliefs and practices very well. In Surah anNaml, we read:
فَلَمَّا جَاءَهَا نُودِيَ أَن بُورِكَ مَن فِي النَّارِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
But when he came close to it, it was called out: you are ruined, whoever
is in the fire and whoever is around it; Allah is exalted (free from all they
ascribe to Him), Lord of the Worlds
After
the above proclamation, Allah spoke with Moses, ordaining him with the
responsibility of being a Messenger of Allah, sending him to Pharaoh with Allah's great signs.
Imminent
ruin for those who worship the fire, I think, is more consistent with the
message that Allah is the only God, nothing is comparable to
Him, no vision can encompass Him, and warning of ruin in the Hereafter for all
those who consider anything worthy of worship along with Allah.
Furthermore,
Surah anNaml also informs us of the people of Saba (Sheba) who were sun-worshippers.
A personnel from Solomon's army reported:
فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ وَجِئْتُكَ مِن سَبَإٍ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ
إِنِّي وَجَدتُّ امْرَأَةً تَمْلِكُهُمْ وَأُوتِيَتْ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَلَهَا عَرْشٌ عَظِيمٌ
وَجَدتُّهَا وَقَوْمَهَا يَسْجُدُونَ لِلشَّمْسِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ فَهُمْ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ
أَلَّا يَسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي يُخْرِجُ الْخَبْءَ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تُخْفُونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ
But the hoopoe stayed not long and said,
"I have encompassed [in knowledge] that which you have not encompassed,
and I have come to you from Sheba
with certain news.
Indeed, I found
[there] a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne.
I found her and her people prostrating to the
sun instead of Allah, and Satan has made their deeds pleasing to them and
averted them from [His] way, so they are not guided,
[And] so they do not prostrate to Allah, who
brings forth what is hidden within the heavens and the earth and knows what you
conceal and what you declare -
Allah
- there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Great Throne."
Allah: the Creator,
the Sustainer & the Flourisher
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ لَا تَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
فَإِنِ اسْتَكْبَرُوا فَالَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ يُسَبِّحُونَ لَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْأَمُونَ
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنَّكَ تَرَى الْأَرْضَ خَاشِعَةً فَإِذَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ اهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ إِنَّ الَّذِي أَحْيَاهَا لَمُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ إِنَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا لَا يَخْفَوْنَ عَلَيْنَا أَفَمَن يُلْقَىٰ فِي النَّارِ خَيْرٌ أَم مَّن يَأْتِي آمِنًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
And of His
signs are the night and day and the sun and moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostate to Allah, who created them, if it
should be Him that you worship.
But if they are arrogant -
then those who are near your Lord exalt Him by night and by day, and they do
not become weary.
And
of His signs is that you see the earth stilled, but when We send down upon it
rain, it quivers and grows. Indeed, He who has given it life is the Giver of
Life to the dead. Indeed, He is over all things competent.
Indeed, those who inject
deviation into Our verses are not concealed from Us. So, is he who is cast into
the Fire better or he who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do whatever
you will; indeed, He is Seeing of what you do.
