Al Salat does not mean ritual prayer in the Qur’an, and is very clearly related to the concept of fire. What does Salat & Salaam have to do with fire?
In this article we will observe that al Salat is defined as & used in the context of burning and kindling a fire 25x , by Allah in al Qur’an.
We will also observe Musa using the fire for al Salat,
and how both Salat & Salaam relate to Fire. – The Fire of Allah.
Salat Allah.
We see in 33:43 & 33:56 that Allah does Salat. It is indeed the active verb form of the word salat. Allah & his Malaaika do salat for the Nabi & for the believers;
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَلِّى عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتُهُۥ لِيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَكَانَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا
He it is that YuSalli upon you, as do His Malaaikat, that He might bring you out of the darknesses into the light; and He is merciful to the Confiders.
33:43
إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا
Allah and His Malaaika YuSalluna upon the Nabi. O you who confide: Salli upon him and Salute him with Salaam.
33:56
We can clearly see in these ayaat above that Salat is something that Allah himself does. Allah is not praying to the prophet. Thus, Salat does not mean prayer. It also does not mean to send blessings upon. It is the verb form of the root for Salat. These ayaat are clearly not discussing the concepts or root of نعمة or برك.
Salat is defined as Burning or the Kindling of a fire.
Salah is related to burning 20x in the Qur’an: 4:10, 4:30, 4:56, 4:115, 14:29, 17:18, 19:70, 27:7, 28:29, 36:64, 37:163, 38:56, 38:59, 52:16, 56:94, 58:8, 69:31, 74:26, 82:15, 83:16, 84:12, 87:12, 88:4, 92:15, 111:3
ثُمَّ ٱلْجَحِيمَ صَلُّوهُ
69:31 “Then burn him in Hell”
سَأُصْلِيهِ سَقَرَ
74:26 I Will burn him in Saqar
ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ لَصَالُوا۟ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
83:16 Then will they burn in Hell;
وَيَصْلَىٰ سَعِيرًا
84:12 And burn in an inferno.
ٱلَّذِى يَصْلَىٱلنَّارَ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰ
87:12 Who will burn in the Great Fire,
تَصْلَىٰ نَارًا حَامِيَةً
88:4 Burning in a scorching Fire,
لَا يَصْلَىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلْأَشْقَى
92:15 in which burns only the most wretched:1
سَيَصْلَىٰ نَارًا ذَاتَ لَهَبٍ
111:3 He will burn in a fire of flame.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ ظُلْمًا إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِى بُطُونِهِمْ نَارًا وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيرًا
Those who consume the property of the fatherless unjustly: they but consume into their bellies Fire; and they will burn in an inferno.
(4:10)
وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ عُدْوَٰنًا وَظُلْمًا فَسَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِ نَارًا وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّـهِ يَسِيرًا
And whoso does that in enmity and injustice, him will We burn in a Fire; and that is easy for Allah.
(4:30)
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا سَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِمْ نَارًا كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُم بَدَّلْنَـٰهُمْ جُلُودًا غَيْرَهَا لِيَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ كَانَ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
Those who deny Our proofs, We will burn them in a Fire; as often as their skins are burnt through We will change them for other skins, that they might taste the punishment; Allah is exalted in might and wise.
(4:56)
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
And whoso makes a breach with the Messenger after the guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the path of the believers: We will turn him to that to which he turns, and burn him in Jahannam; and evil is it as a journey’s end.
(4:115)
جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا وَبِئْسَ ٱلْقَرَارُ
Jahannam — wherein they burn? And evil is the fixed lodging.
(14:29)
مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُۥ فِيهَا مَا نَشَآءُ لِمَن نُّرِيدُ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا لَهُۥ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَىٰهَا مَذْمُومًا مَّدْحُورًا
Whoso desires this fleeting life, We hasten for him therein what We will to whom We wish; then have We appointed for him Jahannam wherein he will burn, condemned and banished.
(17:18)
ثُمَّ لَنَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِهَا صِلِيًّا
Then will We best know those most worthy to be burned therein.
(19:70)
ٱصْلَوْهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
“Burn therein this day, for what you denied!”
(36:64)
إِلَّا مَنْ هُوَ صَالِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
Save him who is to burn in Hell.
(37:163)
جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا فَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ
Jahannam, wherein they will burn; and evil is the resting-place.
(38:56)
هَـٰذَا فَوْجٌ مُّقْتَحِمٌ مَّعَكُمْ لَا مَرْحَبًۢا بِهِمْ إِنَّهُمْ صَالُوا۟ ٱلنَّارِ
“This is a crowd rushing headlong with you!” — No welcome for them — they will burn in the Fire.
