English translation, generated by artificial intelligence, excerpted from the book "Kuran'daki Din" (Religion in the Quran) written in Turkish.
"FULL ABLUTION (GUSL) AND PARTIAL ABLUTION (ABDEST) (Specifically for Salah)
In the Quran, full ablution and partial ablution are described solely and exclusively as prerequisites for salah. Furthermore, taking full ablution and partial ablution when entering a mosque, reciting the Quran, or for any act of worship other than salah is not a religious obligation. In the Quran, full ablution and partial ablution are mentioned in only two verses, which we will provide shortly. Apart from these two verses, there are no other verses in the Quran regarding full ablution and partial ablution. What necessitates full ablution and partial ablution, when they are required, and what to do if water is unavailable can be understood from these two verses:
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] salah, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving nature or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.
5-Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread) Verse 6
O you who have believed, do not approach salah while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of salah], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving nature or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.
4-An-Nisa (The Women) Verse 43
Now, let's ask our questions and answer them according to these two verses:
1- Why are Partial Ablution (Abdest) and Full Ablution (Boy Abdesti) Necessary?
It is clearly understood from the verses that both partial ablution and full ablution are necessary only for salah. At the beginning of verse 6 of Surah Al-Ma'idah (5), it is stated that partial ablution should be taken for salah. In verse 43 of Surah An-Nisa (4), it is explained that a person in a state of janabah cannot perform salah without washing (full ablution).
2- When is Full Ablution (Boy Abdesti/Gusl) Taken?
The term "Boy Abdesti" (full ablution) in Turkish refers to the washing required in the Quran when one is in a state of "junub". Since "Gusl" in Arabic already means "washing", some use the Turkish terms "gusül" or "gusül abdesti" instead of "boy abdesti". In both verses, "contacting women" is mentioned as a state requiring water. Just like in Turkish, there are idioms in Arabic. In Turkish, the phrase "beraber olmak kadınlarla" (being together with women) is used to mean "sexual intercourse". The phrase "contacting women" (dokunma kadınlara) is an idiom in Arabic that means "sexual intercourse," and this will become clear when we examine the usage of this idiom throughout the Quran. Thus, full ablution needs to be taken after sexual intercourse.
3- When is Partial Ablution (Abdest) Taken?
In both verses related to this topic, it is explained what we should do in situations where water is needed but unavailable. The state described where water is needed also clarifies what invalidates partial ablution. Here, the phrase we translated as "comes from the place of relieving nature" indicates that partial ablution should be taken after "coming from the toilet". The Arabic word for "toilet" here is "gait," which in Arabic means "low place" and corresponds to "toilet, lavatory". Therefore, partial ablution is required after actions performed in low places (toilets). Apart from what is described here, nothing else invalidates partial ablution, neither the flow of blood nor eating camel meat. It is clearly understood from the verse what invalidates partial ablution. Whatever actions people perform in "toilets, lavatories," in those low places, invalidates partial ablution.
4- How is Full Ablution (Boy Abdesti) Taken?
We mentioned earlier that full ablution is taken when in a state of janabah. What we need to do when in a state of janabah is explained with two words. In Surah Al-Ma'idah (5), the word "tahare" means "to purify oneself," and in Surah An-Nisa (4), the verb "ghasala" means "to wash". For full ablution, phrases like "Wash from here to here, rinse your mouth and nose three times each, do not leave a dry spot the size of a pinhead, pour water three times starting from the right shoulder..." are not mentioned. From the word "ghasala" in the verse, only "to wash" is understood. With the term "tahare", the importance of cleansing oneself from impurities in this washing process is understood. If a mother tells her five-year-old child "Wash yourself," that child will understand and wash. However, when adults are told "Wash yourself," they ask unnecessary questions like "How should I wash? What if a dry spot the size of a pinhead remains? Which shoulder should I pour water on first?..." and when they cannot find answers to these questions, they think the Quran is insufficient. Moreover, they cannot understand that this lack of understanding stems from their own failure to try to comprehend a clear and simple explanation. They also consider what is explained in the Quran incomplete and take books full of contradictions, where these strange questions are "explained," as guides, as if they were complete and perfect sources of religion.
5- How is Partial Ablution (Abdest) Taken?
Verse 6 of Surah Al-Ma'idah (5) describes how we should perform partial ablution. In this description, the verb "wash" is followed by the phrase "faces and forearms to the elbows," and the verb "wipe" is followed by the phrase "heads and feet to the ankles." (Ankles are the protruding bones on both sides of the ankle joint.) If someone tells you, "wash: the bathroom and the kitchen; wipe: the living room and the bedroom," what would you understand? Would you understand that the bedroom needs to be washed or wiped? You would probably understand that the bedroom needs to be wiped. However, the majority of those from Sunni denominations have argued that instead of "wiping" the "feet to the ankles" that come after the verb "wipe," they should be "washed," associating the feet with the "washing" verb mentioned earlier. However, it seems more accurate not to associate the feet with the distant verb when there is a verb that is closer in proximity. (In the Hanbali denomination among Sunni denominations, it has been stated that both "wiping" and "washing" are possible.) It is also not possible to say that in the verse, "what needs to be done from top to bottom is stated, wiping is an explanatory detail, and only the head needs to be wiped." Because in the verse, first, faces and hands are mentioned, then it moves to the head, and then down to the feet. Therefore, sending the wiping of the feet up to the ankles to the verb "wash" does not seem more consistent. The "obligation to wash feet" has been attempted to be supported by fabricated hadiths. However, according to hadiths in Shia traditions, feet are wiped with the hand. Our aim is not to refute hadiths with hadiths, but to show that those who do not find the Quran sufficient behave arbitrarily even with hadiths. Professor Süleyman Ateş, after stating that many companions also sufficed with wiping their feet, explains what is understood from the Arabic of the verse as follows: "Allah Almighty has commanded the washing of two main organs of the body in partial ablution, which are the face and arms. And He has commanded the wiping of two terminal organs, which are the head and feet. After the verb 'wash,' He has brought two complements. These are the face and hands. So, the face and hands will be washed. After the verb 'wipe,' He has also brought two complements, these are the head and feet. So, these are the organs to be wiped. There is a subtle point in the verse that strengthens this meaning extremely. In the Holy Quran, every word is extremely harmonious and proportionate to each other. Now, just as the first of the two complements that come after the verb 'wash' indicates a single organ, and the second indicates two organs (i.e., two hands), similarly, the first of the two complements that come after the verb 'wipe' indicates a single organ, and the second indicates two organs (two feet)." (Süleyman Ateş, Quran Encyclopedia, 1st volume, Ablution section). In short, in partial ablution, the face and forearms up to the elbows are washed, the head and feet up to the ankles are wiped, and nothing else is required. Those who wish may rinse their mouth and nose, wipe their nape with three fingers, wash their feet, and recite Arabic duas at each washing of their organs. However, these are not obligations of partial ablution. Partial ablution is explained in the Quran, and these are not in the explanations in the Quran.
