Jamal Badawi – Pillars of Islam 5 – Prayers Form And Significance – Part 2

			In the name of God the benevolent the Merciful, the creator and the Sustainer of the universe, peace
and blessings forever upon His messenger Muhammad Amin. I bear witness that there is no god worthy
of worship except for the one God and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger and servant of
God. to all the viewers of the assignment focus program. I greet you with a greeting which has been
spoken in many languages, the greetings of peace, the greetings that has been used by all of the
profits from Abraham to Prophet Muhammad assalamu Aleikum, which means peace beyond you. Welcome to
the Islam in focus program. I'm your host, Ahmed Rashid. Today we have our fifth program in the
		

			series dealing with the Pillars of Islam. We'll continue our discussion of prayers or salaat. And
joining me on the program is Dr. Jamal Badawi of St. Mary's University. Brother Jamal, welcome to
Islamic focus.
		

			I wonder if perhaps you could just very quickly take a few moments to highlight our discussion of
last week before we go on with our program today. Okay, last time, we covered three major points.
The first was a brief description of how the main unit in the prayer contract or the main unit is
performed. And we describe briefly the various movements standing up the beginning of the prayers,
the recitation that is said and the beginning of the prayer. And then they various frustration,
frustrating with the hands touching or resting over the knees, then standing position. And then the
frustration on the ground when you put the the face the hands, the knees and the toes on the ground,
		

			which is repeated again after a brief rest for a second time.
		

			We mentioned also that this prayers is conducted five times every day, and that the units vary
between two to four depending on the time of the day. And the second major part of the discussion,
we try to analyze some of those movements looking into the significance for them. The beginning of
the prayers and the significance of raising the hands by way of declaration of submission to God and
humility before him. The very statement of the term Allahu Akbar, or God is the most great is most
befitting when you start standing before God to communicate with him to pray to Him.
		

			we described also what is recited in the standing position, the first chapter of the Quran,
analyzing the beautiful meaning that it carries from all the way praising God, acknowledgement of
His Lordship, acknowledgement of servitude to Him alone,
		

			and seeking His guidance and help in our lives.
		

			And then we went on describing again how the various prostrations are performed. The last point that
was raised was the significance of these movements, we touched on the on one aspect of that, and
that is in Muslim prayers.
		

			The entire
		

			human being is involved in the prayer with his heart or soul, with the mind and with the body. And
that reflects the very nature of Islam as a faith, which is regarded as a way of life at the
complete way of life which integrates all these aspects of human life into one with no conflict
between intellect, faith, or even the physical material body. In that sense, then, when the Muslim
prays, he prays with his sword with his heart and with his mind and all of them are in total harmony
under
		

			the servitude.
		

			So this is the way it connects. The last time on our program, we spent some time going through the
various movements in the in the slot and we explained what was said during the standing portion. I
wonder
		

			Perhaps you could now tell us what is said in various in the other prostrations and the other other
positions that one assumes during the recitation of the slot. Certainly, just to remind you, as I
said before, in the first thing that's recited in the standing position, when the hands are put like
this is the first chapter of the Quran, very brief one. And I said, it's also optional, actually
encouraged to decide any additional either small chapter or other portion of the Quran, depending on
the time and ability of the individual. After that's finished, the person raises his hand again and
says Allah Akbar, or God is the most great, and then Niels, that is when the hands are resting on
		

			the knees, when the back state, so you look like, you know, 90 degrees. In that particular
frustration, once you decide three times Subhanallah Vlr beam, which means in English, God is the
most Great, that's repeated three times. And then one stands again, it gets back to the standing
position with the back erect, saying, some Allahu Mohammed have been elected hand which means God
hears those who are thankful or who praise Him, our Lord, Praise be to you.
		

			And then again, when the person gets down on the floor, put his forehead, enhance on the floor, the
frustration, and they act which reflects the ultimate of humility and submission before God. And
that position, one says three times Subhana, Allah, that his glory be to my Lord Most High, that's
also repeated three times,
		

			then this are separated, the two prostrations are separated by a brief
		

			rest sitting on the floor, in which one could say, a lot of mouth suddenly, what honey, oh, my Lord,
forgive me, and has mercy on me. And then again, the same position on the floor is repeated. Again
reciting Glory be to my Lord, Most High. This is basically what is being repeated in each of this
movement. So it's not just movements, void of any meaning there's certain supplication that goes
with it. Right? Now, you've used the
		

			Arabic in and you've gone on and translated to a person, is it necessary for a person? Perhaps the
person doesn't have command of Arabic? This must be the this wording would be in Arabic? Or can it
be expressed in other languages as well? For example, maybe a person who Muslim whose native
language is English and perhaps doesn't understand Arabic? Okay. Well, if you really look into the
bare minimum that is required to be recited an Arabic in the in the prayer, it's very simple. I
mean, it's only like I said, when you say so pan out or be lousy, and repeated three times, it's
very simple. So pan or bl Allah, it's very easy to memorize it. It's not much difficult. Even the
		

			first chapter of the Quran it's only a few lines. And this
		

			recitations, the particular prayers or recitation of the Quran are repeated every in every unit of
every prayer five times a day, so it becomes very simple, really to, to repeat.
		

