The Philosophy of Salah/Daily Connection/Prayer

[Surgenator]

Ok. Then it seems like you're "informing" us of your religion's beliefs and not really starting a conversation.

Well if anyone wants to discuss the philosophy I am showing, I would love to. But people here are just attacking without aiming to discuss what has been said.

Of course we would attack everything we see wrong. When you post something without a narrow discussion topic, it would seem like there is no particular aim to our attacks. 

[Mystic]

What do you see wrong with what has been posted so far?

[Surgenator]

What do you see wrong with what has been posted so far?

How about we start of with the big questions. Why should I take Salah's philosophy seriously? Where is the evidence for any of Salah's claims?

[Mystic]

What do you see wrong with what has been posted so far?

How about we start of with the big questions. Why should I take Salah's philosophy seriously? Where is the evidence for any of Salah's claims?

Are you asking for a proof of God or proof of religion or proof of Islam?

If you believe in God and his holy names, the wisdom of Salah has an exalted wisdom in connecting to him. Of course if you don't believe in God, then Salah will mean nothing to you. But at the very least, it's good to understand it as to not mock those performing rituals that have inward spirit and meaning.

However, I haven't shown the wisdom of Salah as I understand it yet. I've only shown the Wudoo and takbeer.

  

[rexbeccarox]

So... you're just preaching at us again?

[Mystic]

So... you're just preaching at us again?

How is this preaching? Discussing an inward philosophy of a ritual is preaching? Are you guys afraid of any topic discussing a deeper layer of the religion that you are going to label that preaching?

[Cato]

A lot of people will look at the ritual, and think, "Why?".

Incorrect.




I look at the ritual and think "what the fuck is wrong with you assholes?"

Just glad they're all wearing pants, otherwise we would see nothing but assholes.

[Surgenator]

How about we start of with the big questions. Why should I take Salah's philosophy seriously? Where is the evidence for any of Salah's claims?

Are you asking for a proof of God or proof of religion or proof of Islam?

How about we avoid an ambiguous god and go straight to Allah. Where is proof that Allah exist?

If you believe in God and his holy names, the wisdom of Salah has an exalted wisdom in connecting to him. Of course if you don't believe in God, then Salah will mean nothing to you. But at the very least, it's good to understand it as to not mock those performing rituals that have inward spirit and meaning.

I'm an atheist, as are many people here. So you know where we stand on god's existence question. But more importantly, why should I not mock someone's beliefs. If you meet a grown man that believes in Santa Clause or the tooth fairy, would you not mock him? Of course you would, maybe even to his face. To us atheist, your beliefs are just as ridiculous as the tooth fairy. So we mock.

However, I haven't shown the wisdom of Salah as I understand it yet. I've only shown the Wudoo and takbeer.

Unsupported statements are not wise. For a statement to have a chance to contain wisdom, it first must be true.

[rexbeccarox]

So... you're just preaching at us again?

How is this preaching? Discussing an inward philosophy of a ritual is preaching?  Are you guys afraid of any topic discussing a deeper layer of the religion that you are going to label that preaching?

In "discussing" your inward philosophy, which you weren't doing in your OP; you were just talking at the forum, a few posts later you said, "Of course if you don't believe in God, then Salah will mean nothing to you."


Hint: this is an atheist forum.  The majority here lack belief in gods, so therefore, Salah means nothing to the majority of us.  


Afraid?  No.  Sick to death of theists pushing their crappy rites and rituals as if they have some great meaning?  Yes.  That's preaching.  

[Mystic]

The next part of Salah is standing and reciting two Surahs. I will discuss the Standing part later, as it has a deeper philosophy with the Surahs recited and relationship to Quran.

I will discuss the Ruku (bowing) and Sujood (prostration).

Bowing is itself a sign of respect and honor, while the station of sujood (prostration) is an act of exalting a higher degree with more humility shown.

Bowing has been made a preparation for Sujood.

The name in bowing that we glorify is the name "The great" (Al-Atheem) while in Sujood it's the "The Highest". We also remember his praise there in.

God's honor and light is in creation to a lesser degree and if we at the very least honor those names and attributes of God in creation, we would be respecting God. 