6- What to do if Water Cannot be Found?
Normally, the possibility of a person not finding water is very low. The fact that the Quran explains even this rare occurrence is evidence of how the Quran gives all the details when necessary. In this situation, the person compensates for the lack of water by performing "tayammum" with clean earth; there is no such thing as abandoning salah. By touching clean earth with the hands, the face and hands that cannot be washed are wiped. Thus, preparation for salah is ensured even when water is unavailable.
Those who complicate full ablution and partial ablution with a lot of unnecessary details and those who write separate books to "explain" a topic explained in two verses, with expressions at the end of both verses about Allah not wanting to make things difficult for us, His forgiveness, and His pardoning, should read them again thoughtfully.
CLOTHING AND CLEANLINESS IN SALAH
In the Quran, specific clothing for salah is not prescribed. An individual performing salah alone can perform their salah as they wish. However, it is better for those going to places where salah is performed in congregation to go in nice, proper attire (See 7-Al-A'raf Verse 31). In 7-Al-A'raf Verse 26, it is mentioned that just as there is a style of dress to cover people's private parts, there is also a style of dress that adds beauty and adornment. Five verses after this, in 7-Al-A'raf Verse 31, adorning oneself is mentioned in connection with mosques (the area where salah is performed). In the Quran, specific clothing is not prescribed as salah attire, but it would be appropriate to pay attention to attire in congregational salah.
From 2-Al-Baqarah Verse 125 and 22-Al-Hajj Verse 26, the importance of cleaning and keeping clean the area where salah will be performed is understood. Furthermore, from 74-Al-Muddaththir Verses 3 and 4, the importance of clothes being clean and avoiding filth is understood. These principles, which are also valid outside of salah, certainly also apply to salah.
TURNING TOWARDS THE QIBLA
In verses 144, 149, and 150 of Surah Al-Baqarah (2), it is stated that Muslims, wherever they may be, should turn towards the Masjid al-Haram, that is, the direction where the Kaaba is located. This is also a practice that brings order to the salah. Especially congregational salah becomes more orderly and organized in this way. In verse 115 of Surah Al-Baqarah (2), it is stated that wherever we turn, Allah is there, thus preventing the loading of wrong meanings onto turning towards the Kaaba and preventing the idolization of Masjid al-Haram and its surroundings. Existing mosques have been built facing the Masjid al-Haram based on the verses of Surah Al-Baqarah. Muslims perform their salah by turning towards the Masjid al-Haram. If Muslims know the qibla (the direction of Masjid al-Haram), they turn towards it and perform the salah. If they cannot find the direction, knowing that Allah is everywhere, they continue their salah by turning in any direction (2-Al-Baqarah Verse 115).
From the Quran, we understand that before a verse came about where Muslims should turn in salah, they performed salah by turning towards the direction that the People of the Book turned to, and that this was changed. Indeed, in verse 142 of Surah Al-Baqarah (2), we see that it is asked, "What turned them away from their qibla, which they used to face?" and that an objection is being attempted to be raised based on this change of direction. With the revelation of the verse commanding to turn towards the Masjid al-Haram, Muslims began to perform salah by turning towards the Kaaba. There is no Quranic verse indicating that they previously turned towards the direction they used to face (Jerusalem). In our view, this is one of the pieces of evidence showing that Muslims had an understanding of what salah was when they received the command to "perform salah," and that they started salah with this command in a way they also saw in the practices of the People of the Book. (This matter will be discussed in more detail below.) This understanding also included the direction to turn to while performing salah, so they turned to Jerusalem before the Quranic revelation came. However, with the revelation of the Quran, this matter was changed and they turned towards the Kaaba.
VOICE IN SALAH
The regulation regarding the voice in salah is given with this verse:
And do not raise your voice in your salah, nor lower it but seek a middle course between the two.
17-Isra (The Night Journey) Verse 110
As seen, salah should not be performed by shouting. Also, performing salah silently by just reciting words internally is also not appropriate.
CALL TO SALAH (EZAN)
In the Quran, we see that a call is made for salah, and that the disbelievers ridicule this call (5-Al-Ma'idah Verse 58). The purpose is to gather people for salah, and a call is made for this purpose when necessary. Since Friday salah is a salah that is commanded to be performed in congregation, a call is made for Friday salah (Jumu'ah) (62-Al-Jumu'ah Verse 9).
As for the azan being performed in a specific form; it is not stated in the narrated hadiths that the current azan was formed as a result of revelation or by the command of our Prophet. According to hadiths, those who came early to salah were complaining because they were left behind in their work, and those who came late were complaining because they missed the salah. Upon this, different opinions were put forward on how to call to salah. Finally, based on a dream that was seen, it was decided on the azan performed by using human voice as it is today (Abu Dawud). According to what is narrated in the hadiths, our Prophet said for this dream, "Insha'Allah, it is a true dream." Again, according to hadiths, Bilal added the phrase "As-salatu khayrun minan nawm" (Salah is better than sleep) in the morning salah on his own initiative. As it is seen, someone who reads the hadiths impartially concludes that the current form of the azan was accepted in the period of our Prophet in a way that was aimed at the needs of the ummah. According to hadiths, our Prophet did not command, "This is how it is, recite the azan like this." If the current text of the azan were a result of a command, it would be unthinkable for Bilal to add a sentence to the azan. If it is possible for Bilal to add sentences to the azan at his own discretion, that is, to change the azan, shouldn't it be considered that the current form of the azan is not an obligation (fard) but a well-established beautiful sunnah of this ummah?
