Salam, I am confused about salat/namaz. Does salat mean prayer to Allah? But how come God sends salat to the prophet? If you know Arabic enough could you please explain salat in Quranic context? Thank you. God bless.


Salat as term was mentioned in 100 different verses in the Quran. 85 of which were nouns, and 15 as verbs. The word originally has to meanings:

A - To worship/supplicate/praise

  1. Prayer(the worshipping).

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ -

2:43 And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].

  1. Supplication (Istigfar/ begging forgiveness)

خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ إِنَّ صَلَاتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ - 9:103 Take, [O, Muhammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke [ Allah 's blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

  1. To Read Quran

قُلِ ادْعُوا اللَّهَ أَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمَٰنَ ۖ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُوا فَلَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَلَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا - 17:110 Say, "Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful. Whichever [name] you call - to Him belong the best names." And do not recite [too] loudly in your prayer or [too] quietly but seek between that an [intermediate] way.

  1. To Praise and bless (Thanaa')

هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَائِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۚ وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا - 33:43



إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا - 33:56


  • 2
    Option B is wrong as it is not about salat the prayer at all, there's a huge difference between صلى and صلّى in Arabic. – Medi1Saif Jan 7 '18 at 10:40
  • So if I read the Quran and do good deeds is my salat complete? Or must I need to do traditional salat/namaz? If I pray 5 times a day what the advantages God will get so that if I do not do so, God will burn me hell-fire forever? – Amu Sultan Jan 7 '18 at 12:29
  • @Medi1Saif S-A-L-A has to meanings as per derivation from the root. Think about the word DARABA = Can have many meanings, to give example, to hit, to split.. etc – VendettaTurkey Jan 7 '18 at 12:33
  • @AmuSultan the question was about how does Allah make salat. Salat you do is the worshipping. Allah sends His blessings and mercy unto believers. If you pray or not, Allah won't get any advantage. He needs nothing from us. – VendettaTurkey Jan 7 '18 at 12:36
  • Medi1Saif@ That is why may I say praying like a robot is wasting time? We bow down and prostrate many times in a day. Is not it meaningless? Instead focusing on doing good deeds for me and humanity in the name of Allah. That is more meaningful. – Amu Sultan Jan 7 '18 at 12:43

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