			It does not mean that one has to repeat it without understanding because again, being very limited
supplications as a bare minimum, it's easy also for the person to recognize what does it mean, for
example, I just explained now that's a panel about Allah Glory be to my Lord Most High, so when one
decided even if he doesn't have command on the original Arabic, it's still simple. The point here is
that, according to unanimous position of the Muslim jurist, that the Quran, when it's recited in the
prayers is the word of God and the Word of God cannot be translated because the Quran is not
authored or written by Prophet Mohammed, he simply received it, it was dictated to him and as such,
		

			it is not only the meaning communicated to him, its meaning and word. And the word of God cannot be
translated has to remain in its original language, because any translation definitely cannot convey
fully what the meaning are. And prayers by its very nature is an act of submission and complete
servitude to God. And as such, it should be done in the same way that we are commanded to do it. But
if you really look at it in terms of the practical implications, you will notice that throughout the
Muslim world for 1400 years since Islam was completed with advent of profitable
		

			Peace be upon him.
		

			Hundreds of millions of Muslims throughout the world have always been praying exactly the same way.
Exactly. And the same words are the same supplications as taught 1400 years ago, by Prophet Muhammad
peace be upon him. This makes the believer feel a strong sense of identity with other believers in
his time with other believers in history in the past, with other believers who will come even in the
future, in different parts of the Muslim world, all of them are doing the prayers in the very same
way. As a person who has done quite a bit of traveling in different parts of the Muslim world. It is
beautiful that it could go anywhere in the Muslim world, despite of the hundreds of various local
		

			tongues or dialects. And but when you go to the giant muslims for with the prayers, it's exactly the
same words, the same method whether you're praying in China and Russia, yoga Slavia South Africa,
		

			Arabia, Morocco, darkness Halifax, North America, wherever you go, it is always the same. And that
gives a beautiful sense of unity, any Muslim would not feel strange, wherever he goes in the world,
the prayer is exactly the same, the common language is the same. Indeed, it's not really a bad idea
at all, that there would be one universal language, in addition to the language that people may have
in a different location that would foster communication between different people in the world. And
by requiring that the prayers should be done in the original Arabic, even though it's very simple,
like I say, to memorize, it may provide even an inducement in the long run. That Arabic which is the
		

			language of the last scripture revealed by God, the Quran, could as well at one time become the
universal language, with other people also having in addition to that their own local dialect. In
fact, in the time, when Muslim civilization was its was at its epoch, you find that Muslims from
different parts of the world, or new Arabic, whether they were from India, from Russia, or China,
many parts of the world, many Westerners are pressure, they knew Arabic, in addition to their own
local tongues. So it has lots of meanings really, it's not simply. But of course, like I said
before, one should always try to think and understand what he or she is reciting the prayer, but has
		

			to be in the original.
		

			Let's talk a minute about the ending of the of the prayer or slot, is there any special way or any
special expression that one would use in terms of ending the the prior, right you don't just walk
out when you finish the prayer, because when they're in the prayer, like I said before, when you
start, it's almost like beginning, I'm throwing the word behind me. And now standing in full
devotion, and submission before God. So once it's finished, just when like when you visit somebody
who's great.
		

			He has to take permission, when you leave, you don't just to finish what you want to tell him. You
turn your back and go like that. That's even more appropriate when you're standing before God. After
the number of units or records is finished the frustration and the recitation, there's a position
where you will be sitting down. And there is a particular formula that also should be recited maybe
I can give you for brevity of time, the meaning of English, it goes something like this, greetings
and prayers are due to God. Peace be upon you, or messenger of God, defending the Prophet Muhammad,
peace be upon him, and God's mercy and blessings. Then the response, peace be upon us and upon the
		

			righteous servants of God. I bear witness that there is no deity, but the one and only God, Allah.
And I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.
		

