Salat as a Means of Being Mindful of Allah

Most of the mosque-goers, these days, consider salat an end in itself and seldom bother to ponder about its purpose and that whether the purpose is being achieved or not. They have made salat just a ritual.

Salat, according to the Quran, has its purpose. It is not an objective in itself but merely a means towards achieving an objective. One of its aims is to be one of the means of being mindful of Allah (i.e. His Laws, Commands, Guidance, Instructions, Recommendations, Proscriptions, etc.). Allah says in the Quran, Sura 20 verse 14, “Establish salat for being mindful of Me”. In Sura 62 verse 9, Allah says, “O you who believe! When the call is made for Salat on the eve or day of community congregation, you should come quickly to the Remembrance of Allah leaving behind all business”. Masajid, according to the Quran, are places wherein Allah’s Attributes are commemorated[1].

The commemoration of Allah, and His Laws, Commands and Attributes is not just to be confined within the Masajid and/or only at the time of salat congregation but Allah says, you must stay mindful of Him even after the congregation, in whatever state you are - standing, sitting or lying down[2]. He says, “When the congregation of Salat is over, disperse and go wherever you like in search of livelihood. Do not think that the requirement of your Deen is only to hold such congregations. The congregations are just meant to convey and explain to you the Divine Instruction so that at all times and in every aspect of life, you should keep them in mind” [3]. Allah further says that you must stay mindful of His Attributes and then follow through[4].

Just ‘Being mindful of Allah’ is not the ultimate aim but the objective is to follow Allah’s Guidance in all of our acts. ‘Following Allah’s Guidance’, results in our preservation (taqwa) from the perils of the present and the future, and actualisation of our potentialities in an optimal manner (falah[5],[6]). Similarly, being mindful of Allah’s Attributes is not an objective in itself; the real aim is to follow through and absorb Divine Attributes[7] (The Hue of Allah[8]) in one’s personality, of course, as much as it is humanly possible.

[1] Al-Quran Sura Al-baqara 2, verse 114. [‘Ism’ = Name = Attributes]

[2] Al-Quran Sura An-Nisa 4, verse 103

[3] Al-Quran Sura Al-Jumua 62, verse 10 ; Sura Al-Hajj 22, verse 40

[4] Al-Quran Sura Al-Ala 87, verse 15. [‘Ism’ = Name = Attributes. ‘Salla’ literally means “Follow closely”. In the context here, it implies trying to adopt the ‘Hue’ of Allah (2:138)- absorbing Divine Attributes in one’s personality, of course, in the limited human capacity.]

[5] Al-Quran Sura Al-Anfal 8, verse 45. The ultimate aim of ‘zikr’ is falah. The word falah literally means ‘conversion of potentialities into actualities”. Just like a seed which has potential to become a plant, man has been endowed with certain potentialities which he must actualise. Falah also means ‘success’. A successful person is the one who converts his potentialities into actualities. By being mindful of Allah’s commands and then living according to His Commands, one can ensure the preservation (taqwa) of ones potential from any peril, harm, decay or disintegration and its actualisation in an optimal manner (falah).

[6] Al-Quran Sura Al-Jumua 62, verse 10

[7] e.g. mercy, forgiveness, creativity, peace, care, truthfulness, justice, clemency, appreciation, trustworthiness, kindness, compassion, independence, guidance, giving, strength, courage, etc.

[8] Al-Quran Sura Al-Baqara 2, verse 138