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Similarities between Islam and Christianity - Part 3
By Dr. Zakir Naik
I have got no objection if someone uses the word ‘Prayer’ in English for the Arabic word Salaah.
The second pillar of Islam is ‘Salaah’. People usually translate the Arabic word ‘Salaah’ as ‘Prayer’. Prayer does not denote the complete meaning of the Arabic word ‘Salaah’. To pray means to beseech or to ask for help. In Salaah we Muslims do not merely ask for help from Almighty Allah but we also praise Him and receive guidance from Him. I personally prefer describing it as programming towards righteousness. If you ask me to explain I would say ‘Salaah’ is a sort of programming, a sort of conditioning. But if someone asks where are you going and if I say I’m going for programming, it will sound odd. Therefore I have got no objection if someone uses the word ’Prayer’ in English for the Arabic word Salaah. However, the English word ‘prayer’ does not denote the complete meaning of Salaah in its full and true sense.
Why do I say that Salaah is a sort of programming is because we are being guided in our Salaah, for example, after the Imam reads Surah Fatihah, he may recite Surah Al Maidah Ch. No. 5, Verse No. 90 of the Glorious Qur’an which says
O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones and (divination by) arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork: eschew such (abomination) that ye may prosper. [Surah Al-Maidah 5:90]
Allah (swt) guides us, through this verse of the Qur’an, which is recited by the Imaam during salaah, that we should not imbibe intoxicants, we should not indulge in gambling, idol worship or fortune telling. All these are Satan’s handiwork and we should abstain from these if we wish to prosper.
The Imam may recite Surah Al-Baqarah Chapter 2 Verse 188 which says,
And do not eat up your property among yourselves for vanities nor use it as bait for the judges with intent that ye may eat up wrongfully and knowingly a little of (other) people’s property. [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:188]
The Qur’an says that bribing is not allowed in Islam. We are being programmed, we are being conditioned that bribing is wrong.
The Qur’an says in Surah Al Ankabut Chapter 29 Verse 45
Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; [Surah Al-Ankabut 29:45]
The Qur’an says that prayer restrains you from shameful and unjust deeds. For a healthy body, humans require about three meals. In a similar manner for a healthy soul, it is required that we offer Salaah a minimum of five times every day.
Our Creator Allah (swt) has prescribed Salaah for human beings for a minimum of five times a day in Surah Al Isra Chapter 17 Verse 78 and in Surah Taha Chapter 20 Verse 130.
And the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Taha Chapter No. 20, Verse No. 11 & 12
But when he came to the fire a voice was heard: “O Moses! “Verily I am thy Lord! Therefore (in My presence) put off thy shoes: thou art in the sacred valley Tuwa. [Surah Ta- Ha 20:11&12]
Almighty God commanded Moses to remove his shoes because he was in a sacred place. A similar message is given in the Bible in the Old Testament in the Book of Exodus Chapter No. 3 Verse No. 5, it says
And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. [Book of Exodus 3:5]
The same message is repeated in the Book of Acts chapter No.7 Verse No. 33
Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. [Book of Acts 7:33]
It was a commandment given by Allah (swt) to Prophet Moses (pbuh), to remove his shoes while offering worship on the holy ground. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) gave us permission for both i.e. we can pray with footwear as well as without footwear. However, if you are praying with your footwear, you should see that the footwear is clean.
And the prophet said, its mentioned in Abu Dawood Vol. No. 1, in the Book Salaah Ch. No. 240, Hadith No. 652, the prophet said that :
“Do the opposite of what the Jews do, for they do not pray in their sandals or their shoes.”
Its mentioned in Abu Dawood Vol. No. 1, in the Book of Salaah, Ch. 240, Hadith No. 653:
Shuaib Ibn Amr, on the authority of his father said that his grandfather reported: “I saw the prophet praying both barefooted and wearing sandals”.
It means that a Muslim can pray without shoes, and if we pray with shoes, the prophet said, you should clean the sole, because we are hygienic people, we want to keep the place of worship clean.