Anyone who sincerely respects and shows honor to God, God will robe him with clothes of that very honor he is respecting recognizing that God excels in it, and trying to prepare oneself to intimacy with God in Sujood (prostration).  

The very least is to praise him to a degree of respect.

Imam Jaffar states:

The bondsman of Allah does not truly bow (in ruku') but that Allah adorns him with the light of His radiance, shades him in the shade of His greatness and clothes him in the garment of His purity. Bowing is first and prostration (sujud) is second: there is courtesy in bowing, and in prostration nearness to Allah. Whoever is not good in the courtesy is not fit for nearness; therefore bow with the ruku' of one who is humble to Allah, abased in his heart and fearful under His power, submitting his limbs to Allah like one who is fearful and sorrowful for what he might miss of the benefits of those who bow.

 
It is related that Rabi' ibn Khuthaym used to stay awake all night until dawn, in a single ruku'. In the morning he would sigh and say, 'Oh! The sincere have gone ahead, and we are cut off!' Make your ruku' properly by keeping your back straight, coming down from your aspirations in standing to serve Him which comes only with His help. Let your heart flee from the whisperings, tricks and deceit of Satan. Allah will elevate His bondsmen according to their humility to Him, and will guide them to the roots of humility, submission and abasement according to how well their innermost being is acquainted with His immensity.
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The next part is Sujood. Sujood we close our eyes to everything, symbolizing cutting off all desire but towards God himself and looking towards his light.

Imam Jaffar states:

A person who performs true prostration (sujud) does not lose Allah at all, even if it is done only once in his entire life; but the man who deserts his Lord in that state does not prosper. He is like someone who deceives himself, neglecting and forgetting the immediate joy and the ease after this life which Allah has prepared for those who prostrate themselves.
 
The person who does well in his prostration is never far from Allah; while the person who shows ill courtesy and neglects to honour Him because his heart is attached to something other than Allah in the state of prostration will never come near to Him. 




And elsewhere states:


Allah made prostration the occasion to draw near to Him in one's heart, innermost being and spirit. Whoever draws near to Him is far from all that is other than Him. Do you not see that in its outward appearance the state of prostrations is not complete except by disappearing from all things and being veiled from all that the eyes see? Thus does Allah want the inward being to be. If someone's heart is attached to something other than Allah in prayer, he is near to that thing, and far from the reality of what Allah desires in His prayer. For He has said,
 

مَّا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِرَجُلٍ مِّن قَلْبَيْنِ فِي جَوْفِهِ

Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his breast. (33:4)
 
In the words of the Messenger of Allah: “Almighty Allah said, ‘When I look on the heart of a bondsman, I know if he has sincere love and obedience for My sake and seeks My pleasure in it. Then I take charge of him and draw near to him. Whoever is occupied with other than Me in his prayer is one of those who mocks himself, and his name is recorded in the register of the losers.’”







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So we see the prostration is an act of closing your eyes to all other then him, being it utmost humility towards him, and wanting to see of his glory and beauty, and if someone truly prostrates even once in his life with the inward spirit required, he would never be a loser, for he has gained an everlasting reward and knowledge and state in his innermost being, being close to God and his pleasure.

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How is this preaching? Discussing an inward philosophy of a ritual is preaching?  Are you guys afraid of any topic discussing a deeper layer of the religion that you are going to label that preaching?

In "discussing" your inward philosophy, which you weren't doing in your OP; you were just talking at the forum, a few posts later you said, "Of course if you don't believe in God, then Salah will mean nothing to you."


Hint: this is an atheist forum.  The majority here lack belief in gods, so therefore, Salah means nothing to the majority of us.  


Afraid?  No.  Sick to death of theists pushing their crappy rites and rituals as if they have some great meaning?  Yes.  That's preaching.  

I also stated while it means nothing to you, it would be good to understand other people doing these rituals instead of mocking them. Understanding the philosophy of a ritual is better then mocking it in ignorance.

Of course if you don't believe in God, the philosophy is meaningless to that person because it's all about the connection to God.

However understanding what it means to others is good. And it's good to understand a religion regardless if you believe it or not.

We learn about the inner meaning of hindu rituals in religion class in university.