Prayer June 5, 2009 Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

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1. 0:13 We have as our third speaker Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, popularly known as Islam's spiritual ambassador to the world. We have as our third speaker Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, popularly known as Islam's spiritual ambassador to the world. ☆
2. 0:25 He has internationally been recognized for his contributions to world peace, having received the Demiurgos Peace International Award under the patronage of former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbach He has internationally been recognized for his contributions to world peace, having received the Demiurgos Peace International Award under the patronage of former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbach ☆
3. 0:41 ev, the Padma Bhushan—India's third-highest civilian honor—and the National Citizens Award presented by Mother Teresa. ev, the Padma Bhushan—India's third-highest civilian honor—and the National Citizens Award presented by Mother Teresa. ☆
4. 0:52 Devoted to the development of a complete ideology of peace and spirituality, he presents to the world the true face of Islam based on peace, tolerance, and coexistence. Devoted to the development of a complete ideology of peace and spirituality, he presents to the world the true face of Islam based on peace, tolerance, and coexistence. ☆
5. 1:08 Giving the correct interpretations to the Quran, he has authored over 200 books on Islam: Prophetic Wisdom and Peaceful Coexistence in a Multiethnic Society. Giving the correct interpretations to the Quran, he has authored over 200 books on Islam: Prophetic Wisdom and Peaceful Coexistence in a Multiethnic Society. ☆
6. 1:22 May I now request Maulana Sahib to deliver his talk? May I now request Maulana Sahib to deliver his talk? ☆
7. 1:45 Bismillah Rehman ur Rahim, wa salla Allahu ala Nabi al Kareem. بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم، و صلی اللہ علی النبی الکریم۔ ☆
8. 1:54 Sisters and brothers, Sisters and brothers, ☆
9. 1:58 the topic for the present discussion is prayer. What is prayer? the topic for the present discussion is prayer. What is prayer? ☆
10. 2:10 According to the English dictionary, prayer means establishing spiritual communion to higher reality. According to the English dictionary, prayer means establishing spiritual communion to higher reality. ☆
11. 2:29 I think that I think that ☆
12. 2:33 Quranic definition is almost the sam Quranic definition is almost the sam ☆
13. 2:37 e Here I would like to refer to one hadith. The Prophet has said, "ta'bud Allah kaannaka tara"—Pray God as if you are seeing Him. e. Here I would like to refer to one hadith. The Prophet has said, "طاعُدُ اللَّهَ كَنَّكَ تَرَى"—Pray God as if you are seeing Him. ☆
14. 2:55 Here, seeing means experience, spiritual experience, seeing by the mind's eye. Here, seeing means experience, spiritual experience, seeing by the mind's eye. ☆
15. 3:08 According to my experience, I can say that it is According to my experience, I can say that it is ☆
16. 3:16 going to the inner reality. going to the inner reality. ☆
17. 3:22 Namaz is—in Islam, there are four basic Prayer is—in Islam, there are four basic ☆
18. 3:32 namaz: Roza, Namaz, Hajj, and Zakat. prayers: Roza, Namaz, Hajj, and Zakat. ☆
19. 3:36 All these four namaz have a form, but form is only a relative part of namaz. All these four prayers have a form, but form is only a relative part of prayer. ☆
20. 3:52 The real part is its inner content. The real part is its inner content. ☆
21. 4:00 It is just like an orange. It is just like an orange. ☆
22. 4:03 You know, every orange has an external part, but this external part is only a relative part of the orange. You know, every orange has an external part, but this external part is only a relative part of the orange. ☆
23. 4:14 The real part of the orange is its inner content. So is the case of namaz. It is a fact that every namaz has an external part, but it is the real part. The real part of the orange is its inner content. So is the case of prayer. It is a fact that every prayer has an external part, but it is the real part. ☆
24. 4:31 It is not the real It is not the real ☆