			Oh God, bestow Your grace on Mohammed and the descendants of Muhammad, as you bestowed Your grace on
Abraham, Prophet Abraham, and the descendants are people of Abraham,
		

			and bless Muhammad, and the descendants of Muhammad. As you blessed Abraham, and the descendants of
Abraham, yours is thanks and glory. And after this is recited, the person was praying, turn his face
to the right side and saying As salam aleikum wa rahmatullah, which means peace be upon you, and the
mercy of God and His blessings, and turn to the left side and say, assalamu aleikum wa rahmatullah
repeating the same thing. So this would be almost like somebody who's coming from travel, greeting,
those who are around him. A person who has been really an asset of different nature, spiritual
		

			Standing, directly communicating with God. So once this has finished, he's almost like coming back
to the world and greeting people around him.
		

			But we talked last time, you mentioned that the
		

			prayers are required five times a day, and each of us has a specified time range. Is there any
significance to the, to the timing of the prayers in this way? Yes, the the prayer in general, the
five daily prayers are distributed in such a way that it makes the believers in a state of constant
remembrance of God
		

			throughout his day, regardless of whatever activities or job or occupation the person may be doing.
		

			And this is beautiful in a sense, because on one hand, a believer in Islam is not required
		

			to leave his work aside, and become unproductive members of society just to spend the entire time in
devotion and prayers. That's not the idea that Islam really is looking for.
		

			Nor does it teach the believer that religion is only one aspect of his life that should not
interfere in his other activities. So he can go on his regular activities for the rest of the week.
But remember God only for a couple of hours or so once a week, this is not the ideal again, that
Islam teaches the believer, rather, the normal course of our activities, occupations or job are
beautifully intermingled with the remembrance of God. That's why you notice that each of these
prayers, even though they are repeated five times a day, it really doesn't take much time, it could
take as as little as three minutes even to perform. But it comes distributed throughout the day, to
		

			keep us always on our toes always remembrance, in a state of remembrance, and relatedness to our
creators. And more specifically, if you want to just to give some comment on each of the five daily
prayers, for example, the first one is the early morning prayer. That is, when the person wakes up
early in the morning, preferably before sunrise. And this is the beautiful beginning of the day. At
the time, when there is a transition from the tranquility of the night, to the activities of the
day, you take that shift, and you remember God and start your day on the proper reading. At noon,
the noon prayer comes at the time when the person is really involved, and his activities, business
		

			trade occupation. And he says, Well, I stopped for a few minutes, I don't forget you, oh god,
		

			you're in my heart, you're in my mind. And that would encourage him to conduct those activities in
accordance with the guidance of God. The late afternoon prayer which comes somewhere between almost
midway between noon and sunset, again comes when the person is in the midst of his work again, close
to the end of the working day. And again, affirming his faith in God and seeking inspiration
guidance relaxing for a while, a few minutes.
		

			Then the the ninth prayer that comes after sunset.
		

			This is performed when the person usually has already finished his working day, when he is united
with his family enjoying a nice meal with the family. It's again an expression of grace to God that
a whole day of work has been completed and fulfilled. So remember God again, when the night is
falling, and the day is ending. The last prayer the fifth one, which take place
		

			beginning from about half an hour or so after sunset, but could extend to midnight, which is
preferably be done before person goes to bed. It's like ending the day again with the remembrance of
God thanking him for whatever provision or grace the person enjoyed throughout the day. So it's
really beautifully distributed
		

			along the entire spectrum of activities from the beginning of the day, to the end of the day, always
in a state of remembrance of God but still while being productive and doing going around your normal
business. Now, what would happen or what is the position of an individual perhaps you might be
involved in an officer involved in some activity and either inadvertently or due to circumstances
beyond the control they might miss the prescribed period for a particular salon or for particular
prayer? What
		

			what can be done what can be done in a case like that? Okay. The two points that perhaps relate to
your question one is that a person as a principal
		

			should try his best his or her best to perform the prayers in its proper time, or at least within
the proper range,
		

			which is usually extends to the usually to the beginning of the next prayer.
		

			It is not very desirable
		

			act to deliberately delay the prayer from its appointed time or range of time, especially if that's
out of neglect or just feeling of apathy or lack of attention, because that again, reflect on the
attitude of the person towards God. So this is not encouraged. But like you said, yes, there may be
conditions, especially circumstances, for example, a person may inadvertently forget. A person, for
example, may be sleeping and really tired and does not wake up or fails to wake up until the time
for the prayer is expired. Or in some cases, you could have, for example, a Muslim physician and an
operation room during an emergency operation, you can just leave the
		

			person like that and say, wait a minute, I said, I pray, you will not find him alive when you come
back. So there might be circumstances like that where there is a reasonable
		

			justification by exception to delay the prayer. If that happens, a person should actually perform
the prayer as soon as the cause for this difficulties is, is removed, but it does not. It's not left
out. One can still make up for it, it's less desirable, but one can catch up and do it. Are there
any exceptions from Where's anybody who is exempted from saying where or salon or are there any
special concessions concessions that are made as a result of
		

			circumstances, okay, if you're, if you mean by exemptions that a person would not be required to
pray, then a basic rule
		

			that this is very, very rare and in very specified cases, for example, a small child before he
really learned and grows up would not be required to observe the place it's become begins with this
the age of the lessons of pivot.
		

