The Muslim at Prayer

THE MUSLIM AT PRAYER

by

Shaikh Ahmed Deedat

THE OPENING CHAPTER OF THE HOLY QUR'AN

In the name of Allah (God), The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord (Who is the Creator, Sustainer and Guide) of all the worlds.

The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful; Sovereign of the Day of Judgement.

Thee (alone) do we worship, And from thee (alone) we seek help.

Show us the straight Path, The Path of those (who fear Allah) and on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy blessings.

Not of those (committing wrongs deliberately) On whom Thou art angry, nor of those who (Having wrong opinions) go astray. Ameen

YOUR VISIT TO THE MOSQUE

We present to you this Brochure which is a Comparative Study of Muslims Prayer. It is intended to show in it, among other things, the relationship of the various aspects of Islamic prayer with the teachings of the People of the Book (i.e. the Jews and the Christians). Today, amongst some of our non-Muslims Brethren there is a strong misconception of Islam which they believe to be a mystical cult abounding in dogmas, superstitions and ritual dances.

The fact is that Islam is a simple, reasonable and practical religion and free from priestcraft and the above charges. It is a way of life for the social, moral and spiritual development of humanity. It does not demand of a man to surrender his reasoning faculties nor does it demand a blind faith in obscure and inexplicable mysteries. It teaches the purest form of Monotheism and regards Polytheisms as an unpardonable sin.

Although Islam is regarded as the youngest of all revealed religions, it is NOT A NEW RELIGION, but a continuation of the first religion of God to Man, purged and purified, time after time, from all human adulterations and restored to its original purity.

Thus all prophets from Adam to Muhummed (PEACE BE UPON THEM) came to preach the same religion; which continued to grow and grow until it reached perfection at the hands of the Holy Prophet "Muhummed".

Islam is the only religion in the world that commands its followers to respect and revere the founders of all revealed religions, such as Abraham, Moses, Noah, Jesus,etc.

Muhummedґs advent has been prophesied in religious scriptures, includung the Bible.* The New Testament says, in the words of Jesus: "And I will Pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter,** that he may abide with you for ever" (John 14:16); "But when the Comforter is come, whom i will send unto you, from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me" (John 15:26); "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away; for the if I go not away , the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you" (John 16:7) ; "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth : for he shall not speak of himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, that he shall speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you" (John 16:12-14).

THE QURAN SPEAKS! Vol. II-No. 47 GOD BEGETS NOT

It is not befitting to the (Majesty of) God that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When he determines a matter, he only says to it, "Be" and it is, (HOLY QURAN 19:35).

Begetting a son is a physical act and is against Godґs nature. "Son of God" should NOT be taken in literal sense

because God addresses His chosen servants as his "sons" - Adam (Luke 3:38) So Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:6), Jesus (Luke 3:22) Israel (Exodus 4:22) and Ephraim (Jeremiah 31:9) were "GODґS FIRST BORNS". The new Testament also interprets "son of God" to be allegorical, vide Romans 8:14: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." "... In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the Devil.." (1 John 3:9-10).

"There is no other object of worship but God; Muhummed is the Messenger of God."

"Say: He is Allah (God), the One and Only; Allah the eternally Besought of all; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none comparable unto Him." (HOLY QURAN 112.1-4).

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