25. 4:32 part; it is a relative part. The real part of namaz is its inner content, and that is spirituality. part; it is a relative part. The real part of prayer is its inner content, and that is spirituality. ☆
26. 4:43 I believe that I believe that ☆
27. 4:50 this inner content—that is spirituality—is the essence of all the religions, this inner content—that is spirituality—is the essence of all the religions, ☆
28. 4:59 including Islam. including Islam. ☆
29. 5:03 And And ☆
30. 5:06 according to my study, I can say that the highest form of this spirituality is, in Quranic terms, an-nafs al-mutma'innah. according to my study, I can say that the highest form of this spirituality is, in Quranic terms, النفس المطمئنة. ☆
31. 5:21 It is a complex, free soul. It is a complex, free soul. ☆
32. 5:27 So this is the criterion. So this is the criterion. ☆
33. 5:31 If one becomes a complex, free soul, then he is in namaz; otherwise, not. What is a complex, free soul? If one becomes a complex, free soul, then he is in prayer; otherwise, not. What is a complex, free soul? ☆
34. 5:41 It means free of hate, free of intolerance, free of violence, free of revenge, free of lust, free of selfishness, free of all kinds of negative thoughts. It means free of hate, free of intolerance, free of violence, free of revenge, free of lust, free of selfishness, free of all kinds of negative thoughts. ☆
35. 6:00 This is a complex, free soul. That is an-nafs al-mutma'innah. So this is the main object of namaz. This is a complex, free soul. That is النفس المطمئنة. So this is the main object of prayer. ☆
36. 6:12 According to Islam, namaz is According to Islam, prayer is ☆
37. 6:20 a spiritual journey towards a spiritual journey towards ☆
38. 6:30 God Almighty. Here I would like to refer to some references from the Quran and hadith. God Almighty. Here I would like to refer to some references from the Quran and hadith. ☆
39. 6:39 You know, You know, ☆
40. 6:42 there is a verse in the Quran that says that a true believer is like a green tree, kishajra tayyiba. there is a verse in the Quran that says that a true believer is like a green tree, كشجرة طيبة. ☆
41. 6:56 Now, what is a green tree? A tree is a giver member of our world, not a taker member of our Now, what is a green tree? A tree is a giver member of our world, not a taker member of our ☆
42. 7:06 world. A green tree gives us shadow and wood and leaf and flower and fruit, so many things. world. A green tree gives us shadow and wood and leaf and flower and fruit, so many things. ☆
43. 7:21 So a tree is a symbol of giving and not receiving. So is required by a true believer. So a tree is a symbol of giving and not receiving. So is required by a true believer. ☆
44. 7:32 A true believer must live in a society as a giver member of the society and not a taker. The Prophet said, "Mumin is like this bird." The bird has—he said that about those who will find entry into paradise—"afidatuhum kaafidat al-tayr"—their heart is like a bird's heart. A true believer must live in a society as a giver member of the society and not a taker. The Prophet said, "Mumin is like this bird." The bird has—he said that about those who will find entry into paradise—"أفِذَتُهُمْ كَأَفِذَتِ الطَّيَرَ"—their heart is like a bird's heart. ☆
45. 7:59 You know, what is a bird? A You know, what is a bird? A ☆
46. 8:03 bird has no hate, no hate, no negative thoughts against anyone. So it is required by a believer, and prayer is only to inculcate this spirit in every human being, bird has no hate, no hate, no negative thoughts against anyone. So it is required by a believer, and prayer is only to inculcate this spirit in every human being, ☆
47. 8:19 in every man and woman. in every man and woman. ☆
48. 8:23 The Prophet of Islam used to rise early in the morning, and he used to say, "Our prayer is prayer." Allahumma-shhad anna al-ibad kulluhum ikhwa. The Prophet of Islam used to rise early in the morning, and he used to say, "Our prayer is prayer." اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدْ أَنَّ الْعِبَادَ كُلُّهُمْ إِخْوَةٌ. ☆
49. 8:42 O God, I bear witness that every human being is a sister and brother to each other. O God, I bear witness that every human being is a sister and brother to each other. ☆