(38:59)
ٱصْلَوْهَا فَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ أَوْ لَا تَصْبِرُوا۟ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
“Burn therein! And be you patient or be you not patient — it is the same for you; you are but being rewarded for what you did.”
(52:16)
وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ
And burning in Hell.
(56:94)
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ نُهُوا۟ عَنِ ٱلنَّجْوَىٰ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَيَتَنَـٰجَوْنَ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَإِذَا جَآءُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ ٱللَّـهُ وَيَقُولُونَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَوْلَا يُعَذِّبُنَا ٱللَّـهُ بِمَا نَقُولُ حَسْبُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ يَصْلَوْنَهَا فَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
Hast thou not considered those who were forbidden private conversation then return to what they were forbidden and converse confidentially in sin and enmity and disobedience to the Messenger? And when they come to thee, they greet thee with a greeting wherewith Allah never greeted thee; and they say within themselves: “Oh, that Allah but punished us for what we say!” Sufficient for them is Jahannam: they will burn therein; and evil is the journey’s end!
(58:8)
Musa does salat with a Fire.
إِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَهْلِهِۦٓ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًا سَـَٔاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ ءَاتِيكُم بِشِهَابٍ قَبَسٍ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ
27:7 When Musa said to his people: “I perceive a fire. I will bring you news from it, or bring you a flaming brand, that you might Do Salat.”
فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ مُوسَى ٱلْأَجَلَ وَسَارَ بِأَهْلِهِۦٓ ءَانَسَ مِن جَانِبِ ٱلطُّورِ نَارًا قَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ ٱمْكُثُوٓا۟ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ جَذْوَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ
Then when Musa had completed the term and was travelling with his family, he perceived from the side of the mount a fire. He said to his family: “Wait here; I have perceived a fire. I might bring you news from it, or a firebrand from the fire, that you may do Salat.”
(28:29)
إِذْ رَءَا نَارًا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ ٱمْكُثُوٓا۟ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ هُدًى
20:10 When he saw a fire, and said to his people: “Stay here; I perceive a fire. I might bring you therefrom a firebrand, or find at the fire guidance.”
Fire in The Qur’an is associated with هُدًى guidance, خَبَرٍ news, and Salaat & Salaam.
Salaam is also associated with Fire:
قُلْنَا يَـٰنَارُ كُونِى بَرْدًا وَسَلَـٰمًا عَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ
We said: “O fire: be thou coolness and Salaam upon Ibraaheem.”
(21:69)
The Fire of Allah:
نَارُ ٱللَّـهِ ٱلْمُوقَدَةُ
The Fire of Allah, the Kindled
(104:6)
ٱلَّتِى تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى ٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةِ
Which looks down upon the hearts.
(104:7)
It is from his fire, which Allah sends down his Salaat & Salaam upon the believer, and Allah sends them upon the heart of the believers:
إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى ٱللَّـهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ
“Save him who comes to Allah with a Heart Saleem.”
(26:89)
إِذْ جَآءَ رَبَّهُۥ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ
When he came to his Lord with a pure heart,
(37:84)
This is from where the concept & saying of a burning heart arises.
Salat has real, physical, observable effects.
Al Salat has real effects on the Confider, the individual recipient , as well as the world around them. Al Salat is the means through which Allah takes us out of darkness and into light, and al Salat forbids evil, and it purifies & fuels.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَلِّى عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتُهُۥ لِيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَكَانَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا
He it is that YuSalli upon you, as do His Malaaikat, that He might bring you out from the darkness into the light; and He is merciful to the Confiders. (33:43)
ٱتْلُ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ ٱللَّـهِ أَكْبَرُ وَٱللَّـهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ
Follow thou what has been revealed to thee of the Book, and uphold thou the Salat; the Salat forbids The Immorality and The Perversity; and the remembrance of Allah is greater; and Allah knows what you do.
(29:45)
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ صَلَوٰتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ وَٱللَّـهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
Take thou charity of their wealth to cleanse them, and to increase them in purity thereby; and perform thou the duty befitting them; thy duties are an assuagement for them; and God is hearing and knowing.