Sun
worship seems to be based on the fact that sunlight seems to be essential for
most life forms to exist on Earth. However, there have been
extinction
events in the Earth’s history, when almost all life perished except whom Allah
saved. Surah
alAn’am points out some fundamental processes that do not involve any direct
role of the Sun, and some processes that must precede before the Sun's light and heat can be used:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ فَالِقُ الْحَبِّ وَالنَّوَىٰ يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَمُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتِ مِنَ الْحَيِّ ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ
فَالِقُ الْإِصْبَاحِ وَجَعَلَ اللَّيْلَ سَكَنًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ حُسْبَانًا ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ
وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ النُّجُومَ لِتَهْتَدُوا بِهَا فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنشَأَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ فَمُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمُسْتَوْدَعٌ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَفْقَهُونَ
وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ نَبَاتَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهُ خَضِرًا نُّخْرِجُ مِنْهُ حَبًّا مُّتَرَاكِبًا وَمِنَ النَّخْلِ مِن طَلْعِهَا قِنْوَانٌ دَانِيَةٌ وَجَنَّاتٍ مِّنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَالزَّيْتُونَ وَالرُّمَّانَ مُشْتَبِهًا وَغَيْرَ مُتَشَابِهٍ انظُرُوا إِلَىٰ ثَمَرِهِ إِذَا أَثْمَرَ وَيَنْعِهِ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكُمْ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ شُرَكَاءَ الْجِنَّ وَخَلَقَهُمْ وَخَرَقُوا لَهُ بَنِينَ وَبَنَاتٍ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُ صَاحِبَةٌ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَاعْبُدُوهُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ
لَّا تُدْرِكُهُ الْأَبْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الْأَبْصَارَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ
قَدْ جَاءَكُم بَصَائِرُ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَمَنْ أَبْصَرَ فَلِنَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ عَمِيَ فَعَلَيْهَا وَمَا أَنَا عَلَيْكُم بِحَفِيظٍ
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُصَرِّفُ الْآيَاتِ وَلِيَقُولُوا دَرَسْتَ وَلِنُبَيِّنَهُ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
اتَّبِعْ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
It is Allah Who
causeth the seed-grain and the
date-stone to split and sprout. He causeth the living to issue from the dead, and He is the one to cause the dead to issue from the living. That
is Allah: then how are ye deluded away from the truth?
He it is that cleaveth the day-break (from the dark):
He makes the night for rest and
tranquillity, and the sun and moon
for the reckoning (of time): Such is the judgment and ordering of (Him),
the Exalted in Power, the Omniscient.
It is He Who maketh the stars (as beacons) for you, that
ye may guide yourselves, with their help, through the dark spaces of land and
sea: We detail Our signs for people who know.
It is He Who hath produced you from a single person nafs: here is
a place of sojourn and a place of departure: We detail Our signs for people
who understand.
It is He Who sendeth down rain from the skies: with it
We produce vegetation of all kinds: from some We produce green (crops), out
of which We produce grain, heaped up (at harvest); out of the date-palm and its
sheaths (or spathes) (come) clusters of dates hanging low and near: and (then
there are) gardens of grapes, and olives, and pomegranates, each similar (in
kind) yet different (in variety): when they begin to bear fruit, feast your
eyes with the fruit and the ripeness thereof. Behold! in these things there are
signs for people who believe.
Yet they make the
Jinns equals with Allah, though Allah did create the Jinns; and they falsely,
having no knowledge, attribute to Him sons and daughters. Praise and glory be
to Him! (for He is) above what they attribute to Him!
To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth: How
can He have a son when He hath no consort? He created all things, and He hath
full knowledge of all things.
That is Allah,
your Lord! there is no god but He, the Creator of all things: then worship ye
Him: and He hath power to dispose of all affairs.
No vision can
grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension, yet
is acquainted with all things.
"Now have come
to you, from your Lord, proofs (to open your eyes): if any will see, it will be
for (the good of) his own soul; if any will be blind, it will be to his own
(harm): I am not (here) to watch over your doings."
Thus do we explain
the signs by various (symbols): that they may say, "Thou hast taught (us) diligently," and that We may make the
matter clear to those who know.
Follow what thou art
taught by inspiration from thy Lord: there is no god but He: and turn aside
from those who join gods with Allah.
[
Al-Quran 6:95-106, Translator: Yusuf Ali, translation edited (
in italics)]
Note: As explained in another post, أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً is referring to the delivery of water to our planet.
The
Sun is a creation and will eventually come to an end. Scientists know that it
has limited fuel, as well that it is travelling through space in a certain
direction. The Quran informs us:
وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَا ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ
And the sun runs [on
course] toward its stopping point. That is the determination of the Exalted in
Might, the Knowing.
Though
this world and everything in it is destined to perish, the Believers are given
glad tidings of a flourishing life in the Hereafter. Among the features of the
Gardens
of Eternity, no direct sunlight is especially mentioned. Scientists think
that direct sunlight promotes ageing, so absence of direct sunlight should be
an essential environment for
a very
long or
an
immortal life.