The common and Quran-compliant words of the azan, recited in the same way everywhere, create a sense of unity among Muslims, and everyone who hears this call receives the message that the time for salah has entered and that salah will be performed together in a specific place. This practice, thus, has an important function related to order as well as creating a sense of unity. It is necessary to preserve the azan, which is recited in the same way all over the Islamic world, and not to disrupt "this common sunnah of the Islamic ummah."
A KNOWN ACT OF WORSHIP: SALAH
As we have pointed out before, it was known what was meant by "salah" (as-salat) in the time of our Prophet. It was Prophet Ibrahim who built the Kaaba in the city of Mecca, where our Prophet began his prophethood. In the Quran, our Prophet is told to follow the millah (way/community) of Prophet Ibrahim. Some commentators (mufassirun) also give the meaning of "religion" to the word "millah" here:
Then We revealed to you,
, to follow the millah of Abraham, inclining toward truth. And he was not of those who associate others with Allah.
16-An-Nahl (The Bee) Verse 123
In the Quran, we see that our Prophet is the last link in the chain of prophets who came before him. Among all the prophets, an almost special relationship was established between our Prophet and Prophet Ibrahim. Jews, Christians, and even pagans living in and around Mecca and visiting the Kaaba respected Prophet Ibrahim and saw themselves as his followers. In response to these, it is said in the Quran:
Indeed, the closest of people to Abraham are those who followed him [in submission] and this prophet, and those who believe [in him].
3-Ali Imran (The Family of Imran) Verse 68
From the Quran, we also understand that the reason why Prophet Ibrahim settled a part of his family in Mecca was for them to perform salah properly:
[And when Abraham said], "My Lord, I have settled part of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish salah. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from fruits that they might be grateful.
14-Ibrahim Verse 37
My Lord, make me an establisher of salah, and [from] my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.
14-Ibrahim Verse 40
Ismail, who built the Kaaba together with his father Ibrahim, and his community also performed salah:
Mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.
And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and zakah and was to his Lord pleasing.
19-Maryam (Mary) Verse 54, 55
The command to perform salah is not limited only to Prophet Ibrahim, his son, and his followers. From the Quran, we see that Jews and Christians were also commanded with salah. In today's denominations of Judaism and Christianity, we still see traces of salah performed at specific times. In these salahs, the remembrance of Allah, qiyam (standing), ruku (bowing), and sajdah (prostration) practices still continue, but there are differences in times and forms from denomination to denomination. The Quran says that the previous communities abandoned the salah habits they practiced by following their شهوات (desires) (19-Maryam Verse 59). In some denominations of Judaism and Christianity today, the timely salah worship is mostly performed by religious scholars, and a small part of the public regularly participates in this worship. We understand that there is salah worship in Judaism and Christianity from these verses:
And We inspired to Moses and his brother, "Settle yourselves and your people in Egypt in houses and make your houses [facing the qiblah] places of worship and establish prayer and give good tidings to the believers.
10-Yunus (Jonah) Verse 87
[Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has enjoined upon me prayer and charity as long as I remain alive.
19-Maryam (Mary) Verse 31
And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah.
98-Al-Bayyinah (The Clear Proof) Verse 5
When our Prophet and those with him received the command to "perform salah," they understood what salah was, they knew this act of worship from the practices of the People of the Book. As evidence for this, it is also shown that the phrases "perform salah" are mentioned with the definite article.
And establish the prayer and give zakah...
24-An-Nur (The Light) Verse 56
Here and in many other places, the word "salah" (as-salat) is mentioned with the definite article "el". This article is similar to the article "the" in English, it expresses that the thing it precedes is definite, known. Here, this article, preceding the word salah, gives the meaning that salah is a "definite, known" act of worship. This shows that our Prophet and those with him were commanded with salah, which was already a definite, known act of worship. Our Prophet and his companions, who received the command to "perform salah," started to perform the salah they already knew, and since this known act of worship was also performed in congregation, what this act of worship was was also learned by participating in congregational salah. In short, no one needed and has never needed a separate book other than the Quran to perform salah; this will be understood even better with the explanations below.
THE CONTENTS OF SALAH
Although a known act of worship was commanded with the command "perform salah", attention is also drawn to the contents of salah in the Quran. Some parts of salah may not be fulfilled due to various excuses; for example, a person performing salah on a mount in times of fear may not be able to perform the prostrations completely. However, the most fundamental requirement of salah that must be fulfilled in every situation is the remembrance of Allah (dhikr):
Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me. So worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.
20-Ta-Ha Verse 14
The most important feature of salah is the remembrance of Allah in salah. From 20-Ta-Ha Verse 14, we understand that the purpose of performing salah is to remember Allah. It is again said in the Quran that one of the attributes of the Quran is "dhikr", that is, "reminder". While performing salah, the Quran is always our guide in the dua we make, in our supplication to Allah. For example, Allah's forgiveness, mercy, creation of everything, Paradise, Hell, the greatness of His knowledge and power are all learned from the Quran. In salah, we also know that we are in the presence of Allah, who has attributes such as merciful and forgiving, and accordingly, we remember Allah, and accordingly, we turn to Allah. However, it is not necessary for those who do not know Arabic to read the Quran in Arabic in salah, and if they are going to read the Quran in Arabic, it would be appropriate for them to learn the meaning of the verses they will read. Especially learning the Arabic of Surah Al-Fatiha, which is repeated in every salah, would be very appropriate both to be able to read this surah knowing its meaning and to understand the meaning when this surah is recited in congregational salah. It is certainly beautiful for those who know Arabic to read the Quran in its original language in which it was revealed, but most of those who do not know Arabic distort the Arabic meanings while reading the Quran in Arabic and perform salah unaware of what they are saying. Even in a madhhab (school of thought) that is said to be Ahl as-Sunnah, such as Hanafi, although flexibility is expressed about those who do not know Arabic being able to read the translation of the Quran, and it is known that Salman al-Farisi translated Surah Al-Fatiha into Persian and Persians read this translation in salah, views on flexibility regarding this issue have been hidden from the public. Allah wanted even intoxicated people who are not drunk to perform salah, but He set a condition for them: "Do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying" (4-An-Nisa Verse 43). Thus, Allah stated that He did not want the drunkards to perform salah because they were unaware of what they were saying. Well, isn't the situation of those who read verses from the Quran without knowing their meaning when they are sober, and who do not know what they are saying, similar to that of these intoxicated people? Isn't "knowing what one is saying," which is the element that these people do not fulfill in their salah, the same as the element that the intoxicated people do not fulfill? Being aware of what one says in worship should not be seen as a concession or a convenience. Performing worship while being aware of what one is saying is an important condition for a person to establish the necessary connection with his Creator. In the Quran, in 2-Al-Baqarah Verse 45, seeking help from Allah with patience and salah is mentioned. How will a person who is unaware of the meaning of what he says in salah express his special feelings related to his own special troubles and ask for help from Allah?
