UNDERSTANDING THE ROOT WORD OF SALAT: PART 2

SALAH IN THE LIGHT OF LOCAL ARABIC & THE BOOK QURAN:

First we should know with conviction that the صلاۃ (Salah) mentioned in the book Qur’an is not a contact prayer or “Namaz” which consists of pre-Islamic culture of worshiping of Nature by folding hands in front of trees, Sun, Moon or bowing down towards deities made of stones or considering some house as sacred prostrating towards it. 

The book Quran is an unparalleled literature of its kind in simple Arabic language. It is wrong to give this marvelous book a religious color. We are fortunate that the language of the book Qur’an is not totally dead yet. Even today the native Arabs can relate its word in their daily usage but unfortunately they are not interested in any academic field and majority of the Arabic literature work related to the book Quran is done by non Arabs.

A very vast majority of "Muslims" are content to believe that Allah / Rabb is an exclusive invisible object of worship and our purpose of existence is to please Him day and night as He is watching us 24x7 from the Heaven. Subsequently we will be facing the trail of justice on the basis of how much Allah is pleased with us. All the ritual worship, pleading and devotion is for the purpose of influencing the Judgment of Allah. Allah is presume to be the King of Judgment day and He will decide our afterlife fate whether we would be burned in the eternal "Hell" or enjoy eternal bliss in the "Paradise".

In "Muslim" culture anyone who can recite Arabic and quote the verses from the book Qur'an gains the authority and respect from the community and on the basis of that they select their respective scholars. Beyond this the common Muslims are afraid to go deep in the study of the book Qur’an. Independent and self study of the book is out of question. This is the short synopsis of "Muslims" mentality and belief.

 “صلاۃ”SALAAH AND ITS ROOTS:

The definite feminine noun الصَّلاَةِ is derived from the root و ص ل / ص ل [waw – sad – laam / sad - laam]. Some lexicons take صل as the root word and some describe صلة under the heading وصل. According to Almaany English Arabic dictionary basic meaning of صلة [sila] is:  bearing ; bond ; connection ; contact ; link ; nexus ; pertinence ; relation(ship) ; relevance ; tie ; tie-in - مصدر وثيق الصلة ب means source closely connected with - But this root word  وصل / صل is very rarely used for salah by the academicians although it has strong connection in the local language. I don’t still understand how our eminent academicians can ignore the local language. According to Almaany dictionary the word صلّ is still used in local language for prayers.

The popular Arabic word “اتصالات” (ittisalat) is also derived from the same root and Emirates Telecommunication Group Company, (Arabic: مؤسسة الإمارات للاتصالات‎, Mu'asissat al-'Imārāt lil-'Ittiṣālāt, literally, "Emirates Institute for Communications"), branded trade name Etisalat. In Arabic: اتصالات‎ ittiṣālāt, literally "communications" and for transportation the word is مواصلات (mawasalat) that is also derived from the same root word of  صلاۃ [Salah]. The phrase inner calling in Arabic is الاتصال الداخلي here the word الاتصال is a derivative of Salah and wasl.

When I first heard this word in Dubai some 20 years back I thought it has something to do with contact prayers [namaz] or may be the telephone line is coming from some big mosque. But later I found that this is the name of a very big telecommunication [الاتصالات] [Etisalat] company – the word for transportation is مواصلات [mawasalat] and these words have nothing to do with any ritual contact prayer [namaz]. In Arabic language اتصالية [ittisalat] and مواصلات [mawsalat] are from the same root of وصل / صلة.

The use of derivations of the root of صلاۃ [Salah] has not changed its primary meaning even in modern Arabic too. At present in normal routine this root word is used in different field, for example connecting a microphone [computer] is صِل الميكروفون – connecting an adapter [automotive] is صل المهايئ – to connect a call is توصيل مكالمة [telephone] – connect USB cable is صل كابل [computer] - sprinkler used in agriculture is صُلْ هوائي – movement joint is فا صل حركة  - and finally even today for prayers in general the word is صلّ used.

Discussing some theory for academic purpose, nothing to do with translation of the book Quran: However, during the Umayyad period [661A.H – 132A.H] Islam spread very fast to the non Arab lands. Umayyads were non religious Arabs, they were only interested in usurping power and expansion and they never felt the necessity to interpret the book Quran in any other language. It may be that the native speakers of Arabic do not give much importance to the translations, but they will know its importance if they ask any non-Arab Muslim about it. Only one important thing they did to protect the original script of the book Quran is by coding the Quranic script with diacritics marking [Al-Tashkil]. This is a boon for non-Arabs Muslim researchers.

