Surely Worship at Fixed Times Has Been Enjoined on the Believers

Lesson # 547 From Holy Qur’an

Surely Worship at Fixed Times Has Been Enjoined on the Believers

Surah Nisaaa’ (Women) – Chapter – 4)

Verses –103 of 176, Section – 15/24 (Part – 5)

When ye have performed the act of worship, remember Allah, standing, sitting and reclining. Then when ye are in safety, observe proper worship. Surely worship at fixed times hath been enjoined on the believers.

Fa-‘izaa  qazay-tumus-Salaata  faz-kurUllaaha  qiyaa-manw—wa  qu-‘uudanw-wa  ‘alaa  junuubikum.  Fa-‘izat-ma’-nan-tum  fa-‘aqii-mus-Salaah.  ‘In-nas-Salaata  kaanat  ‘alal-Mu’-miniina  kitaabam-maw-quutaa.

                                                       

      

Lesson

Qazay-tum – {(ye) have performed}, this word has been derived from the word Qazaa, which means ‘to perform, to pay, to decide’. Here Qazaa has been used for performing the worship, to offer prayer.  

Junuubi – it is plural of Janab, which means ‘side, sideways, to lie down towards one side and to recline’, aim from ‘alaa  junuubikum is ‘you recline, you lie down aside’.

Maw-quutan – (at fixed times), it is from Waqt, which means ‘time’.

‘Uz-kurUllaaha – (Remember Allaah), Zikr means ‘remembrance’. Wird and waziifah are hence called zikr, because doing these acts, the believer repeats the Names of Allaah (Almighty) and supplications, memorizes them again and again.  

In the previous verse it was told, “How to offer prayer while you are facing the enemies’ attack directly and during war condition”. It is evident that confusion, un-contentment and narrowness will be surely during such condition. But the prayer is to be performed as and when its time is In, in each condition (either war or peace and either sick or on journey). But since the remembrance of Allaah Almighty cannot be completed due to fear and confusion at that time, therefore it has been instructed, “Remember Allaah in the condition of standing, sitting and reclining, after performing the act of worship (prayer)”. There is no restriction of any kind for His remembrance.

The intention of the prayer is to remember Allaah Almighty, to attend only to our Creator, our Lord, our Master returning from each side. Therefore, whenever the peace time begins and the fear of fighting etc. is driven back, then perform the act of worship in such a manner that as the prayer has its right to be offered. All parts of the prayer should be performed slowly to stay regularly. Try to be in love with the remembrance of Allaah Almighty. Offer the prayer punctually in time according to complete principles, when the time of worship starts. However, any particular time is not fixed for the remembrance of Allaah Almighty. You can remember Him every time in your heart.

Several matters have been manifested from these verses, which we should keep in view in every respect. The prayer is of that kind of duty, which cannot be warded off in any form. It will be performed somehow or other, whether you are in the battlefield or it is the peace time, whether you are sick or travelling or there is any trouble. Secondly the prayer at fixed times has been enjoined on the believers. Neither it can be without time, nor can it be postponed.  

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’an published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English  by Muhammad Sharif).