Consider
the following ayat:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُولَٰئِكَ لَا خَلَاقَ لَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ
وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَلَا يَنظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ
وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Lo! those who
purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's covenant and their oaths, they
have no portion in the Hereafter.
Allah will
neither speak to them nor look upon them on the Day of Resurrection, nor
will He make them grow.
Theirs will be a painful
doom.
Allah, the Nur of the heavens and earth, is
the Sustainer of everyone. Nothing in creation compares with Him. Q39:67 drives
home the insignificance of creation in comparison with the Creator, and then
Q39:69 informs us that on the Day of Resurrection the Earth will shine in the
Nur (Light) of its Rab (Sustainer):
وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَالْأَرْضُ جَمِيعًا قَبْضَتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَالسَّمَاوَاتُ مَطْوِيَّاتٌ بِيَمِينِهِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَصَعِقَ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا مَن شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ نُفِخَ فِيهِ أُخْرَىٰ فَإِذَا هُمْ قِيَامٌ يَنظُرُونَ
وَأَشْرَقَتِ الْأَرْضُ بِنُورِ رَبِّهَا وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ وَجِيءَ بِالنَّبِيِّينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُم بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal, while the earth
entirely will be [within] His grip on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens
will be folded in His right hand. Exalted is He and high above what they
associate with Him.
And the Horn will be
blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead
except whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown again, and at once they will be
standing, looking on.
And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord, and the
record [of deeds] will be placed, and the prophets and the witnesses will be
brought, and it will be judged between them in truth, and they will not be
wronged.
Along
with sustaining, The Quran also presents another wonderful concept
بَارَكَ
which is generally translated as blessed. The Arabic word implies growth in
such a way that the present leads to a better state: a flourishing future.
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in
six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night
with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the
moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.
Genesis & The
Laws that Govern Nature
Scientists
wonder how life originated on Earth, what caused it, what the initial
conditions were on the planet, what the atmosphere was like, the fundamental
factors, co-factors, and so on. Discoveries such as
tardigrades,
and other
exotic
lifeforms,
double
helix in water clusters,
delivery
of water to a planet, etc. are continuously challenging, re-shaping and changing
the understanding of what life is and what it takes to create, sustain and
flourish.
Surah
alFussilat (Explained in Detail) informs us that it is Allah who created and
blessed the Earth, such that it would flourish to provide for all who seek. The
sky, and the heavenly bodies that have been created in it, are performing their
appointed role, in submission, exactly according to Allah’s commands:
قُلْ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُونَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَرْضَ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ وَتَجْعَلُونَ لَهُ أَندَادًا ذَٰلِكَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ مِن فَوْقِهَا وَبَارَكَ فِيهَا وَقَدَّرَ فِيهَا أَقْوَاتَهَا فِي أَرْبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍ سَوَاءً لِّلسَّائِلِينَ
ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَهِيَ دُخَانٌ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ ائْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا قَالَتَا أَتَيْنَا طَائِعِينَ
فَقَضَاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ وَأَوْحَىٰ فِي كُلِّ سَمَاءٍ أَمْرَهَا وَزَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ وَحِفْظًا ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ
Say: Is it that ye
deny Him Who created the earth in two Days? And do ye join equals with Him? He
is the Lord of (all) the Worlds.
He set on the (earth), mountains standing firm, high above it, and
bestowed blessings on the earth, and measure therein all things to give them
nourishment in due proportion, in four Days, in accordance with (the needs of)
those who seek (Sustenance).
Moreover He
comprehended in His design the sky, and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it
and to the earth: "Come ye together, willingly or unwillingly." They
said: "We do come (together), in willing obedience."
So He completed them
as seven firmaments in two Days, and He assigned to each heaven its duty and
command. And We adorned the lower heaven with lights, and (provided it) with
guard. Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might, Full of Knowledge.
The Right Religion
Thus,
it follows that it is Allah alone to whom belong creation and command, and has
the right to be worshipped:
مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
"If not Him, ye
worship nothing but names which ye have named,- ye and your fathers,- for which
Allah hath sent down no authority: the
command is for none but Allah: He hath commanded that ye worship none but Him:
that is the right religion, but most men understand not...
