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There is a big difference between establishing Prayer
and reading Prayer. The Holy Quran does contain the word read (recite) as well
though:-
‘O thou
(Muhammad) folded in garments! Stand (to Prayer) by night, but not all night,
Half of it, or a little less, or a little more; and recite the Quran in slow,
measured rhythmic tones’ (Sūrah Muzzammil, 1)
There is
an expression in the Persian language ‘Namāz Khwandan’ which means ‘to read
Prayer’. This expression is used by fire-worshippers. They read their book Zandu’awsta
and then bow down to fire; this is what they call Namaz Khwandan or to read Prayer.
When this was translated from Arabic to Urdu there was a translation error:
‘establish Salāt’ was translated as ‘read Namaz’. According to the teachings of
the Holy Quran Salāt should have been translated as Salāt, just as the
translation of Kalimah Tayibah (first Creed) is Kalimah Tayibah, translation of
Allah is Allah, translation of Rahmān (merciful) is Rahmān, translation of paighambar
(messenger) is paighambar, translation of rasool (prophet) is rasool etc.
According to the teachings of the Holy Quran, ‘establish Salāt’ and the Urdu
translation; ‘read Namaz’ has a very big difference in its meanings.
KHWAJA SHAMSUDDIN AZEEMI
Mehrāj means to enter the world of the unseen. When a believer attains Mehrāj through prayer, Angels appear in front of him. He travels through the Heavens, and through the blessings of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) he comes to know his Lord.