Abū al-Aswad al-Duʾalī [16A.H – 69A.H], was the poet companion of Ali bin Abu Talib [d 40A.H] and grammarian is said to have introduced the use of diacritics (consonant and vowel markings) to writing, and to have written the earliest treatises on Arabic linguistics, and grammar (nahw). He had many students and followers. Al-Duʾali is credited with inventing a system of placing large colored dots above certain letters to differentiate consonants (because several groups share the same shape), and indicate short vowels (because the sounds are not otherwise indicated). Consonant differentiation is called I'jam (or naqt). Vowel indication is called tashkil. Al-Du'ali's large-dot system addressed both of these, resolving readers' confusion and making clear how to read, understand and write Arabic words.

Although effective, the large dots were difficult to use on small-size fonts except on limited selection of scripts. They were also time-consuming to make on any size of fonts or script. Thus, the Umayyad governor al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi [40A.H - 95A.H] - asked two of al-Duʾali’s students [Nasir and Yahya] to create and codify a new system that was simpler and more efficient. Even though the first usage of diacritics is said to have begun with Abu al-Aswad al-Dualy (d. 69 A.H), Hasan Basri (d. 109 A.H), Nasr ibn Asim (d. 88 A.H) or Yahya ibn Ya’mur, it seems more likely that Abu al-Aswad began this usage and the rest played important roles in its development. As a matter of fact, Nasr and Yahya were both students of Abu al-Aswad and were nominated to carry out this task on the order of Hajjaj.

Unfortunately even this meticulous decoding of the words of the noble Quran failed to stop the corruption in the understanding the book Quran. The Persians were very academically intelligent people but they were defeated by the superior Arab power. They could not fight the Arabs physically but politically they were very sharp. They knew the strength and weakness of Arabs. Their strength was the book Quran and weakness was women. The Arabs forcefully married fair skin Persian girls thus giving the Persians an opportunity to develop a political nexus between the despotic Arab. This way the Persians completely took under their control the entire administration of the “Islamic Empire” under the garb of providing guidance to Arabs. A simple guide of living was given the form of a sacred / religious book and especial rules were formulated to understand the vibrant message of the book Quran. Initially it was spread in non Arab Muslim regions so that nobody could doubt their intentions. Those who raised their voices were slyly put to death. Hundreds of Arabic speaking intellectuals were assassinated in order to camouflage their nefarious activities. Under the influence of government and the help of the illiterate Arabs even sane among them started to believe that to understand the “religious book Quran” they need to learn special sciences. The Arabs forget that the simple book Quran is in their own local language and they need not take help of any supplementary literature to understand it. The fake supplementary literature invented to distort the meanings and context of the book Qur’an was falsely attributed to the exalted messenger of Islam so that nobody could question its authenticity.

Majority of newly converted Arabs and non Arabs Muslims were not aware of the core philosophy of the book Quran. So it became even easier for the conspirators to revert back the traditional Arabs to their old worshiping methods and accommodate some rituals along with their important annual pilgrimage in the fold of Islam. Each and every verses of the book Quran was cleverly hijacked according to old Arab / Persian cultural beliefs. Special attention was given to the word صلاۃ and its derivatives so that it looks more like mixture of Jew / Christian / Zoroastrian form of worship.  Applause to them they did a marvelous job in converting a vibrant book of human psychology into the sacred book of religion.

It is a fact of Nature that you cannot hide the truth for long, it is bound to come out and the manifestation is in its nature. After taking so much trouble to fit in the designated words of their own choice their cheating was finally exposed by the translations itself. There are three root words in case of salah [صلو- صلى- - وصل / صل] from which one can choose the meaning according to its context. In the case nisa there are two root words [نسأ  and نسو ] and in the case of nabi there are two root words to choose from that are نبا and نبى  in all such cases the context of the book Qur’an will decide the root word and not the lexicographer. Lexicographers can play with its meaning but the immutable context of the book Qur’an will have the final say.