Glad Tidings for
the Worshippers
Establishing Prayer
Q98:5 lists establishing prayer as one of the key commands
of the right religion. Surah alMomineen (The Believers) and alMa’arij (The Ways
of Ascent) list the salient characteristics of the believers. One of the
characteristics is that they are those who guard their prayers (
root: ص ل و):
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ
And they who
carefully maintain their prayers -
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ
And those who
[carefully] maintain their prayer:
The Middle Prayer
& The Declining Sun
حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ
فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالًا أَوْ رُكْبَانًا فَإِذَا أَمِنتُمْ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَمَا عَلَّمَكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْلَمُونَ
Maintain with care
the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before
Allah, devoutly obedient.
And if you fear [an
enemy, then pray] on foot or riding. But when you are secure, then remember
Allah [in prayer], as He has taught you that which you did not [previously]
know.
According to the ayah from Surah alBaqarah quoted above,
Muslims are required to especially guard the middle prayers. Late afternoon is
a very busy time for most people across most businesses and professions. There
is debate regarding whether Asr (the late afternoon prayer) is or not the
middle prayer.
Prayer Timings
As we read in Surah alIsra:
سُنَّةَ مَن قَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ مِن رُّسُلِنَا وَلَا تَجِدُ لِسُنَّتِنَا تَحْوِيلًا
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
[That is Our]
established way for those We had sent before you of Our messengers; and you
will not find in Our way any alteration.
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."
Prayer Timings of
the People of the Book
Notice
in Q17:77, it is stated that it is the ‘established
way’ and that there is never any change or alteration in it. I understand
that this ayat is linked with the ayaat preceding and following it. So, the
people of the Book must have also been enjoined prayers similarly. In Daniel we
read:
10 And
Daniel, when he hath known that the writing is signed, hath gone up to his
house, and the window being opened for him, in his upper chamber, over-against
Jerusalem, three times in a day he is
kneeling on his knees, and praying, and confessing before his God, because
that he was doing [it] before this.
The
Jews believe they are required to pray thrice daily as a practice received from
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Christians
also identify three to seven times of prayers from the scriptures, even though
they believe they are not ‘duty-bound’ to pray them.
Solomon & the
Missed Prayer
The
Quran, Surah Saad, relates the loss Prophet-King Solomon suffered due to his
negligence of the prayer, his repentance and how his repentance was accepted, appreciated and magnificently rewarded:
وَوَهَبْنَا لِدَاوُودَ سُلَيْمَانَ نِعْمَ الْعَبْدُ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ
إِذْ عُرِضَ عَلَيْهِ بِالْعَشِيِّ الصَّافِنَاتُ الْجِيَادُ
فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَحْبَبْتُ حُبَّ الْخَيْرِ عَن ذِكْرِ رَبِّي حَتَّىٰ تَوَارَتْ بِالْحِجَابِ
رُدُّوهَا عَلَيَّ فَطَفِقَ مَسْحًا بِالسُّوقِ وَالْأَعْنَاقِ
وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا سُلَيْمَانَ وَأَلْقَيْنَا عَلَىٰ كُرْسِيِّهِ جَسَدًا ثُمَّ أَنَابَ
قَالَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَهَبْ لِي مُلْكًا لَّا يَنبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ مِّن بَعْدِي إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ
فَسَخَّرْنَا لَهُ الرِّيحَ تَجْرِي بِأَمْرِهِ رُخَاءً حَيْثُ أَصَابَ
وَالشَّيَاطِينَ كُلَّ بَنَّاءٍ وَغَوَّاصٍ
وَآخَرِينَ مُقَرَّنِينَ فِي الْأَصْفَادِ
هَٰذَا عَطَاؤُنَا فَامْنُنْ أَوْ أَمْسِكْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
وَإِنَّ لَهُ عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَىٰ وَحُسْنَ مَآبٍ
And We blessed David with Solomon—what an excellent servant ˹he was˺! Indeed, he ˹constantly˺ turned ˹to Allah˺.
