Understanding Salaat and Zakaat in 73:20
Prof. Liaquat Samma
Let us study and analyze verse20 of Sura 73 Al Muzzammil in order to understand God’s intended meanings, true concepts, and usage in the context. Muslims generally don’t seem to get the real purpose and function of Salaat and Zakaat, two very important and basic concepts of a Muslim’s life.
God addresses Mohammad (SAW), His Prophet and Messenger and gives him instructions and guidance to all those who believe and promise to be obedient to God by submitting themselves to His Will.
The first and second instructions in Sura Al Muzzammil verses 2 and 4 of the Quran are to” stand during the night” and “put things together in a well arranged manner. The third and the fourth instructions are to remember and mention the attribute ( ism) of God being the Lord and Master ( Rab) and to devote himself to Him with utter devotion ( 73:8). The fifth instruction is to entrust Him with the management of his affairs (73:9). The sixth and the seventh instructions are to endure with patience with whatever they say and to leave them alone with a fair leave (7:10). The eighth instruction is to leave it to Him to deal with them (the rejecters) (73:11).
The next instruction is in 73:20 which we will discuss in detail. The context so far shows that Mohammad was assigned the job of informing and convincing the pagan Arabs of Mecca to acknowledge and accept God as a Lord, Master, and Provider of guidance and commands to them. But they rejected him and the guidance given in the Quran.
Then in 73:20, God says, “Indeed, your Lord and Nourisher knows how you stand for nearly two third of the night, or sometimes half, or a third thereof, as do a party of those with you. And God Who determines the measure of night and day, is aware that you count it not, and turns towards you with His grace. So recite as much of the Quran as you may do with ease. He knows that there may be sick people among you, while others may travel in the land in search of God’s bounty, and while others may fight for the cause of God. So recite from it that which is easy for you and keep following it ( wa aqeemus salaata), and give growth to these ideals ( wa aatuz zakaata),and give God a goodly loan. Whatever good you send before yourselves, you’ll find it with God, better and greater in reward, and seek God’s protection. Indeed God is a Protector, Dispenser of Grace.”
The ninth and the tenth instructions are to recite the Quran . This is repeated again for emphasis and for its importance. The eleventh instruction is to keep following the Quranic guidance and the facts given in it. Salaa means back, and to go after something, to obey (Tajul Aroos and Qamoos). It is a promise of obedience to God. It is following God’s guidance as a whole. Its root word SALAA means to have the center of the back bent in, as a mare before foaling (John Penrice). Salaa is much more than just ritual worship, which is listening to the Quran and promising to obey its commands and facts in life.” Prayer means saying words to God and giving thanks or asking for His help (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary).”It is a Christian concept of worship. In the Muslim concept of worship called Salaat, we stand before God, listen to the Quran, bow down and prostrate before God, and promise to follow it in our lives. It is called salaat because we follow the Imam, a model of Islam, the obedience to God and who leads the worship.
This ritual worship of the Muslims actually started in Medina, and not in Mecca where this verse was revealed about 10 or 11 years before the Hijra.Thus it can’t be understood as a ritual worship. Namaaz in Farsi means expression of service to God. In the context of the verse above, it means to follow all the guidance given in the Quran. Standing is being ready to listen and obey all the time in life when required to do so.
The twelfth instruction to give growth to ALL God’s guiding principles of life by practicing the principles fruitfully. The root word, zakaa means to grow, to purify (John Penrice).”Pure in English means morally good, without evil thoughts or actions ( OALD).To develop is to become better, to start having a skill, ability, quality that becomes better and stronger (OALD).There is no reference to purifying the wealth or giving money to others here. The context shows that we are required to follow the Quran, after knowing and remembering it, and to act upon the guidance as a whole in order to bring about the desired results and fruits. This is confirmed by the thirteenth instruction to lend God a goodly loan. This means that all our actions done on the basis of the Quran and its guidance will bring better rewards for us in the future life. The fourteenth instruction is to seek God’s protection from committing any violation of the guidance, any disobedience so that we may be safe and sound. Its root word ghafara means to cover, to pardon. Pardon means not to punish. But here the Muslims are commanded to seek protection from disobedience and punishment by obeying all the commands. There is no reference of disobedience and then forgiveness.
The main point is that we should read, remember, and follow the guidance of the Quran, and practice fruitfully all the principles given in the Quran and thus protect ourselves from any harm or punishment. The principles include following the Imam in the mosque during ritual worship and to promise obedience to the Quran. They also include the principle of spending money on the poor and needy as well giving money to them called Iinfaaq fi sabil Allah and Sadaqaat. So follow and practice all the principles of the Quranic guidance and be obedient, and thus safe and sound in life to come. So help us God.
Reproduced here with permission of the author