And the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Al Maidah Ch. No. 5, Verse No. 6,
O ye who believe! When ye prepare for prayer, wash your faces and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles. [Surah Al-Maidah 5:6]
Doing ablution, ‘Wudhu’ before we offer ‘Salaah’ is compulsory for the Muslims. And a similar message is given if you read the Bible its mentioned in the Book of Exodus Ch. No.40 Verse No.32
When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the Lord commanded Moses. [Book of Exodus 40:32]
Its mentioned in the Book of Acts Ch. No.21 Verse No.26
Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, [Book of Acts 21:26]
Doing ablution is a requirement because we Muslims are hygienic people, we want to be clean and besides that it’s also a mental preparation. How we prepare ourselves before the final exams, similarly ablution is a mental preparation before you appear in front of your Lord.
If Christian is a person who follows the teachings of Jesus (pbuh) then we Muslims we are more Christian than the Christians themselves. We follow more of the Bible while offering ‘Salaah’ than the Christians do while praying.
Muslims demonstrate Universal Brotherhood five times a day in their prayer, i.e. Salaah. When we offer Salaah, we practically demonstrate Universal Brotherhood.
It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, Vol. No. 1, in the Book of Adhan, Ch. No. 75, Hadith No. 692:
Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that when they stood for Salaah, “Everyone of us used to put his shoulder with the shoulder of his companion and his foot with the foot of his companion.”
It is mentioned in Sunan Abu Dawood, Volume No. 1, in the Book of Salaah, Ch. No. 245, Hadith No. 666, that our beloved Prophet said:
“Set the rows in order, stand shoulder to shoulder, close the gaps, be pliant in the hands of your brethren, and do not leave openings for the devil…”
The Prophet was not referring to the devil with the two horns and a tail, which you see in the Onida TV advertisement in India. The Prophet was referring to the devil of Racism, of Caste, of Colour, of Wealth. Irrespective of whether you are rich or poor, a king or a pauper, when you stand for prayers, for Salaah, stand shoulder to shoulder, so that brotherhood increases and it is practically demonstrated that all are equal and the devil of racism, of caste, of colour, of creed and of wealth does not come in between you. This is the teaching of our beloved Prophet (pbuh).
The best part of ‘Salaah’ is the sujood, the prostration and the psychologists tell us that our mind is not directly under our control. Our body is directly under our control, if I want to lift my hand I can lift my hand, if I want to bring it down I can bring it down, if I want to take a step forward I can take a step forward, if I want to take it backwards I can take it backwards. Body is directly under our control but the mind keeps on wandering. It’s not directly under my control.
The psychologists say that in order to humble the mind you have to humble the body and there is no better way than putting the highest part of the body i.e. the forehead on the lowest part of the ground and then say ‘Glory be to Allah (swt) the Most High, Glory be to Allah (swt) the Most high’. The same method has been prescribed even in the Bible. In the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. If you read the Book of Genesis Ch. No.17, Verse No. 3, it says
And Abram fell on his face: [Book of Genesis 17:3]
In the Book of Numbers Ch.No.20, Verse No. 6,
And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces. [Book of Numbers 20:6]
In the Book of Joshua Ch. No.5, Verse No. 14,
And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, [Book of Joshua 5:14]
Its mentioned in the New Testament, when Jesus Christ (pbuh) goes in the garden of Gethsemane in the Gospel of Matthew Ch.No.26, Verse No. 39, it says
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, [Gospel of Matthew 26:39]
Even an Acrobat cannot do better than the way we Muslims do i.e. falling on the face and pray to God. It’s the same way, how Jesus (pbuh) prayed. So if following the teachings of Jesus Christ (pbuh) makes a person a Christian then we Muslims are more Christian than the Christians themselves.