(9:103)
We can see above the effects of al Salaat, it takes the Confiders out of the darknesses and into the light, it forbids evil, and it purifies. Qalbin (heart) Saleem is translated as & associated with purity ie a a pure heart , – because Fire (both salaat & salaam from fire) is a means of purification. Metal is purified with fire when forging and smelting. Fire itself is also used to even purify Water, seemingly the epitome of purity. Fire is also used to purify food hence cooked, stewed Food in Punjabi & Arab cultures is still called Saaloonah & Sallan. The Americans too would call their Establishments Saloon, as it was a means of refuelling oneself, ones fire. Salt also is based upon the word as-Salat, as Salt is used to purify & preserve foods and sterilise things. Like fire & ice, salt also burns.
Here are images showing the concept of al Salat:
Al Salaat is Not Namaaz.
It is clear that al Salat is not this namaz ritual, nor any ritual prayer. There is no 5x daily prayer in the Qur’an. Salat does not even mean prayer and is something that Allah does, – & the malaaika, For the Nabi and believers. It is also very clearly defined as burning , the kindling of a fire. Also, There is no instruction on anything even resembling this namaaz ritual in the Qur’an, ie the word rakaat does not even occur once in 6236 ayaat.
Also, none of the Nabiyeen did this namaaz ritual prayer. Not Ahmad AS, nor any of Nabiyeen & Mursaleen before him. As sunnatAllah never changes 33:38, 33:62, 35:43, 40:85, 48:23. And neither does sunnah of the messengers 17:77.
Just like Al Hajj (Surah 22) – al Salat has a particular spacial element. Not just in Time but in a particular space. Ie , just as al Hajj (the Quest) takes place in الساعة (The Clock) that is also when the believers will travel to masjid al Haram / makkata , the centre of all 7 earthly domains for the Salat of the Centre. – the وسط centre, بطن belly / navel & the شطر bisector of al Ardh is Makkata. The centre of all heavenly realms. – Bakkata. The Farthest place – Al Aqsa.
No.1 – no ayah points to Salaat being at distinct times from The Arabic
No. 2 – Allah does the action verb of Salaat
No.3 – Ibraheem is the earliest known relation to the Salah phenomenon as he is called Musallan (singular of Musalleen) which does not mean place of prayer (Masalla is formation of nouns of place)
They should be asking how Ibraheem did Salaat, not Nabi Ahmad. 17:77 messengers sunnah doesn’t change.
No. 4 As-Salaat is a singular definite noun (aka Salaat Allah) that people aqim TOWARDS (in a direction) suggesting this is a location in space and time
No. 5 Allah mentioned the The Salah of The Centre and how Salaat is at the ends of The An-Nahaar – Tarafyi refers to the edges/extremities/borders of the Earth when Allah mentions Atraafiha
No. 6 – Zekeriyya did the action of Salaat WITHIN the MiHraab (a noun of instrument for the root for WAR) suggesting it is connected to fighting and this could be why Salaat is connected to weapons (aslihati) in connection with an enemy
No. 7 – Salaat etymologically (SLW) has no connection to prayer whatsoever –
SLL Super-root
SLY – burning
ASL – roots, origin
WSL – connection, reaching
SWL – assault, fighting
Praying, prying, pray tell is related to Dua’ asking Allah for something in sincerity
No. 8 – Allah says to literally shorten from The Salaah
Which means in Arabic something (taqsuru) that is limited/shortened in SPACE, not time
Qasr is a fortress because it has limitations in space (ie walls) delinieating restriction in space
Like a maqsoorah in a masjid – same root
No. 9 – Salaat is neutral and is a reality for those sent to hell and those whose destiny is Jannah
69:31 – Thumma Al-JaHeem Salloohu (this is not driving or burning but “praying” check 35:36 – the imperative command for Salaat) – this means people are commanded to do salaat in hell and that one is for eternity
4:101-102 suggest that when Nabi Muhammad was with The Kafiroon he aqamtu lahum as-Salaat (??) why would Salaat be confined to prayer for religious people when Al-Kaafireen do this – suggesting a neutral concept for bad or good
No.10 – Musalleen (of Jannah and Saqar)
74:43 (the criminals are in the majority of the Musalleen as most humans are sent to hell lamenting over the minority from the Musalleen in Jannah)
“They [The Mujrimeen in Saqar] said, ‘Not could we be from The Musalleen”
107:4 So woe to The Musalleen (this is broad because the pattern with humanity is that the majority are sent to hell anyway; the next ayat elaborate on their attributes and what they did wrong therein)
70:22 – Except The Musalleen (except implies a minority that is completely unlike what was previously mentioned – the ayat following show they are Daa-imoon – this word is used for 13:35 about how fruit in Jannah is everlasting – the connotation being that these Musalleen are the minority that are in alignment with those that benefit from Allah’s Cause and enter Jannah)
Al Fulk. 
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