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SALAT WORDS

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With regards to the words spoken during the Salat, we find guidance in the Quran with respect to the following matters:

FIRST :     All the words of the Salat should be from the Quran.

SECOND :  Specific Quranic phrases are to be spoken during the Salat.

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FIRST :  All the words of the Salat should be from the Quran.

1- "You shall recite what is revealed to you of your Lord's Scripture (the Quran). Nothing shall abrogate His words, and you shall not find any other source beside it."  18:27

Since this verse does not specify any one activity, it is understood to cover the Salat as well as normal recitation.

2- "You shall recite what is revealed to you of the Scripture (the Quran), and observe the Salat (Contact Prayers)." 29:45

This verse specifically links reading from the Quran with the Salat.  Consequently, nothing should be read in the Salat that is derived from other than the Quran.

3- "They are not all the same; among the followers of the scripture there are those who are righteous. They recite God's revelations through the night while prostrating."  3:113

This verse speaks of the righteous, they recite the scripture while prostrating. Since prostrating is one of the acts of Salat, the point is made again about reciting the scripture (in our case the Quran) in our Salat.

SECOND : Specific words to be recited during the Salat.

1-   Opening words of the Salat:   Whenever we read the Quran we are to seek refuge in God from the devil:

"When you read the Quran, you shall seek refuge in God from Satan the rejected."  16:98

The Arabic words are "A'uzu b'Allah min Al-Shaytan Al-Rajeem".  And since all the Salat is comprised of Quranic words, thus we must utter these words to start our Salat.

2- Although there is no specific command to read the Key (Fatihah) in particular in the salat, yet since it is the opening of the book and it comprises a call to Allah in all its words, then it is appropriate to read it in the opening of our Salat.

Bearing in mind that God informs us that He does not wish us any hardship in practicing our religion, thus it is sensible to read the relatively longer passages (such as the Key) in the standing position rather than the bowing or prostrating so that the ill and old would not over-burden their frail bodies. Consequently, the recitation of the Key (Al-Fatiha) in the standing position is what all Muslims do.

3- The phrase 'Allahu Akbar' is uttered frequently during Salat in compliance with God's command to magnify Him as in 2:185 and 17:111.

4- 'Sobhan Rabi Al-Azeem' (Praise my Lord the Great). This is in compliance with: "You shall glorify the name of your Lord, the Great"  56:74. These words of praise are usually spoken in the bowing position as many times as desired.

5- 'Sobhan Rabi Al-Aala' (Praise my Lord the Most High). This is in compliance with: "Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High" 87:1. These words of praise are usually spoken in the prostrating position as many times as desired.

Praising God is encouraged at all times and specifically after prostration:

"During the night you shall glorify Him, and after prostrating"  50:40

6-  The Shahada (Testimony of Faith) is the first pillar of Islam and is a declaration of our monotheistic faith.  The Shahada may be uttered at any stage in the Salat and any number of times:

The words of the Shahada are : Ash'hadu ana la illaha ila Allah' (I bear witness that there is no God other than God).

"God bears witness that there is no god except He, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge"  3:18

7-   In 17:111 we read the following words:

"Al-Hamdu l'Allah alazee lam yatakhez waladan, wa lam yakun lahu shareek fee al mulk, wa lam yakun lahu waleyon min al zol."  

These words translate to:   

"Praise be to God who has never begotten a son, nor does He have a partner in His kingship, nor does He need an ally out of weakness"  17:111

In 17:110 God commands us to use a moderate voice in our Salat, immediately after which God commands us:

"AND SAY, 'Praise be to God, who has never begotten a son……."

The words "AND SAY"at the beginning of verse 111 indicate that the subject is STILL Salat (the subject of 110).  This means that God is commanding us to utter these specific words during our salat.

It is interesting to note that these 3 phrases have significant meanings:

1- "Praise be to God who has never begotten a son,"

These words purify us from the claim of the Christians who gave God a son.