In the Quran, attention is drawn to the fact that the following elements must be fulfilled with a properly performed salah:
1- Allah must be remembered, and the person must be aware of what he is saying (20-Ta-Ha Verse 14).
2- There must be khushu (spiritual trembling, deep respect) in salah (23-Al-Mu'minun Verse 2).
3- Salah should prevent a person from indecent behavior and actions (29-Al-Ankabut Verse 45).
Salah is an act of worship performed to remember Allah. However, unlike remembering Allah in other ways, it has been made obligatory at certain times, it must be performed with ablution, and it has some additional features such as including certain movements. Due to the fact that it is already a known act of worship, we do not come across a verse in the Quran that describes the movements of salah and says "salah is this; perform salah in this way", but we also understand which movements salah includes from the narrations in the Quran. For example, in 4-An-Nisa Verse 102, which shows that salah is an act of worship that is so important that it will not be abandoned even in war, we see that one group performs salah while the other group is on guard. After prostration (sajdah) is performed, the other group takes the place of the first group and performs their salah. From here, it is also understood that salah ends with prostration. From this verse, we see that even in a situation where there is a danger of war, salah is performed, including prostration (sajdah) (prostration is the most defenseless state of a person), but this is done by taking turns, without putting down weapons, without giving the enemy a chance. If timely obligatory salah is performed in this way even in war, the importance of performing salah with qiyam (standing), ruku (bowing), and sajdah in normal times is better understood.
From the Quran (14-Ibrahim Verse 40), we understand that salah is an act of worship that has existed since Prophet Ibrahim. In the Quran, three words are mentioned in the sense of physical acts of worship. These are "qiyam (standing)", "ruku (bowing)", and "sajdah (prostration)". In the Quran, it is mentioned that the مقام (station/place) of Prophet Ibrahim should be taken as a place of salah, and that the house should be kept clean (2-Al-Baqarah Verse 125). In 22-Al-Hajj Verse 26, it is commanded that the house should be kept clean for those who perform "qiyam, ruku, and sajdah", thus showing together what the three movements of salah are.
And when We designated for Abraham the site of the House, [saying], "Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who circumambulate [it] and those who stand to pray and bow and prostrate."
22-Al-Hajj Verse 26
Apart from these verses, there are also verses that draw attention to qiyam, ruku, and sajdah, which are the movements of salah. The phrase "Subhane Rabbiyel Azim", which is said in ruku in salah, is said in accordance with the expressions in 56-Al-Waqi'ah Verse 96, and the phrase "Subhane Rabbiyel Ala", which is said in sajdah, is said in accordance with the expressions in 87-Al-A'la Verse 1. However, there is no restriction on what to say in ruku and sajdah. Any verse of the Quran can be recited here, as well as dua can be made by turning to Allah, gratitude can be expressed, and help can be asked from Allah in the face of problems, as pointed out in 2-Al-Baqarah Verse 45. Indeed, it is narrated that different expressions were said in ruku and sajdah in the time of our Prophet. (See: Ibn Hammam, Vol. 2) There are hadiths that our Prophet sometimes performed very short salah and sometimes performed very long salah with long ruku and long prostrations. According to some hadiths on this subject, when our Prophet went into ruku, he sometimes stayed so long that it was thought that he would never straighten up, and sometimes when he went into sajdah, he stayed so long that it was thought that he would never rise from sajdah. Probably no one would think that this coincided with a time frame in which the mentioned expressions were said 3 times each. However, in some books explaining salah, there are explanations that unnecessarily restrict ruku with three "Subhane Rabbiyel Azim" and sajdah with three "Subhane Rabbiyel Ala" expressions, limiting what Allah has left free. These expressions are beautiful expressions for the servants to glorify Allah, in accordance with the spirit of the Quran. It may be considered that an application that advises imams not to exceed the amount of time it takes to say these expressions 3 times to ensure order in salah gives order to salahs. In our opinion, these types of molds emerged with such concerns, and the way of the imams who could make salah too long and oppose the wishes of some of the congregation was blocked. However, as a result of repeating the same expressions in salahs, a harm should also be considered, such as many people being encouraged to say these very meaningful words automatically without thinking about their meaning. Normally, it is not necessary for us to say only the specified expressions mentioned in ruku and sajdah. The duration of how long we will stand in qiyam, ruku, and sajdah in salahs is left to our personal opinions. Some have frozen a free space with their own determinations. Although some of these determinations helped in establishing an order, many of them led to excessive formalism and detachment from meaning in salah.
People have been drowned in unnecessary details about salah. However, there are serious problems with being aware of what one is saying and khushu, which are the most important elements of salah. Unnecessary discussions have been made on many details such as holding hands at the wrist while standing in qiyam, the angle of the back in ruku, and putting the forehead and then the nose on the ground in sajdah. Indeed, there have been unnecessary topics of discussion among the madhhabs, such as whether to fold hands while standing in qiyam or how wide the distance between the feet should be while standing. If you say to someone "stand up" (qiyam), he easily understands this command and does not ask you questions such as "What shall I do with my hands? How many centimeters should be the distance between my feet?" In short, after it is understood that qiyam, ruku, and sajdah are movements in salah, the questions asked about these types of details are unnecessary.
