Assalamo Alaykum,
Majority of Muslims, particularly Asian Muslims have taken the meaning and interpretation of SALAT as ritual NAMAZ ONLY. No more than performing RITUAL NAMAZ. In Quran, the Arabic word is SALAT. Urdu translation as NAMAZ is actually a persian word. In Quran, the word SALAT has very comprehensive meaning – beyond NAMAZ. In Quran, when it is mentioned in general, AQEEMESS SALATA, it means ESTABLISH SALAT and not merely PERFORM NAMAAZ. The establishment of SALAT is an order to ESTABLISH ALMIGHTY’S DIVINE LAW AND ORDER. More you can read in an attachment in Urdu.
Now let us see how present days Muslims take the word SALAT as NAMAZ only and how they behave as NAMAZIS. In a Masjid, say for example, 100 Namaazis have performed Asr Namaz. After finishing Namaz, if each and every Namaazi is watched closely, practically we will note that out of these 100, at least 50 will make themselves busy in their daily affairs of “non-righteous deeds” HAD THEY KNOWN THAT SALAT MEANS TO ESTABLISH ALMIGHTY’S DIVINE LAW AND ORDER, THEY WILL REFRAIN FROM ANY SUCH NON-RIGHTEOUS DEEDS.
Here are three interesting scenes re: Ritual Namaz:
THREE SCENES:
ONE: It is before Maghrib Namaz time. The shopkeeper and his son are in conversation in shop before closing the shop:
S.K.- Did you mix red colour sand powder in red chilly powder?
Son – yes dad.
S.K. – Did you mix papaya seeds in balck pepper?
Son – yes dad.
S.K. – Did you mix yellow colour sand powder in tumeric?
Son – yes dad.
S.K. OK. Now let us go for Maghreb Namaz. It is almost Azan time.
TWO: An old man tells his grandson to bring two Namazis to their house from the adjacent Masjid, after Maghrib Namaz, so they can share dinner with them. The grandson returns without Namazis after Maghrib Namaz and tells his grand father that there were no Namazis. The old man says, what are you talking? I saw so many Namazis coming out of Masjid. The granson replies, after the Namaz, I stood near the Masjid entrance. I asked one, did you perform Maghrib? He replied yes. I then asked, which Surah was recited by the Imaam in first Raka’a and which one in second? No body could give me the answer. So they were not Namazis. (Their bodies were in Masjid, but souls were in the market.)
THREE: An Imaam, after leading Asr Namaz, asked the Namazis that he is in doubt about leading 4 or 3 Raka’as for Asr. He asked Namazis that can any oone confirm whether he lead 4 or 3 Raka’as. Nobody replied. Imaam again asked the same question. Nobody replied. Imaam again asked and said how Muslims you are, you don’t know how many Raka’as did you perform behind me? Then one man stood and told that Imaam Saheb, you have lead only 3 Raka’as. Everybody was appreciating this man. Imaam told that see, there is at least one man, who had completely concentrated in Namaz. Then he asked the man how are you so sure about 3 Raka’as? The man replied, I am 100% sure. See, I have got 4 shops. First in Nazimabad, second in Lalukhet, third in Golimaar and fourth in Gulshan. Everyday, in Asr Namaz, I quick calculate profit of each shop in each Raka’a. Today, in first Raka’a, I quick calculated profit of Nazimabad shop, in second Raka’a, I calculated profit of Lalukhet shop, and in third Raka’a, I calculated profit of Golimar shop. Now, the profit of 4th shop of Gulshan is yet to be calculated, because you have lead only 3 Raka’as.
THIS IS THE POSITION OF MUSLIMS’ RITUAL NAMAZ”, WHICH THEY CLAIM THAT THEY ARE PRAYING FOR ALMIGHTY ALLAH!!! FIVE TIMES A DAY!!! FOR SOME MUSLIMS, IT IS EIGHT TIMES A DAYS, AND AFTER NAMAZ, THEY ARE AGAIN BUSY IN THEIR “NON-RIGHTEOUS DEEDS”!!! These are facts and nobody can deny it.
This is a fact that even those, who are advocates of importance of ritual Namaz, they least care about what are Almighty’s other Divine Commands in the Holy Quran. Just an example is (2:177), which also says about helping for the love love of Allah, to kinsmen, orphans, the needy, the traveller, the beggars, and for (ransoming) the enslaved; These are just a part example from 2:177. In addition to the above, there are other Divine Commands, which are part of SALAT, and every Muslim has to obey these – mandatory. But unfortunately, majority of Muslims are fully satisfied, if they have performed five times a day, ritual Namaz and they feel that thir obligations towards almighty has been fulfilled!
HAD THESE MUSLIMS KNOWN THAT SALAT MEANS NOT TO PERFORM RITUAL NAMAZ BUT TO ESTABLISH ALMIGHTY’S DIVINE LAW AND ORDER, THEY WILL REFRAIN FROM ANY SUCH NON-RIGHTEOUS DEEDS. Look at this:
“So woe to those that pray, those who are unmindful of their Prayer.” (Surah Al Maoon, Ayat 4 & 5)
Wassalam.