50. 8:52 This is the true spirit of Islam. There is no otherness. This is the true spirit of Islam. There is no otherness. ☆
51. 9:00 Everyone is your sister and brother. This spirit is inculcated by prayer in every believer. Everyone is your sister and brother. This spirit is inculcated by prayer in every believer. ☆
52. 9:14 Here I would like to narrate a story from the life of the Prophet of Islam Here I would like to narrate a story from the life of the Prophet of Islam ☆
53. 9:21 . It is a really sturdy story. You know, the Prophet of Islam was born in Makkah, then he migrated to Madinah. . It is a really sturdy story. You know, the Prophet of Islam was born in Makkah, then he migrated to Madinah. ☆
54. 9:32 So at that time, there were some Jewish tribes in Madinah. So what happened? So at that time, there were some Jewish tribes in Madinah. So what happened? ☆
55. 9:42 One day, the Prophet saw a funeral procession passing through a street in Madinah. One day, the Prophet saw a funeral procession passing through a street in Madinah. ☆
56. 9:51 The Prophet was seated at that time. He stood up in respect. One of his companions said, "O Prophet, it was the funeral of a Jew, not a Muslim." The Prophet replied, The Prophet was seated at that time. He stood up in respect. One of his companions said, "O Prophet, it was the funeral of a Jew, not a Muslim." The Prophet replied, ☆
57. 10:09 "Alaystat nafsan?" Was he not a human being "أليست نفسًا؟" Was he not a human being ☆
58. 10:15 ? Here you can understand that the Prophet was able to discover commonality between himself and that Jew. ? Here you can understand that the Prophet was able to discover commonality between himself and that Jew. ☆
59. 10:29 This is the true spirit of Islam. Everybody is a human being: Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jew—there are only symbolic names. This is the true spirit of Islam. Everybody is a human being: Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jew—there are only symbolic names. ☆
60. 10:40 Alaystat nafsan? Was he not a human being أليست نفسًا؟ Was he not a human being ☆
61. 10:44 ? I am a man. He is also a man. Both are created by God. It is a true commonality that is required to be inculcated through prayer in every woman, in every man and woman. ? I am a man. He is also a man. Both are created by God. It is a true commonality that is required to be inculcated through prayer in every woman, in every man and woman. ☆
62. 11:01 Then I would like to refer to some more quotation Then I would like to refer to some more quotation ☆
63. 11:08 s. The Prophet of Islam has said, s. The Prophet of Islam has said, ☆
64. 11:13 "Al-muslim man salima al-nas min lisanihi wa yadihi." A true Muslim is one by whose hands and tongue people are safe. "المسلم من سلم الناس من لسانه ويده." A true Muslim is one by whose hands and tongue people are safe. ☆
65. 11:28 It means that a Muslim is a peaceful member of society, a harmless member of society. This is the true spirit of Islam. It means that a Muslim is a peaceful member of society, a harmless member of society. This is the true spirit of Islam. ☆
66. 11:40 Then there is a verse in the Quran in Chapter Number 3, Aal-e-Imran, "Konoo Rabbaniyin." It means that be Rabbani. Then there is a verse in the Quran in Chapter Number 3, آل عمران، "كونوا ربانيين." It means that be Rabbani. ☆
67. 11:57 Rabbani means a Rab-oriented person. So according to this Quranic verse, everybody is required to be a Rabbani person Rabbani means a Rab-oriented person. So according to this Quranic verse, everybody is required to be a Rabbani person ☆
68. 12:09 . That is Rab-oriented thinking, Rab-oriented behavior, Rab-oriented action. . That is Rab-oriented thinking, Rab-oriented behavior, Rab-oriented action. ☆
69. 12:19 In a single word, God-oriented life. This is the crux of prayer. This is the crux of faith. In a single word, God-oriented life. This is the crux of prayer. This is the crux of faith. ☆
70. 12:28 This is the crux of Islam. Without this spirit, there is no Islam. Islam has nothing to do with violence. This is the crux of Islam. Without this spirit, there is no Islam. Islam has nothing to do with violence. ☆