˹Remember˺ when the well-trained, swift horses were paraded before him in the evening*.
He then proclaimed, “I am truly in love with ˹these˺ fine things out of remembrance for my Lord,” until they** went out of sight.
˹He ordered,˺ “Bring them back to me!” Then he began to rub down*** their legs and necks.
And indeed, We tested Solomon, placing a ˹deformed˺ body on his throne, then he turned ˹to Allah in repentance˺.
He prayed, “My Lord! Forgive me, and grant me an authority that will never be matched by anyone after me. You are indeed the Giver ˹of all bounties˺.”
So We subjected to him the wind, blowing gently at his command to wherever he pleased.
And ˹We subjected to him˺ every builder and diver of the jinn,
and others bound together in chains.
˹Allah said,˺ “This is Our gift, so give or withhold ˹as you wish˺, never to be called to account.”
And he will indeed have ˹a status of˺ closeness to Us and an honourable destination!
-----
And to David We gave Solomon. An excellent servant, indeed he was one
repeatedly turning back [to Allah ].
[Mention] when there
were exhibited before him in the afternoon* the poised [standing]
racehorses.
And he said, "Indeed, I
gave preference to the love of good [things] over the remembrance of my Lord until the sun** disappeared into the curtain [of darkness]."
[He said],
"Return them to me," and set about striking*** [their] legs and necks.
And We certainly tried
Solomon and placed on his throne a body; then he returned.
He said, "My Lord,
forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me.
Indeed, You are the Bestower."
So We subjected to
him the wind blowing by his command, gently, wherever he directed,
And [also] the devils
[of jinn] - every builder and diver
And others bound
together in shackles.
[We said], "This
is Our gift, so grant or withhold without account."
In a State of Loss
Asr
is the name of the late afternoon Muslim prayer. Surah alAsr warns us:
وَالْعَصْرِ
إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ
By the declining day,
Lo!
man is a state of loss,
Save those who
believe and do good works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another
to endurance.
How to Guard
Prayers when in Danger
Surah
anNisa elaborates on Q2:239 regarding guarding prayers even when in danger. It
allows shortening prayer if there is fear of being attacked:
وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُوا مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَن يَفْتِنَكُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنَّ الْكَافِرِينَ كَانُوا لَكُمْ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا
4:102 وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَائِفَةٌ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا فَلْيَكُونُوا مِن وَرَائِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَائِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا فَلْيُصَلُّوا مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ وَدَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰ أَن تَضَعُوا أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ وَخُذُوا حِذْرَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ فَإِذَا اطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا
وَلَا تَهِنُوا فِي ابْتِغَاءِ الْقَوْمِ إِن تَكُونُوا تَأْلَمُونَ فَإِنَّهُمْ يَأْلَمُونَ كَمَا تَأْلَمُونَ وَتَرْجُونَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَرْجُونَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
When ye travel
through the earth, there is no blame on you if ye shorten your prayers, for
fear the Unbelievers May attack you: For the Unbelievers are unto you open
enemies.
When thou (O
Messenger) art with them, and standest to lead them in prayer, Let one party of
them stand up (in prayer) with thee, Taking their arms with them: When they
finish their prostrations, let them Take their position in the rear. And let
the other party come up which hath not yet prayed - and let them pray with
thee, Taking all precaution, and bearing arms: the Unbelievers wish, if ye were
negligent of your arms and your baggage, to assault you in a single rush. But
there is no blame on you if ye put away your arms because of the inconvenience
of rain or because ye are ill; but take (every) precaution for yourselves. For
the Unbelievers Allah hath prepared a humiliating punishment.
When ye pass (Congregational) prayers, celebrate Allah's praises,
standing, sitting down, or lying down on your sides; but when ye are free from
danger, set up Regular Prayers: For such prayers are
enjoined on believers at stated times.
And slacken not in
following up the enemy: If ye are suffering hardships, they are suffering
similar hardships; but ye have Hope from Allah, while they have none. And Allah
is full of knowledge and wisdom.
And
Allah knows best!
May
Allah guide us all.
-----------------------
References &
Links
Last updated on May 22, 2024
