In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Definition of Salah (Prayer)

By Shaykh Dr Muhammad bin ‘Umar bin Saalim Baazmool may Allah preserve him

The shaykh mentions this point of benefit in his book “Sharh SIfatis Saalah an-Nabawee”. In order to see the beauty of this benefit please take a look at the Quranic verses provided in Arabic.

Linguistic: Supplication/Du’aa

Legislative: This word comes in the Quran with many different meanings;

1. Supplication for forgiveness

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَتَهُ ۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّۚ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا

“Allâh sends His SALAH (Graces, Honors, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet and also His angels (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your SALAH on (ask Allâh to bless) him, and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islâmic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As¬Salâmu ‘Alaikum).” (suratul Ahzaab: 56)

*Salah from Allah means His forgiveness and mercy for the Prophet (peace be upon him). Salah from the angels mean that they seek Allah’s forgiveness upon him. Salah from the believers means their praise and seeking forgiveness and mercy for him.*

2. Recitation

قُلِ ٱدۡعُواْ ٱللَّهَ أَوِ ٱدۡعُواْ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنَ‌ۖ أَيًّ۬ا مَّا تَدۡعُواْ فَلَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ‌ۚ وَلَا تَجۡهَرۡ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتۡ بِہَا وَٱبۡتَغِ بَيۡنَ ذَٲلِكَ سَبِيلاً۬

“Say: ‘Invoke Allah or invoke the Most Beneficent (Allah), by whatever name you invoke Him (it is the same), for to Him belong the Best Names. And offer your Salah (RECITATION) neither aloud nor in a low voice, but follow a way between.’” (suratul Israa: 110)

3. Religion/Deen

قَالُواْ يَـٰشُعَيۡبُ أَصَلَوٰتُكَ تَأۡمُرُكَ أَن نَّتۡرُكَ مَا يَعۡبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَآ أَوۡ أَن نَّفۡعَلَ فِىٓ أَمۡوَٲلِنَا مَا نَشَـٰٓؤُاْ‌ۖ إِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ ٱلۡحَلِيمُ ٱلرَّشِيدُ

“They said: ‘O Shu‘aib! Does your Salah (RELIGION) command that we give up what our fathers used to worship, or that we give up doing what we like with our property? Verily, you are the forbearer, right-minded!’” (They said this sarcastically). (suratul Hud: 87)

4. Place of Prayer

وَلَوۡلَا دَفۡعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعۡضَہُم بِبَعۡضٍ۬ لَّهُدِّمَتۡ صَوَٲمِعُ وَبِيَعٌ۬ وَصَلَوَٲتٌ۬ وَمَسَـٰجِدُ يُذۡڪَرُ فِيہَا ٱسۡمُ ٱللَّهِ ڪَثِيرً۬ا‌ۗ

“For had it not been that Allâh checks one set of people by means of another, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and MASAAJID, wherein the Name of Allâh is mentioned much would surely have been pulled down” (suratul Hajj: 40)

5. The legislative prayer (five times a day)

ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ

“Who believe in the unseen, establish PRAYER, and spend out of what We have provided for them” (suratul Baqarah: 3)

6. The legislative Jumu’ah prayer

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوۡمِ ٱلۡجُمُعَةِ فَٱسۡعَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُواْ ٱلۡبَيۡعَ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكُمۡ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّكُمِ

“O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the DAY of JUMU’AH [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you…” (suratul Jumu’ah: 9)

7. Funeral prayer/Janaazah

وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰٓ أَحَدٍ۬ مِّنۡہُم مَّاتَ أَبَدً۬ا وَلَا تَقُمۡ عَلَىٰ قَبۡرِهِۦۤ‌ۖ إِنَّہُمۡ كَفَرُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَمَاتُواْ وَهُمۡ فَـٰسِقُونَ َ

“And never pray (JANAAZAH) for any of them (hypocrites) who dies, nor stand at his grave. Certainly they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and died while they were Fasiqun (rebellious, – disobedient to Allah and His Messenger)” (suratul Tawbah:84)