71. 12:40 In Islam, I can say—I have studied Islam in detail from its original sources—I can say that in Islam, there is no war at all except defensive war. In Islam, I can say—I have studied Islam in detail from its original sources—I can say that in Islam, there is no war at all except defensive war. ☆
72. 12:57 No war at all. And what is Jihad? No war at all. And what is Jihad? ☆
73. 13:04 Jihad simply means to strive, to struggle by a peaceful method. So Jihad means peaceful effort, peaceful struggle. Jihad simply means to strive, to struggle by a peaceful method. So Jihad means peaceful effort, peaceful struggle. ☆
74. 13:20 The very word Islam has a connotation of peace. You know, the root word of Islam is Silm. The very word Islam has a connotation of peace. You know, the root word of Islam is سلم. ☆
75. 13:30 S-I-L-M. Silm. Silm means peace. S-I-L-M. سلم. سلم means peace. ☆
76. 13:34 So Islam means peace. So Islam means peace. ☆
77. 13:40 Some people are misusing Islam. And you know, misuse of freedom is everywhere in the world, not only in Islam, everywhere in the world. Some people are misusing Islam. And you know, misuse of freedom is everywhere in the world, not only in Islam, everywhere in the world. ☆
78. 13:51 So it is misuse of the word Islam. So it is misuse of the word Islam. ☆
79. 13:58 Islam is a religion of humanity, a religion of peace, a religion of love. Islam is a religion of humanity, a religion of peace, a religion of love. ☆
80. 14:06 There is a verse in the Quran, There is a verse in the Quran, ☆
81. 14:10 God Almighty says, "La tastawi al-hasanatu wa la as-sayyi'atu. Idfa' bil-lati hiya ahsanu fa-idha alladhi baynaka wa baynahu 'adawatun ka'annahu waliyyun hamim." God Almighty says, "لا تستوی الحسنة والسيئة إثماً بلتي أحسن فإذا الذي بينك وبينه عداوة كانه ولي حميم." ☆
82. 14:26 It means that It means that ☆
83. 14:30 do good deeds in return for enemies' bad deeds, and you will see that your enemy has become your dearest friend. do good deeds in return for enemies' bad deeds, and you will see that your enemy has become your dearest friend. ☆
84. 14:44 It means that it is a very fiduciary idea that your enemy is your potential friend. It means that it is a very fiduciary idea that your enemy is your potential friend. ☆
85. 14:56 Your enemy is your potential friend. So turn this potential into actual. So according to this verse, you have to manage the enmity rather than going to fight against your enemy. Your enemy is your potential friend. So turn this potential into actual. So according to this verse, you have to manage the enmity rather than going to fight against your enemy. ☆
86. 15:17 See your enemy as your friend, as your potential friend. What a fiduciary idea! See your enemy as your friend, as your potential friend. What a fiduciary idea! ☆
87. 15:23 Because I was created by God, and that person was also created by God. The nature of both are one. Both are created by God. Because I was created by God, and that person was also created by God. The nature of both are one. Both are created by God. ☆
88. 15:36 So this is the true spirit of Islam. All those things you are seeing and reading in the media, that is misuse of Islam. So this is the true spirit of Islam. All those things you are seeing and reading in the media, that is misuse of Islam. ☆
89. 15:50 I read a book that was authored by a Muslim scholar. The title was Islam: The I read a book that was authored by a Muslim scholar. The title was Islam: The ☆
90. 16:02 Most Misunderstood Religion. I said, "No. The better title is Islam: The Most Misrepresented Religion." Most Misunderstood Religion. I said, "No. The better title is Islam: The Most Misrepresented Religion." ☆
91. 16:17 Present Muslims are only misrepresenting Islam, and they are saying that people don't understand what Islam is. So it is the phenomenon of misrepresentation. Present Muslims are only misrepresenting Islam, and they are saying that people don't understand what Islam is. So it is the phenomenon of misrepresentation. ☆
92. 16:31 I always said that if you want to know what is Islam, you have to differentiate between Islam and Muslims. I always said that if you want to know what is Islam, you have to differentiate between Islam and Muslims. ☆
93. 16:41 You have to judge Muslims in the light of Islamic teachings and not vice versa. You have to judge Muslims in the light of Islamic teachings and not vice versa. ☆