In the Quran, it is stated that Allah should be remembered after prostrations (50-Qaf Verse 40) and after salah is finished (4-An-Nisa Verse 103). From 4-An-Nisa Verse 103, we understand that this remembrance can be while standing, sitting, and lying down. With the sittings in salah, the command of these verses is fulfilled. We see that the main thing in these sittings is the remembrance of Allah, and the person himself will decide which words to say to realize this remembrance.
Remember Allah when you have finished the salah, whether standing, sitting, or lying down.
4-An-Nisa Verse 103
Also, according to 72-Al-Jinn Verse 18, no one should be supplicated to other than Allah in the places where salah is performed. It is not befitting for a Muslim to ask for help from prophets, those assumed to be saints, or the deceased.
In the meantime, as the occasion arises, we find it useful to correct a rather false view put forward regarding these movements in salah. The word "salat" which means "salah" in the Quran, also means "support, establishing communication, dua." In fact, the relationship between these meanings is evident; Muslims establish communication with Allah with the salah they perform, make dua, and support their religion. There are words with more than one meaning in every language, for example, the Turkish word "yüz" (hundred/face/peel/swim); comes in quite different meanings such as "a number" and "part of the head" and "to peel off skin-like parts" and "movement in the sea", but no Turkish speaker has trouble determining its meaning according to where this word is used. The same applies to the use of the word "salat" in the Quran, moreover, the word "salat" does not come in such unrelated meanings, and meaning should be given to this word according to its place of occurrence in the Quran. Some have stated that the word "salat" is never used in the meaning of "salah" in the Quran, and that this word is always used in the meaning of "support." A person who reads the Quran a little carefully will immediately understand the falsity of this claim. First of all, this claim causes the expressions of standing (qiyam), bowing (ruku), and prostration (sajdah) to be taken in a metaphorical sense and not in their real sense, which does not seem reasonable at all. In some verses, the inconsistency of this claim becomes even more evident. For example, in 4-An-Nisa Verse 102, we see that when there is a fear of danger from the enemy, one group is on guard and another group performs salah in the meantime with movements such as prostration, and then the other group that has not performed salah comes and performs salah. If you take the expression "salat" here as a support that does not include movements, many illogical things will confront you; it would be illogical to interpret in ways such as one group waiting on guard behind the other in a motionless support, and in the meantime, after that group "prostrates in a metaphorical sense," the other group also comes and "gives support." In addition, as stated in 4-An-Nisa Verse 103, salah has been made obligatory for people at certain times, whereas supporting Allah's religion is an act that can be done at any time, there is no need to wait for certain times for this.
In addition, when those who claim that salah is not obligatory with its movements see how contrary to their approach it is that a moving preliminary preparation such as taking ablution for salah is explained in the Quran, they have had to carry the matter to the point of giving meanings that are forced to a comical degree, unrelated to the clear Arabic of the verses, to say that the expressions about taking ablution for salah in the Quran - which we discussed above - are not in the sense of washing but contain metaphorical meanings (in order to avoid the idea of ��moving salah). Moreover, in the ablution verse, there are expressions such as showing the places to be washed such as "forearms to the elbows" and "when one comes from the toilet" and "wiping with soil when water cannot be found," and those who try to understand ablution as a motionless metaphorical practice and as a prerequisite for a motionless support have fallen into ridiculous interpretations that are not worth mentioning in the face of such expressions. In fact, we considered it unnecessary to answer such ridiculous views, but we decided to add this explanation to the book upon the questions that came in the period after the book was first written. As it is seen, approaching the Quran sincerely, without forcing it, without trying to forcibly make the Quran say what is in one's mind, and consistently, is one of the important conditions for understanding Islam correctly.
NUMBER OF RAK'AHS IN SALAH
We have seen that the qiyam, ruku, and sajdah movements within salah are the movements of salah whose names are mentioned in the Quran. A frequently asked question is how many times these movements are repeated; commonly this question is also asked as "How many rak'ahs are the salahs?" This question has been answered in two different ways without referring to any hadith book. According to both of these approaches, there is no problem with the rak'ahs of the salahs currently performed in mosques, but there is a difference between these two approaches regarding the meaning attributed to the concept of "rak'ah." We will convey both of these views to you for your evaluation. We present two different approaches to your attention by stating from the beginning our thought that salah should be preserved with its rak'ahs in its current form.
Those who advocate the first of these approaches primarily draw attention to the fact that, as we have pointed out before, salah is a known act of worship that has been practiced since Prophet Ibrahim and in the region where our Prophet lived, and that this act of worship was also obligatory for other communities to whom books were sent before. (We recommend that you read once again the verses we quoted above on this subject.) They also state that the word "that salah" (es-salat) in the expression "perform salah" is mentioned with the definite article (el), and that this shows that salah is a known act of worship. According to this, the definiteness in the expression "es-salat" also covers the number of rak'ahs of the salahs. In addition, Muslims have seen the number of rak'ahs by participating in the congregational performance of salahs, and since they have all seen the number of rak'ahs in salahs, when "that salah" (es-salat) is said, they understand salahs with a certain number of rak'ahs. Salah, unlike all other acts of worship, is an act of worship that is practiced regularly every day and is "made obligatory at specific times", although it is not obligatory to perform salah in congregation except for Friday salah, salah is performed in congregation every day, so everyone sees the number of rak'ahs of salahs without any doubt in this congregational practice. Moreover, all Sunni and Shia madhhabs, which are almost always divided on every issue, have agreed on the rak'ahs of the salahs. In short, the rak'ahs of salahs are seen by participating in congregational practice, therefore, there is no need for a separate hadith or fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) book other than the Quran to learn the number of rak'ahs, everyone who receives the command "perform that salah" (es-salat) in the Quran and participates in the congregational salah understands how many rak'ahs each salah is performed. The following verse is also presented as evidence for this view:
And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].