			A person for example, who is
		

			who has some difficult problem with like mental disease or something like that, where a person
cannot understand, he could not be punished for not keeping the prayer. But other than that any
adult Muslim, more male or female, is required to keep this prayer from the age of puberty up to the
death, and it's required five times a day. There's no exceptions from that. There's only some
concessions if you will. And these are specified, the most important of which are concessions giving
to women during their monthly cycle, and also during the postnatal period of rest, in which case, it
would be too hard to require them to perform the prayers and in the state in which they might be
		

			suffering
		

			would not make it appropriate really to perform the prayer and that form. Of course, they could make
other types of supplication, but not this prayer in this form, really standing in this particular
movement.
		

			So they're exempt and they are not required actually to make up for it after the period is finished
or after the postnatal rest period is over, which is a maximum 40 days in the case of
		

			childbirth.
		

			But this is the only one that could be given to anyone who's really normal adult Muslim.
		

			There may be, however, some concessions, which does not exempt the person from the prayer but rather
make it easy for him to adapt under special circumstances. Because prayer is such a central and
important aspect in the life of the believer that it is required to be maintained under all
circumstances, not like fasting, for example, where some people may exhibit may be exempt because of
health reasons are not like pilgrimage, where the person may not be required to have pilgrimage if
you can't afford to. It's not like a poor use where a person is not rich, would not be acquired, for
example, to pay the amount of portio that Salah is the most important thing, and like we mentioned
		

			before, is the second most important pillar of Islam that keeps the believer always in relatedness
and can contact with his creator. So it must be done under all circumstances. But like I said, there
are concessions example. If the person for example is sick.
		

			Then unable to pray while standing. He could pray while sitting. If he's not able to pray while he's
sitting he can pray while he's even sleeping on his back and there are special formats or
		

			So that meets the particular needs or requirements of the person.
		

			A person may be traveling and really facing difficulty and regardless whether you travel on a horse
back or train or plane, traveling is always hectic and tiring. There is an additional concession the
prayers that are required to be for units like noon, afternoon and night prayer could be shortened
to become to
		

			not only this person also could combine by praying the noon and afternoon prayers together, either
early at noon time or the afternoon time. He can also combine the sunset prayer and night prayers
together, either at the time of sunset or later at night, to make it easier for him and facilitate
his process. But in principle, even if the person is in the battlefields, or under fears, still, the
prayer should not be left out, a person should still do the prayer in whatever form is possible to
do. So that keeps the remembrance of God always in the mind and hearts of the believer, irrespective
of health, disease, travel or residence. But it's adaptable, like I said, depending on the
		

			difficult, specific circumstances. Let's take a look at the other side of the point now from
concessions Is it
		

			possible or recommended that a person might want to say prayers more than the five times that are
required? Oh, certainly there's no difficulty with that the sky's the limit. See the Muslim jurists
divided divided the prayer into three types. There are prayers which are absolutely mandatory, which
include the five daily prayers
		

			and it includes also by way of collective duty on the community, the funeral prayers.
		

			And then there is a second category called center. That is something that is highly recommended by
the prophet. And in this there are degrees there are certain prayers which are highly recommended.
Some even call it whadjuk. Almost just next to the absolute requirement, like praying to units
before morning prayers,
		

			two or four before noon, and two and four or four after two units after sunset prayer three
		

			after night prayer, there are others watching which are less emphasized also that goes regularly,
either before or after those five required prayers. But the third category is called NASA, NASA,
which means anything that anytime that you feel you wish to pray, you're free to do so. Especially
the night prayers later at night or when you sleep and wake up in the middle of the night to have
prayers that's also permissible. The only thing to avoid is to avoid prayers exactly at the time
when the sun is rising or setting or in the few minutes shortly before noon. Time. But other than
that, you can pray at any time and it's
		

			it's acceptable.
		

			elgamal our time for today is is gone.
		

			We'll close out today's program. We want to invite you the viewers of the Islamophobic program back
next week when we'll continue our discussion of salaat or prayers. Thank you for watching Islam in
focus Assalamu alaikum peace be unto you. See you next time.