The third pillar is Zakaat, which in Arabic means to purify, to grow. It is obligatory upon every rich adult Muslim who has a saving which is more than the minimum level called ‘Nisaab’ i.e. 85 gms of gold, to give 2.5% of his excess wealth in charity every lunar year. The Glorious Qur’an enumerates eight categories or type of persons upon whom Zakaat may be bestowed.
Alms are for the poor and the needy and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. [Surah At-Tawbah 9:60]
If every rich human being gives Zakaat, then poverty will be eradicated from this world. There will not be a single human being who will die of hunger. A similar message is given in the Bible if you read in the 1st Epistle of Peter Ch. No. 4, Verse No. 8, it says,
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. [1st Peter 4:8]
Give fervent charity, for with charity you can reduce multitude of sins.
One of the main objectives of Zakaat is to ensure that wealth does not circulate only amongst the rich. Says Allah (swt) in the Glorious Qur’an:
“In order that it may not (merely) make a circuit between the wealth among you. …” [Surah Al-Hashr 59:7]
O ye who believe! There are indeed many among the priests and anchorites, who in falsehood devour the substance of men and hinder (them) from the way of Allah. And there are those who bury gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah: announce unto them a most grievous penalty [Surah At-Tawbah 9:34]
‘Saum’ or fasting, is the fourth pillar of Islam. Every healthy adult Muslim is supposed to abstain from eating, drinking and sex, from dawn to sunset, in the complete lunar month of Ramadhaan. The Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Al Baqarah Ch. No. 2, Verse No. 183,
O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that ye may (learn) self-restraint. [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183]
Fasting has been prescribed to control desires and to learn self-restraint. Today the psychologists inform us that if a person can control his hunger, it is very likely that he will be able to control most of his desires.
And a similar message is given in the Gospel of Matthew Ch. No. 17, Verse No. 21 and the Gospel of Mark Ch. No. 9, Verse No. 29,
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. [Gospel of Matthew 17:21]
And he said unto them, this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. [Gospel of Mark 9:29]
Fasting for one complete month is a good opportunity for giving up one’s wrong habits. If a person can abstain from drinking alcohol, from dawn to sunset, he can very well abstain from alcohol from the cradle to the grave. If a person can abstain from smoking, from dawn to sunset, he can very well abstain from smoking from the cradle to the grave. There are various medical benefits of fasting. Fasting increases the absorption capacity of the intestine and it also decreases the cholesterol level.
The fifth pillar of Islam is Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah. Every adult Muslim who has the economical and physical means to perform Hajj should perform Hajj once in his lifetime. He must visit the Holy city of Makkah during Hajj and visit Mina as well as Arafat etc. About two and a half million people from various parts of the world assemble in Makkah to perform Hajj. People come from various parts of the world – from America, from Canada, from U.K., from Singapore, from Malaysia, from India, from Pakistan, from Indonesia and other parts of the world. Men are dressed up in two pieces of unsewn cloth that is preferably white. One cannot identify nor ascertain whether the person standing next to him, he is a King or a pauper. The Hajj is the best example of International Brotherhood.
It is the biggest annual gathering of the world. Two and a half million people gather every year. Irrespective whether they are rich or poor, black or white and from whichever part of the world they have come from, all are dressed in the same attire.
And the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Al Hujurat Ch. No. 49, Verse No. 13,
O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. [Surah Al-Hujurat 49:13]
The criteria for judgement in the sight of Allah (swt) is not sex, its not wealth, its not caste, its not colour, but it is Taqwa, its God consciousness, its piety, its righteousness.
These were the five pillars of Islam, but these five pillars do not make up complete Islam as our beloved Prophet said these are only five pillars. An engineer or any architect will tell you, that if the pillars are strong then the structure will be strong. So if any human being follows these five pillars correctly, InshaAllah his other principles of life also will be strong.
(To be continued)
English translation of verses of the Glorious Qur’an is taken from “Abdullah Yusuf Ali”
References of the Bible have been taken from the King James Version
(Dr. Zakir Naik is the President of the Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation and can be reached at zakir@irf.net)
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