The traditional translators have taken the root word of صلاۃ [Salaah] as صلو and made يُصَلُّونَ - صَلُّوا its “derivatives” to mean ‘contact prayer’ [namaz]- –Now observe in the following verses how their translations looked like:

33:56 إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا

“Allah sends His Salat [ritual prayer] on the Prophet (Muhammad SAW) and also His angels too. O you who believe! Send your Salat [ritual prayer] on him (Muhammad SAW), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islamic way of greeting (salutation i.e. AsSalamu Alaikum).” T T

This above verse was the main reason for me to doubt the ritual prayers [namaz]. This is a very important verse of my life; correct understanding of this verse gave me the boost to my further research. I appreciate the English translation of this verse by Dr. Muhsin Khan & Dr. Al-Hilali that gave me my first breakthrough of my research. I have removed much interpolation so that the readers get a better picture of the verse.

 This verse made me ponder how Allah offers Salat on the Nabi. This is some 18 years back when I was critically analyzing salat, people thought I was crazy doubting an important pillar of Islam. Same mistake is committed by the translators in the below verse.

33:43 هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَائِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا

“He [Allah] it is Who sends Salat [ritual prayer] on you, and His angels too, that He may bring you out from darkness into light. And He is Ever Most Merciful to the believers.”

The biggest mistake the translators did is that they inferred يُصَلُّونَ and صَلُّوا as derivative of the word salat [صلاۃ] where as  صلة/ وصل is the root word of صلاۃ – The root word of يُصَلُّونَ and صَلُّوا is صلو – If we still think salat is ritual prayers then it is impossible to explain verse 33:36 and 33:43. And in the form II verb the intensity of the words become more intense.

You have seen if صلاۃ or يُصَلُّونَ and صَلُّوا is taken as a ritual prayer (namaz) it sounds illogical and goes against the general belief of that Almighty Allah. How can He perform ritual prayers on the Nabi as well as on believers and that means that He bows and prostrate to anyone in prayers?

Only a blind and deaf can ignore the normal daily usage of word salat and its derivatives in Arabic language. The Quranic word صلاۃ [Salah] is a primary noun of the same Arabic root word that is used to derive the popular words of general Arabic sense “الاتصالات” (Al itti salat) and “مواصلات” (mawasalat). Linguistically صلاۃ (Salaat) is a synonym of Arabic words رَبَط [rabt] which has the primary characteristics of “اتصالات” (Atta salat) and “مواصلات” (mawa salat). So, being a prime word and as an integral part of “اتصالات” (itti salat) and “مواصلات” (mawa salat), the essence of the Quranic word صلاۃ (Salat) is actually used to mean:  attachment ; conjunction ; connectedness ; connection ; junction ; liaison ; link(age) ; linkup ; union ; communication, transportation; union , connection; (state of) joining; mutual relation, bringing into such a relation; communication; social relations; a point at which two or more things are joined together; a place where two or more railway lines or roads meet, unite or cross; the act or instance of joining; communication or cooperation; relationship in which one is caused or affected by the other; relationship between two or more people; link or tie; act or instance of uniting or the state of being united.

The same word صلاۃ (Salaat) with the definite article الصلاۃ [As Salah] refers to connection, to reach out, to join, to unite, communication, to relate and to get together for purpose of connection with our own inherent script [Al-Kitab] as instructed by the book Quran.

Finally some verses from the book Quran must put the controversy to rest:


13:20 - الَّذِينَ يُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللّهِ وَلاَ يَنقُضُونَ الْمِيثَاقَ

Those who fulfill / complete with system of consciousness's [Allah's] promise / oath, and do not break / undo the promise / covenant.

13:21- وَالَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللّهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ وَيَخَافُونَ سُوءَ الْحِسَابِ

And those who connect [derivative of salat] what the system of consciousness [Allah] has ordered / commanded with it that to be connected [derivative of salat], and they fear their consciousness [Rabb], and they fear the displeasing reckoning.

13:22 - وَالَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلاَةَ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلاَنِيَةً وَيَدْرَؤُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ

And those who were patient desiring their Consciousness's direction/face/attention, and kept up the process of connection [salat], and they invest from what We provided for them gladly and clearly, and they repel /avert evil with the good, those for them is the cycle of returning / succession.

The verse 13:20 to 13:22 proves that Salat is contact or process of connection between the Rabb' promise / covenant / contract and us.

You will not see the real purpose of salat unless you replace the fake meaning of صلاۃ [Salah] from the contradictory translations of the above mentioned verses you will see yourself the correct, logical, sensible and understandable meaning of these sensible verses and its daily uses among Arabs.