2-Al-Baqarah Verse 43
In the meantime, let us remember that the word "rak'ah" means the same as "ruku." In the previous title, we saw that ruku (bowing) is one of the movements of salah. A person who bows with those who bow will naturally perform salah according to the current number of rak'ahs in practice. As it is seen, the address for understanding the rak'ahs is congregational practice, not any non-Quranic text (hadith or fiqh book). There has been no period in Islamic history when salahs were interrupted. Even in the first centuries when fiqh and hadith books were not written, Muslims performed their salahs by participating in the practice, that is, "by bowing with those who bow," and they did not feel any deficiency.
In addition, those who adopt this view have interpreted the expression in 4-An-Nisa Verse 101, which says that salah can be shortened in case of danger from enemies, as meaning that a certain length (number of rak'ahs) of salah is known, and that it is expressed that salah can be performed in danger times shorter than this known length. Zeki Bayraktar, who defends this view and especially draws attention to 2-Al-Baqarah Verse 43, says: "Can there be any difference in terms of the number of rak'ahs between the salah of a person who applies our suggestion and our salahs? For example, is there a possibility that this person will perform the evening salah as 2 rak'ahs or 4 rak'ahs instead of 3 rak'ahs? Or can he perform the noon salah as 2 rak'ahs instead of 4 rak'ahs? Of course, he cannot. As many rak'ahs (how much ruku) the congregation he follows performs, that person will bow that much. Well, based on what knowledge did this person learn the number of rak'ahs and perform his salahs in the same way as us from the very beginning? By looking at fiqh books? With hadiths? Or just with the command (formula) of the Quran?.. This visual material is the images and movements of the believers who have been performing congregational salah five times a day for centuries. The Quran, so to speak, gives a link to this practice of the Believers for how the salahs are performed and says learn the manner/rak'ahs of performing salah from this practice." (Zeki Bayraktar, Quran and Sunnah: But Which Sunnah)
There is also an interesting historical document presented in support of this view. First of all, let us recall once again that it is stated in the Quran that the communities that followed the religious rulings conveyed through the prophets before our Prophet also performed salah. (For example, see: 10-Yunus Verse 87, 11-Hud Verse 87, 19-Maryam Verse 31, 31-Luqman Verse 17, 98-Al-Bayyinah Verse 5.) According to the mentioned document, Rabbinic Jews, a branch of Jews; used to perform salah in a way that morning salah is 2, noon salah is 4, afternoon salah is 4, evening salah is 3, and night salah is 1 rak'ah. In each rak'ah, they performed qiyam once, ruku once, and sajdah twice. (Ben Abrahamson, Tracing the Derivation of Prayer Positions from Torah, to Temple Times, to Modern Practice; Vedat Yılmaz, Herkesin Bildiği Namaz, Kitap ve Hikmet Dergisi, Year: 2, Issue: 4) In addition, in some Christian denominations (today mostly practiced only by some clergymen), there is a tradition of performing timely salahs depending on various rak'ahs. Of course, we are not in a position to confirm that the information conveyed by the historical document mentioned regarding Rabbinic Judaism is correct, if this document is correct, it can be thought that the difference in night salah is a result of an incorrect transmission, but it does not seem possible to prove this either. Those who evaluate this historical document as a side evidence think that the rak'ah-based practice in its current form, which was practiced in the period when the first revelations came to our Prophet, was understood when "that salah" (es-salat) was said, and that with the command "perform that salah", Muslims started to practice salah in this form, and then those who participated in this daily practice with our Prophet (by bowing with those who bow) saw this act of worship and carried it to the present day without interruption.
According to those who advocate the second approach, it is obligatory (fard) to perform the qiyam, ruku, and sajdah movements mentioned in the Quran in every salah, but the number of times these movements are performed is a practice that emerged to bring order to salahs. In other words, performing the number of rak'ahs in a certain way is not obligatory (fard), but the current number of rak'ahs is a sunnah of the ummah that especially brings order to congregational salahs. (See section 16 for the concept of "Sunnah of the Ummah".) "Sunnah of the Ummah" refers to the practices of the ummah that serve the universal rulings and principles set by the Quran, even if they do not correspond to them. According to this, having certain rak'ah numbers for salahs is not a ruling that the Quran puts forward as a universal principle. However, having certain rak'ah numbers for salahs is a practice that brings order to the congregational salahs of Muslims. In this aspect, performing salahs with a certain number of rak'ahs, even if not obligatory (fard), is a practice that serves the unity of Muslims, which is a universal principle from the Quran, and the order in the salahs they perform in congregation. According to this view, although it is wrong to say that having certain rak'ahs for salahs is a universal Quranic principle, that is, obligatory (fard), this practice should be preserved because it serves a Quranic universal principle. The fact that rak'ah numbers are not mentioned in the Quran is put forward as evidence for this view.
In addition, those who defend this view understand the expression in 4-An-Nisa Verse 101, which says that salah can be shortened in case of danger from enemies, not as shortening in terms of rak'ahs, but as salahs can be performed in a shorter way than generally performed in such situations, that is, a temporal shortening. The expression "La cunahun", translated as "There is no sin/blame upon you" in 4-An-Nisa Verse 102; is used in the Quran in some places to eliminate the concerns of Muslims. For example, the expression "La cunahun" is used in 2-Al-Baqarah Verse 158 to indicate that those who go to Hajj or Umrah can visit Safa and Marwa. Even if this verse did not exist, there was no obstacle for Muslims to visit this region. But it is clear that the expression "La cunahun" was used to eliminate the concerns in the minds of Muslims. According to this view, in the same way, the expression that there is no blame (La cunahun) on Muslims for performing salah briefly is not because salah has a certain length. There is no such verse indicating the length. However, it has been said that there is no blame on Muslims for shortening the salah in case of war, due to the concern of Muslims who perform salah quickly in a dangerous situation, such as "Did we rush through the salah?".
Even if this second approach is accepted as correct, we are of the opinion that it would be good to continue these types of practices that bring order to salah, especially in congregational salahs, and that the regulations regarding rak'ahs should not be made a subject of unnecessary discussion. Whichever of these two views is accepted, it is seen that the manner of performing salahs can be understood without referring to hadith or fiqh sources other than the Quran, and that it is wrong to pile up hundreds of volumes of books in front of the Quran based on salahs.
