اُتْلُ مَاۤ اُوْحِىَ اِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتٰبِ وَاَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَ اِنَّ الصَّلٰوةَ تَنْهٰى عَنِ الْفَحْشَآءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللّٰهِ اَكْبَرُ وَاللّٰهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُوْنَ (45)
Quran Ayah Data not found….for Surah:29, Ayah:45 and Translation:24
Quran Surah:29 Ayah:45
“Recite (O Prophet) what isrevealed to you of the Book, andestablish Salah“ SurelySalah restrainsone from shameful and evil acts.Indeed remembrance of Allah is thegreatest of all things. Allah knowswhat you do.”
The verse appearing above is the first verse of the first part and 45th verse of Surah Al-Ankabut. Apparently, through this verse, it is the Holy Prophet ﷺwho is being addressed, but, in reality, all his followers are being addressed through it as clearly indicated based on the context as the personal pronoun being used in singular number, but, at the end it has been changed into plural one. Hence, the commandment given in this verse is not specifically for the Holy Prophet ﷺ, rather it is for each and every one of his followers.
Just before this verse, there had been described an account of the struggle between the followers of Truth and Falsehood.On one hand, this verse contains the solace for the believers while, on the other hand, it also contains the admonition and warning for the disbelievers. Thereafter, there has been brought home to the followers of Truth some ways with the help of which they can find a way out of the trials and tribulations and struggle between the Truth and Falsehood as well as attain success in both the worlds. These are the ways through which the whole world can be reformed as well as of oneself. Basically, these ways are three in number as follows: (1) Recitation of verses of the Holy Qura’n (2) Establishing Salah (3) Remembrance of Allah, the Almighty.
- The first way is the recitation of the verses of the Holy Qura’n. In reality, the recitation of the verses is a preamble of calling towards Allah, the Almighty which is the first of all the obligations. The only most distinguishing practice of all the prophets was the recitation of the verses before their communities so that the weakness of idolatry and infidelity is clear before them and they may be endowed with the wealth of Allah’s worship through being enlightened with the signs of His oneness as well as they might feel a sense of responsibility and an urge towards the being accountable on the Day of Judgment.
Most regrettably, the same sense of their recitation is rarely found these days, rather having a cursory look at them is considered to be their recitation and their individual reading is deemed sufficient. But, when it comes to recite before them (communicate the message containing in them to others) never crosses our minds.
The comparison I made here does not necessarily mean that reciting them individually is of no avail and hence this practice should be discontinued. The fact is that even the individual recitation of them is of utmost important which must be carried on. The reason is that so long a recite is engaged in their recitation, he is saved against other mischief. One who recites them regularly, one day or the other; he would come to know their purpose. Other thing is that no matter if he himself does not see its effect or fruitful result; at least other things of the world are not deprived of their effects. Bu chance, only if this practice is discontinued, other things of the world too would cease to have its effects which is really a matter of great deprivation!
The most important thing is that the recitation of the verses is a great means of their recitors’ steadfastness. Says Allah, the Almighty:
وَقَالَ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ الْـقُرْاٰنُ جُمْلَةً وَّاحِدَةً ۛ كَذٰلِكَ ۛ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِه فُـؤَادَكَ وَرَتَّلْنٰهُ تَرْتِيْلًا (32)
Quran Ayah Data not found….for Surah:25, Ayah:32 and Translation:24
Quran Surah:25 Ayah:32
“(It has been sentdown) in this way (i.e. in parts) so thatWe make your heart firm.”
What I want to emphasize here is that besides the recitation of the verses of the Holy Qura’n we must take their sense into account and pay our special attention to it so that we attain its real purpose.
- Another way out of trials and tribulations explained in this verse is establishing Salah. In reality, it is an indication towards the practical form of the recitation of the verses as well as a way of each others’ reformation. Hence, its importance benefits also has been pointed out in the words,
اِنَّ الصَّلٰوةَ تَنْهٰى عَنِ الْفَحْشَآءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ
“Surely Salah restrains one from shameful and evil acts.”
So to speak, the inevitable outcome of establishing Salahshould be the same as mentioned above. Only if we do not experience this outcome, it does mean that there is something wrong with the way we perform Salah and which has no value. As Hazrat Imran bin Husain (R.T.A.) is reported to have said that the Holy Prophet said:
مَنلَم تَنھَہ¾ صَلَوٰتُہ¾ عَنِ الفَحشَائِ وَ المُنکَرِ فَلاَ صَلوٰةَ لَہ“
“The one whose Salah does not restrain him from shameful and evil acts is no worthy being called Salah.”(IbneAbiHatim)
Similarly, Ibne Abbas (R.T.A.) narrates from the Holy Prophet ﷺhe said:
”مَن لَم تَنھَہ¾ صَلَوٰتُہ عَنِ الفَحشَائِ وَ المُنکَرِ لَم یَزدَدُ بِھَا مِنَ اﷲِ اِلاَّ بُعداً“
“The one whoseSalah does not restrain him from shameful and evil acts, in reality, it has caused more distance between him Allah, the Almighty.”
These days, if we find our Salah having no effect, we must need to introspect them on this basis and rectify the defects found in them so that we could benefit from them as well.
- The third way is the remembrance of Allah, the Almighty. In other words, we must be always mindful of Allah as our Lord, so that we may be blessed with His guidance in every walk of our life and safeguard ourselves from being misled. Thus, it is a mainstream of goodness. It is something which encourages us on doing good things and hasten towards acts of piety. Hence, it is said:
ـ وَلَذِكْرُ اللّٰهِ اَكْبَرُـ
“Indeed remembrance of Allah is the greatest of all things.”
In this context, it may be explained in this way that the remembrance of Allah, the Almighty is greater than even Salah, since the commandment of it is given in the Holy Qura’n by Allah, the Almighty in the words:
اِنَّنِىْۤ اَنَا اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِىْ وَاَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَ لِذِكْرِىْ (14)
Quran Ayah Data not found….for Surah:20, Ayah:14 and Translation:24
Quran Surah:20 Ayah:14
“Establish Salah for my Remembrance”
But, the most pleasing and important explanation of the same phrase is that even the sense of it creates a new élan of enthusiasm and urge in a man, that is that the being remembered by Allah, the Almighty Himself in return to the recitation of the verses of the Holy Qura’nand establishing Salah is the greatest favour on a man from Allah, the Almighty. Despite the fact that remembering Allah is our duty, in such case, the sense of our being remembered by Allah, the Almighty is really a greatest means for our encouragement. When a man remembers Allah through Salah, Allah, the Almighty too remembers him as also evident from the verse:
فَاذْكُرُوْنِىْٓ اَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوْا لِىْ وَلَا تَكْفُرُوْنِ (152)
Quran Ayah Data not found….for Surah:2, Ayah:152 and Translation:24
Quran Surah:2 Ayah:152
“So, you remember Me and I will remember you.”
Thus, what here is being said is that since your act to remember Allah, the Almighty is a great thing, we must try to be worthy of itas what harm once can make to us if Allah, the Almighty remembers us and bestows us with His ultimate mercy? Only if we remember Him with this thing in our mind, it will surely add to the sweetness of this act.May Allah, the Almighty enlighten all of us this fact!