Physical Positions of Salat According to Quran Alone

My understanding of the Quran leads me to believe that there are 3 positions in Salat :

These are Standing, Bowing and Prostrating.

The Salat starts in the standing position:

[2:238] - Ha fi th oo AAal a a l ss alaw a ti wa al ss al a ti alwus ta waqoomoo lill a hi q a niteen a

“Attend constantly to prayers and to the middle prayer and stand up truly obedient to Allah.” 2:238

[3:39] - Fan a dat-hu almal a -ikatu wahuwa q a -imun yu s allee fee almi h r a bi anna All a ha yubashshiruka biya h y a mu s addiqan bikalimatin mina All a hi wasayyidan wa h a s ooran wanabiyyan mina a l ssa li h een a

“Then the angels called to him as he stood praying in the sanctuary: That Allah gives you the good news of Yahya verifying a Word from Allah, and honorable and chaste and a prophet from among the good ones.” 3:39

[4:102] - Wa-i tha kunta feehim faaqamta lahumu a l ss al a ta faltaqum ta -ifatun minhum maAAaka walya/khu th oo asli h atahum fa-i tha sajadoo falyakoonoo min war a -ikum walta/ti ta -ifatun okhr a lam yu s alloo falyu s alloo maAAaka walya/khu th oo h i th rahum waasli h atahum wadda alla th eena kafaroo law taghfuloona AAan asli h atikum waamtiAAatikum fayameeloona AAalaykum maylatan w ah idatan wal a jun ah a AAalaykum in k a na bikum a th an min ma t arin aw kuntum mar da an ta d aAAoo asli h atakum wakhu th oo h i th rakum inna All a ha aAAadda lilk a fireena AAa tha ban muheen a n

“And when you are among them and keep up the prayer for them, let a party of them stand up with you , and let them take their arms; then when they have prostrated themselves let them go to your rear, and let another party who have not prayed come forward and pray with you, and let them take their precautions and their arms; (for) those who disbelieve desire that you may be careless of your arms and your luggage, so that they may then turn upon you with a sudden united attack, and there is no blame on you, if you are annoyed with rain or if you are sick, that you lay down your arms, and take your precautions; surely Allah has prepared a disgraceful chastisement for the unbelievers.” 4:102

All the above three verses indicate the standing position. Verse 4:102 in particular indicates that the Salat starts in the standing position .

The words: “ when you are with them, and lead the Salat for them, let a group of them stand with you and let them hold their weapons ” indicate the beginning of the salat, that is because it is not feasible to say that the group of believers would join the salat in its middle or near its end!

Consequently the words “ let a group of them stand with you ” indicate that the salat starts in the standing position .

Bowing or Kneeling

Submission to God should be declared physically and symbolically by first bowing down and prostrating :

[22:26] - Wa-i th bawwa/n a li-ibr a heema mak a na albayti an l a tushrik bee shay-an wa t ahhir baytiya li l tta -ifeena wa a lq a -imeena wa al rrukkaAAi a l ssujood i

“And when We assigned to Ibrahim the place of the House, saying: Do not associate with Me aught, and purify My House for those who make the circuit and stand to pray and bow and prostrate themselves .” 22:26

[48:29] - Mu h ammadun rasoolu All a hi wa a lla th eena maAAahu ashidd a o AAal a alkuff a ri ru h am a o baynahum tar a hum rukkaAAan sujjadan yabtaghoona fa d lan mina All a hi wari d w a nan seem a hum fee wujoohihim min athari a l ssujoodi tha lika mathaluhum fee a l ttawr a ti wamathaluhum fee al-injeeli kazarAAin akhraja sha t -ahu fa a zarahu fa i staghla th a fa i staw a AAal a sooqihi yuAAjibu a l zzurr a AAa liyaghee th a bihimu alkuff a ra waAAada All a hu alla th eena a manoo waAAamiloo a l ssa li ha ti minhum maghfiratan waajran AAa th eem a n

“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those with him are firm of heart against the unbelievers, compassionate among themselves; you will see them bowing down , prostrating themselves , seeking grace from Allah and pleasure; their marks are in their faces because of the effect of prostration; that is their description in the Taurat and their description in the Injeel; like as seed-produce that puts forth its sprout, then strengthens it, so it becomes stout and stands firmly on its stem, delighting the sowers that He may enrage the unbelievers on account of them; Allah has promised those among them who believe and do good, forgiveness and a great reward.” 48:29

The greater majority of Quranic verses speak of bowing and prostrating in that order. This seems the logical progression from the standing position , i.e. standing then bowing then prostrating .

The Salat ends with prostration:

[4:102] - Wa-i tha kunta feehim faaqamta lahumu a l ss al a ta faltaqum ta -ifatun minhum maAAaka walya/khu th oo asli h atahum fa-i tha sajadoo falyakoonoo min war a -ikum walta/ti ta -ifatun okhr a lam yu s alloo falyu s alloo maAAaka walya/khu th oo h i th rahum waasli h atahum wadda alla th eena kafaroo law taghfuloona AAan asli h atikum waamtiAAatikum fayameeloona AAalaykum maylatan w ah idatan wal a jun ah a AAalaykum in k a na bikum a th an min ma t arin aw kuntum mar da an ta d aAAoo asli h atakum wakhu th oo h i th rakum inna All a ha aAAadda lilk a fireena AAa tha ban muheen a n

“And when you are among them and keep up the prayer for them, let a party of them stand up with you, and let them take their arms; then when they have prostrated themselves let them go to your rear, and let another party who have not prayed come forward and pray with you, and let them take their precautions and their arms; (for) those who disbelieve desire that you may be careless of your arms and your luggage, so that they may then turn upon you with a sudden united attack, and there is no blame on you, if you are annoyed with rain or if you are sick, that you lay down your arms, and take your precautions; surely Allah has prepared a disgraceful chastisement for the unbelievers.” 4:102

[2:239] - Fa-in khiftum farij a lan aw rukb a nan fa-i tha amintum fa o th kuroo All a ha kam a AAallamakum m a lam takoonoo taAAlamoon a

“But if you are in danger, then (say your prayers) on foot or on horseback; and when you are secure, then remember Allah, as. He has taught you what you did not know.” 2:239

As stated above these three Quranic physical movements (standing, bowing and prostrating) are not required at the times of emergencies, fear, and unusual circumstances in 2:239.

We have now understood the physical positions during Salat According to Quran Alone .

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