SALAH TIMES
In the Quran, it is mentioned that salah is an obligation with নির্ধারিত (prescribed/fixed) times (4-An-Nisa Verse 103). It is important that salah, which includes the elements we have seen before, is performed at certain times. According to 4-An-Nisa Verse 103, the salah of a time should be performed within that time. (Performing salahs as "timely obligation" as stated in 4-An-Nisa Verse 103 is done by fulfilling this obligation in each time, not by combining salahs that should be performed at different times into a single time, i.e. In the Quran, permission is not given anywhere for the practice known as combining salahs, that is, combining two separate time salahs into one time.) There is no concept of "qada salah (making up missed salahs)" in the Quran either. Regarding the issue of fasting, Allah has told us to fast on other days for the number of days we could not fast. If Allah had willed, He would have done the same for salah as well. Therefore, no one should mislead those who are going to start salah by saying, "You need to make qada for so many... salahs from the past." A person cannot let a time pass without performing the salah of that time in a salah time because he does not want to or for a reason such as laziness. If he does, this is a sin according to our religion and it is necessary to repent for it. From 4-An-Nisa Verses 101, 102, and 103, we see that even in a situation where there are concerns such as harm from the enemy, salah is performed, but this performance is carried out by one group being on guard while the other group performs salah and by shortening the salah. If it were possible to postpone the timely salahs - that is, if it were not obligatory to perform salahs at certain times - this would undoubtedly be possible primarily in such situations. Therefore, the verses describing salah in case of fear from the enemy also show the importance of performing salahs at their times. The fact that salahs are a timely obligation is a clear Quranic expression.
Since salahs are a timely obligation, it has been a matter of debate whether these times, which times they are, can be understood without referring to hadith or fiqh books. When attention is drawn to the hundreds of problems that will arise when trying to understand the basic commands and prohibitions of Islam with hadiths, some think that by bringing up only the issue of salah, they will eliminate thousands of problems in hadith literature that are contrary to the Quran and reason, and that they will eliminate the necessity of adopting a Quran-centered understanding of Islam. Those who adopt sectarian-hadithic understandings can never think that they themselves should make an accounting of the problems with hadiths, while they try to show that the Quran is insufficient by bringing up how certain issues should be answered with the Quran. As we have seen before, although concerns have been raised about how salahs should be performed, it is understood how salah is performed without referring to any hadith or fiqh book. In the same way, we will show that there is no need for any hadith or fiqh book to understand the times of salahs. While saying this, we do not deny that those who put forward Quran-centered understandings put forward different views regarding salah times. The fact that different approaches and views have been put forward on this subject does not change the fact that salah times can be understood without reference to hadith or fiqh books.
Moreover, those who say that salah is understood from hadith and fiqh books seem to be unaware of the contradictions about salah in hadith and fiqh books. For example, in one hadith, camel meat invalidates ablution, and in another, it does not; in one hadith, it is obligatory to fold hands in salah, and in another, it is obligatory to release them. Reciting Surah Al-Fatiha in salah, which is said to be obligatory in one madhhab, is not obligatory in another madhhab. Moreover, there are such hadiths that if these are accepted, it is not even possible to say that salah is obligatory five times a day. For example, according to a hadith in Abu Dawud, one of the kutub-i sitte (six canonical hadith collections) books, Fudale asked our Prophet for something to replace the five daily salahs, saying that he was busy, and our Prophet told him to perform the morning and afternoon salahs (Abu Dawud, Salat). But how is it possible for our Prophet to invalidate what Allah has made obligatory? A person who reads this hadith may think that our Prophet can invalidate the nafilah (supererogatory) salahs, therefore the five daily salahs are nafilah and it is sufficient to perform two times. If hadiths were the source of rulings instead of the Quran, such an interpretation would be more reasonable than our Prophet making a salah discount specific to a person. According to another hadith, Safwan bin Muattal, one of the Companions, did not perform the morning salah on time, he performed it whenever he woke up. When our Prophet learned about this situation, he said, "Perform salah when you wake up." (Hanbal, Abu Dawud, Hakim, Bayhaqi) However, such permission contradicts both 4-An-Nisa Verse 103, which states that salah is a timely obligation, and the Quran verses that command it because it is a salah time that is mentioned with the name "fajr salah" (morning salah) and it is stated that it is obligatory to perform it. In short, there are many expressions in hadiths that are contrary to both the widespread salah practices of the ummah and the Quran.
Those who cling to hadithic-sectarian understandings with four hands, despite thousands of disagreements among madhhabs, make the disagreements of those who show Quran-centered approaches, which are at a much lower level, an excuse and try to escape from the message of the Quran. However, in hadiths, as we have seen many examples so far, truth and falsehood are mixed in a way that cannot be distinguished, and hadith books are also full of hundreds of hadiths that are contrary to the Quran and reason. In short, it is not possible to achieve results with any hadith-centered approach. The emergence of some disagreements in Quran-centered approaches should be seen as inaccurate interpretations of some of those who show Quran-centered approaches. The solution is to make a choice among the different interpretations that emerge in Quran-centered approaches, and not to give up on Quran-centered approaches. Since it is clear from what has been told so far that there is no other source of rulings of Islam other than the Quran and that the remaining sources are not reliable in determining universal religious rulings, some differences in understanding that may arise among Quran-centered understandings cannot be an excuse for adopting hadith-centered understandings of Islam. Quran-centered understanding of Islam is the only possible understanding, because the only reliable source is the Quran, even though it is possible for those who make the Quran the starting point to reach wrong interpretations, the source of movement of those who reach these wrong interpretations is still correct, their interpretations are wrong. Although there are very large differences between the interpretations of those who move from hadiths, the main and uncorrectable problem here is the unreliability of the source of movement. In short, although determining the source of rulings correctly in Quran-centered understandings is an important step, this correct step does not guarantee that every Quranic interpretation of everyone who takes this step is correct. Below, we will convey how those who have a Quran-centered understanding understand salah times in two different approaches without referring to hadith and fiqh books at all. We will also touch upon the differences within those who adopt the second of these approaches. We leave the evaluation of these understandings to you.