2- "nor does He have a partner in His kingship,"

These words purify us from the corrupt Muslims who made Muhammad a partner with God in everything they say or do ........

3- "nor does He need an ally out of weakness"

These words purify us from the Jewish scholars who claim that God is not able to do certain things ... etc

In effect, by uttering these words, and constantly being aware of the danger and corruption of these groups, we purify our souls and maintain the purity of our religion.

These words must be uttered during our salat.

To follow these words we should then magnify God frequently (Allah Akbar) ....

8-  The 'ending' of the Salat

Since the ending of the Salat conducted by almost all Muslims today does not conform to Quranic teachings, thus this issue will be given special analysis here.

The traditional ending spoken by most Muslims today is:

'Al-Salamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatu'. (Peace be upon you as well as God's mercy and His blessings). This phrase is uttered twice at the conclusion of the Salat, once with the head turned to the right and once with the head turned to the left.

However, if we were to pause and consider the validity of this phrase we would immediately be faced with the following questions:

A- Who are we addressing when we utter these words? Surely we cannot be addressing God because we cannot be saying to God, 'may God's mercy and blessings be upon you'!  

Some will say that these words are addressed to other fellow believers who are praying alongside us. But this excuse is false, simply because these words are spoken by believers even when they are praying all on their own!

Some others will say that these words are addressed to the two angels who are recording all our deeds, one of whom is on our right shoulder and one is on our left.

Here we must inquire why should we address the angels?  After all, our Salat is not directed to them! The Quran makes the point very clear that every word in our Salat should be to God and nobody else:

"Say, 'My Contact Prayers (Salat), my worship practices, my life and my death, are all devoted absolutely to God alone"  6:162 (also see 39:11 and 20:14)

To direct any words in our Salat to any other than God is indeed against the teachings of the Quran and must be totally rejected.

B- If these words are not directed to God and must thus be rejected, then what are the correct words to be uttered to end our Salat?  As usual, God has once again shown us that the Quran offers explanations to all things (16:89).  Indeed, God has given us in the Quran the exact words that should be uttered to end the Salat. These are found in the following verse:

"As for those who believe and lead a righteous life, their Lord guides them by virtue of their belief. Rivers will flow beneath them in the garden of bliss. Their prayer therein is, 'Be you glorified our God' their greeting therein is, 'Peace' and the ending to their prayer is, 'Al-Hamdu l'Allah Rab Al-Alameen (Praise be to God, Lord of the Universe)"   10:9-10

This verse speaks of the model believers who will be rewarded in the gardens of heaven. We are told about the last words in their prayers 'Al-Hamdu l'Allah Rab Al-Alameen' (Praise be to God, Lord of the Universe). It makes perfect sense that we should follow their example (if we would like to end up in heaven too) and end our prayers in praise of Almighty God and not bidding farewell to the angels!

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Summary of the Quranic words to be uttered in the Salat:

1-  First words : "A'uzu b'Allah min Al-Shaytan Al-Rajeem"  (I seek refuge in God from Satan the rejected."  16:98

2-   Al-Fatiha  (The Key)

3-   'Allahu Akbar' (God is Greatest) to be spoken frequently, 2:185 and 17:111.

4- 'Sobhan Rabi Al-Azeem' (Praise my Lord the Great).  56:74

5- 'Sobhan Rabi Al-Aala' (Praise my Lord the Most High). 87:1

6-  The Shahada (Testimony):  "Ash'hadu ana la illaha ila Allah" (I bear witness that there is no God other than God). 3:18

7- "Al-Hamdu l'Allah alazee lam yatakhez waladan, wa lam yakun lahu shareek fee al mulk, wa lam yakun lahu waleyon min al zol".  (Praise be to God who has never begotten a son, nor does He have a partner in His kingship, nor does He need an ally out of weakness).  17:111

8-   The Salat ends with the words:

"Al-Hamdu l'Allah Rab Al-Alameen (Praise be to God, Lord of the Universe)"   10:10

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