ASALATU WITHOUT AS-SOLAAH (Episode 2)
BY
SANNI KAY. YUSUF
The activities at the Sunday assembly of Muslims – asalatu – should be overhauled (not jettisoned or proscribed), and its nomenclature changed – as in asalatu to halqah, tadhkirah, ta’leem etc.
Competent imams who are dexterous in Islamic knowledge should be absorbed to take on the gatherings for the learning of Taoheed (Monotheism), Fiqh (Jurisprudence), Aadaab (Etiquettes), Hadeeth (Sayings and Deeds of the Prophet), Akhlaaq (Morals), Thaqaafah (Civilisation) etcetera.
READ : ASALATU WITHOUT AS-SOLAAH (Episode 1)
The need to excuse the missioners and have them replaced by capable hands is sacrosanct, as a lot of them still need to go through basic scholarly tutelage where proper da’wah methodology as enshrined in Kitab wa Sunnah is learnt. They need to go through an intensive rehabilitation to have the wrongs in their ideologies cleansed. In the process, those who recite the Qur’an amateurishly (without tejweed) will learn; the ones with low or no basic knowledge of Arabic will learn; those who turn jurisprudential matters upside down based on their whims and caprices will learn; the ones who cook up cock and bull stories to hypnotise the gullible ‘asalatuists’ will realise the evils they are spreading and refrain accordingly.
Apparently, the overhaul suggested here will put a halt to the usual singing and dancing in the name of du’aa (prayer). It will bring an eternal end to the numberless anomalies asalatus are known with, and a new dawn ignited in the lives of attendees.
Let there be a syllabus for each gathering where books authored by scholars of Kitab wa Sunnah are taught to the mamas and the babas. For instance, the first Sunday of the month may have a book on Taoheed (such as Kitaabut-Taoheed by Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abdil Wahhaab) treated. Our people will therefore, learn and know the meaning of Taoheed; its unavoidable significance in the life of a Muslim; its types; acts that vitiate one’s faith etc.
The second Sunday may take care of Fiqh where they invariably learn the proper way to perform wuduu (ablution) from a notable book, such as Buluughul Maraam; things that spoil and things that do not spoil ablution; how to correctly observe solaah; acts that render solaah invalid and acts that do not; the concept of ghusl (ritual bath) – meaning, types and the various issues surrounding bathing etc.
The next Sunday may take care of questionings where ambiguities are cleared, and so on.
If the above and many other strategic templates are put in place, it is for sure that our mamas, babas and other participants will learn millions within a year. Obviously, what is going to become of them having gone through such for three, four years is that they would have learned trillions, even without enrolling in a madrasah. And that will be a great achievement and benefit to the society.
Isn’t it pathetic? Aren’t you bothered that your mother who has attended asalatu for over a decade cannot correctly observe solaah or amend it when sujuudus-sahwee is to play out? Aren’t you not worried that your father who has attended asalatu for several years cannot recite tahiyyah on solaah, and he doesn’t know, too, that Kalimatush-shahaadah and/or Solaatul Ibraaheemiyyah will follow suit to make a complete tashahhud? Are you not ached that your sisters who have always attended asalatu with your mother is still using a scarf or a skimpy hijab all her years of very consistent attendance at asalatu?
If you are not worried or bothered, I am, hence the factor behind this piece. If your mother is not involved and affected, mine is. Kindly free your mind and think about it.
May Allah guide the strayed and do not stray the guided. Aameeeen!!!
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