According to the first approach, Muslims who received the command to "perform that salah" (es-salat) understood what was meant by "that salah"; the times of salahs are also included in this understanding. Since salah has been an act of worship performed in the Mecca region since Prophet Ibrahim, and as we see from the Quran, Jews and Christians were also commanded to perform salah. Since the first Muslims in Mecca and Medina were in interaction with these, they knew what salah was. Those who adopt this approach state that just as the number of rak'ahs of salahs is included in what is understood from the expression "that salah", the times of salahs are also included in what is understood from the expression "that salah". As an additional historical evidence for this, the practice of Rabbinic Jews, whom we have drawn attention to before and who perform salah five times a day as morning, noon, afternoon, evening, and night salah, has been shown. (Ben Abrahamson, Tracing the Derivation of Prayer Positions from Torah, to Temple Times, to Modern Practice; Vedat Yılmaz, Herkesin Bildiği Namaz, Kitap ve Hikmet Dergisi, Year: 2, Issue: 4) In addition, the verse "and bow with those who bow" (2-Al-Baqarah Verse 43) has also been put forward as an evidence in favor of this view. According to this, Muslims will learn the times of salah by performing salah with those who perform salah. The address for learning the times of salah is not hadith or fiqh books, but congregational salahs performed every day. Already in the first centuries when hadith and fiqh books did not emerge, people were learning the form and number of times of salahs according to this formula. There is no other practice of Islam like salah that is performed every day with congregational practice, those who participate in this practice learn the times of salah as well as the rak'ahs. In short, the evidences put forward that the rak'ahs of salahs in the current widespread practice are obligatory (fard) and the evidences put forward that the five times in the current widespread practice are obligatory (fard) are based on the same logical basis. Examining that view about rak'ahs once again will enable you to understand the view that states that salah is obligatory (fard) as five times better.
According to the second approach, it is explained in the verses of the Quran how many times salahs are. However, among those who adopt this approach, different views have been expressed about how many times are understood from the Quran. While there are those who state that salahs are described as five times in the verses in the Quran, there have also been those who state that salahs are understood as three or two times from the verses in the Quran. Of course, not all three of these approaches can be correct. However, in any case, the times of salahs are understood without referring to hadith and fiqh books, what should be done is to sincerely evaluate the claims put forward, a disagreement that has arisen here cannot be put forward as evidence that there is a need for sources other than the Quran for salah times. Similarly, different views have been expressed in the interpretations of those who adopt a hadithic-sectarian understanding regarding what the meaning of the verses in which disagreement arose is. We will not examine this issue in all its details here, but in order to inform you, we will draw attention to the issues where the disagreements are knotted and invite you to research for the evaluation of the issue. The verses where the discussions are most knotted have been the following:
Protect the salahs, especially the middle salah.
2-Al-Baqarah Verse 238
And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds.
11-Hud Verse 114
Establish prayer from the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [especially] the Quran recitation of dawn. Indeed, the Quran recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.
17-Al-Isra Verse 78
O you who have believed, let those whom your right hands possess and those who have not [yet] reached puberty ask permission of you three times [before entering]: before dawn prayer and when you put aside your clothing [for rest] at noon and after the night prayer. They are three times of privacy for you.
24-An-Nur Verse 58
Those who state that it is understood from the Quran that five daily salahs are obligatory have interpreted 11-Hud Verse 114 as follows: What is meant by "at the two ends of the day" are the salahs performed in two parts of the day, and with the expression "and" in the verse, it is understood that at least three salahs in the night time should be added to these. Because the expression "zulefen" expresses plurality, which is at least three (remember that in Arabic, special expressions are used for duality as well as for the singular form). Those in this view have generally understood the expression "from the decline of the sun" (li-duliki ash-shamsi) in 17-Al-Isra Verse 78 as the movement of the sun from noon peak to the west, that is, as the beginning of the noon salah in today's widespread practice. According to this approach, the expression "from the decline of the sun" is taken as the beginning of the first salah at the two ends of the day, and "the salah at the two ends of the day" must be performed in the time until the evening salah. The expression "night" (layl) in Arabic expresses the period when the sun is not present. The other three times are the morning before sunrise, the evening after sunset, and the night salahs in other parts of the night, which are performed in this period. They take the "middle" (vusta) salah in 2-Al-Baqarah Verse 238 as the afternoon salah and the "isha" salah in 24-An-Nur Verse 58 as the night salah. Those who defend this view support their arguments by stating that when the expression of the verse "bow with those who bow" is applied, these five times will also be performed.
Those who state that it is understood from the Quran that three daily salahs are obligatory have interpreted 11-Hud Verse 114 as follows: What is meant by "at the two ends of the day" are the two adjacent ends of the day from the outside, that is, morning and evening salahs are understood by this expression. The expression "and" here should be understood as an explanation of the previous expression. (In many places in the Quran, the expression "and" is used to explain the previous expression without adding anything to the previous expression. It is a known feature of the Arabic language that the conjunction "and" is also used in this way.) Then the expression "at the approach of the night" emphasizes the time zones of the night, that is, the part of the day when the sun is not present, which are close to these two times; these are again morning and evening salahs. To these, the "middle salah" was added with 2-Al-Baqarah Verse 238, and the number of salahs became three. The expression "from the decline of the sun" in 17-Al-Isra Verse 78 expresses the beginning of the middle salah, this salah ends with the entry of the evening salah. The expression "until the darkness of the night" (ila gasakı al-layli) in 17-Al-Isra Verse 78 indicates the end of the evening salah. The expression "Quran recitation of dawn" in 17-Al-Isra Verse 78 expresses that salah begins at the moment when the lights gather on the horizon, and this process ends with sunrise; this is the time of morning salah. (Note that the meaning of "gathering" is given to the expression "Quran" here, which is one of the meanings of this word.) Accordingly, three salah times are understood from the combination of two salah times in 11-Hud Verse 114 and one salah time in 2-Al-Baqarah Surah 238; from 17-Al-Isra Verse 78, the time zones in whi