94. 16:50 This is the main principle to differentiate between the two. And you know, law of differentiation is very important in every discipline. This is the main principle to differentiate between the two. And you know, law of differentiation is very important in every discipline. ☆
95. 17:04 So here is the confusion. Otherwise, if you read the Quran, if you read hadiths, you will find that almost all the verses of the Islam, of the Quran, pertain to peace and love and patience and tolerance, either directly or indirectly. So here is the confusion. Otherwise, if you read the Quran, if you read hadiths, you will find that almost all the verses of the Islam, of the Quran, pertain to peace and love and patience and tolerance, either directly or indirectly. ☆
96. 17:29 Only few verses are about war, but that verses are about defensive war. Defensive war. Only few verses are about war, but that verses are about defensive war. Defensive war. ☆
97. 17:40 No war is permitted in Islam other than defensive war. Then there is a very important teaching of Islam. No war is permitted in Islam other than defensive war. Then there is a very important teaching of Islam. ☆
98. 17:49 That is, even in a genuine war, even in a defensive war, you are not allowed to kill non-combattant. That is, even in a genuine war, even in a defensive war, you are not allowed to kill non-combattant. ☆
99. 17:59 You can call your own combatant. This is very, very crucial. So now we are living in an age where there are weapons of mass destruction. You can call your own combatant. This is very, very crucial. So now we are living in an age where there are weapons of mass destruction. ☆
100. 18:10 Now there is no possibility of war. How can you wage a war with these conditions? Now there is no possibility of war. How can you wage a war with these conditions? ☆
101. 18:20 We are living in a new age everywhere there are weapons of mass destruction. We are living in a new age everywhere there are weapons of mass destruction. ☆
102. 18:28 So now there is no possibility of war. Only negotiation, only discussion. There is a very important hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari that tells us what was the general policy of the Prophet of Islam. So now there is no possibility of war. Only negotiation, only discussion. There is a very important hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari that tells us what was the general policy of the Prophet of Islam. ☆
103. 18:49 ma khair rasul Allah sallallahu alaihi wasallam bayna amrain illa ikhtar asaa rahmah. ما خير رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم بین امرین الا اختار ایسا رحمہ. ☆
104. 18:56 It means that whenever the Prophet had to choose between the two, he always opted for a peaceful method rather than a violent method. It means that whenever the Prophet had to choose between the two, he always opted for a peaceful method rather than a violent method. ☆
105. 19:12 So now you know we are living in a new age. Peaceful method is quite possible. Now we are living in an age where there is freedom, freedom, no religious persecution, nothing. So now you know we are living in a new age. Peaceful method is quite possible. Now we are living in an age where there is freedom, freedom, no religious persecution, nothing. ☆
106. 19:27 So the option for peace is open. In our age, the peaceful option is completely open. So the option for peace is open. In our age, the peaceful option is completely open. ☆
107. 19:40 So there is no question of war. So there is no question of war. ☆
108. 19:45 You can strive for any purpose only through peaceful means. You are not allowed to go to fight, to war You can strive for any purpose only through peaceful means. You are not allowed to go to fight, to war ☆
109. 19:56 . That is not your option. So this is the true picture of Islam. Islam is a religion of love, a religion of fraternity, a religion of commonality, a religion of equality. . That is not your option. So this is the true picture of Islam. Islam is a religion of love, a religion of fraternity, a religion of commonality, a religion of equality. ☆
110. 20:17 This is the true spirit of Islam. Thank you. This is the true spirit of Islam. Thank you. ☆