Praying SALAH, Yet SINNING – Is It Fair? | Korean Lady to Dr. Zakir

Dr. Zakir Naik in Korea

29 Aug 202412:56

Summary

TLDRThe discussion revolves around questions about Islamic practices and beliefs, particularly the importance of prayer (Salah), good deeds, and faith in God. The speaker explains that while doing good deeds is important, Islamic teachings emphasize the significance of believing in God and following religious practices like prayer. The conversation also addresses why some Muslims do not always embody Islamic principles despite identifying as Muslims. The speaker argues that praying and following religious obligations, even imperfectly, is more important than just performing good deeds without faith.

Takeaways

😀 Some people may be good and truthful but if they lack faith or do not thank God, they may not enter paradise.
🙏 The act of prayer in Islam, specifically the act of prostration, is meant to humble both the body and the mind.
❓ A student asks why it’s not enough to just do good deeds without following specific religious practices like prayer.
📖 The speaker emphasizes that no verse in the Quran teaches anything against humanity; the faults are with individual Muslims who do not follow Islamic teachings correctly.
🏫 The analogy of a school is used to explain how Islam, like a school, produces both good and bad students, but the school (Islam) cannot be blamed for bad behavior.
📜 The Quran outlines four key criteria for entering paradise: faith, righteous deeds, advising others to truth, and patience.
🙌 It’s stated that thanking the Creator is more important than merely helping others, as God is the ultimate giver of life and blessings.
🛐 The reason for praying in a specific way is explained: it’s a command from God, and God knows best how humans should pray.
🤲 Fasting is seen as a practice to teach self-restraint, piety, and unity, with the specific month of Ramadan prescribed for this.
🕌 Not offering Salah (prayer) is considered a major sin, and even if someone tells lies but prays, they are still seen as superior to someone who doesn't pray but tells the truth.

Q & A

Why is it not enough for a Muslim to do good deeds without offering Salah?
-While doing good deeds is important, Islam emphasizes the importance of thanking and worshiping God in the prescribed manner. Salah is a core pillar of Islam, and it is a way of expressing gratitude to the Creator. According to the speaker, merely doing good deeds without acknowledging and thanking God properly is insufficient for entering paradise.
Why do some Muslims do bad things even though they follow the teachings of Islam?
-The speaker explains that while Islam does not teach anything harmful to humanity, individuals may fail to follow those teachings. Just as some students may fail in school despite attending it, some Muslims may do bad things even though Islam encourages good behavior.
Why must prayers be performed in a specific way, such as Salah, instead of a personal form of worship?
-According to the speaker, the Creator has prescribed the way we should pray because He knows best how we should worship Him. Praying in the manner outlined in Islam, such as Salah, is a way of showing submission and humility to God. Performing Salah also benefits the individual by humbling the mind through physical actions like prostration.
What is the significance of prostration (Sujud) in Salah?
-Prostration in Salah is a physical act of submission, where the highest part of the body (the forehead) is placed on the lowest ground, symbolizing humility before God. The speaker notes that this act helps to humble both the body and the mind, aligning with psychological principles of controlling the mind through physical actions.
Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan, and why is fasting a collective act?
-Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is prescribed as a means to develop self-restraint, God-consciousness, and humility. The speaker emphasizes that fasting collectively in the same month fosters unity among Muslims, and the prescribed duration ensures a consistent, shared spiritual experience.
What are the four criteria mentioned in Surah Al-Asr for entering paradise?
-The four criteria mentioned in Surah Al-Asr (Chapter 103, verses 1-3) are: having faith in God, performing righteous deeds, calling others to truth, and being patient in adversity. The speaker emphasizes that all four are necessary for a person to enter paradise.
Why is believing in and thanking the Creator considered more important than doing good deeds toward others?
-The speaker explains that while doing good deeds toward others is important, failing to thank the Creator, who has given life and everything, is a greater sin. Gratitude toward the Creator is considered the highest priority, as not thanking Him is seen as an even bigger wrong than harming fellow humans.
What is the difference between a person who offers Salah but commits sins and a person who does good deeds but does not offer Salah?
-The speaker clarifies that a person who offers Salah but commits minor sins (e.g., lying) is considered better than someone who does good deeds but does not offer Salah. This is because Salah is a fundamental pillar of Islam, and neglecting it is a major sin. A person who offers Salah is more likely to improve over time.
What role does Salah play in preventing bad behavior?
-Salah is seen as a means to restrain individuals from engaging in shameful or unjust actions. The Quran (Surah Ankabut 29:45) mentions that performing Salah helps a person refrain from wrong deeds, and the speaker reinforces this by saying that a person who performs Salah correctly will gradually avoid sinful behavior.
Why is following the Sunnah of the Prophet important in Islam, especially regarding practices like fasting?
-The Sunnah, or practices of the Prophet Muhammad, serves as a guide for Muslims on how to live their lives. The speaker emphasizes that following the Sunnah is important because the Prophet was the final messenger who provided practical examples of how to follow God's commandments, including fasting during Ramadan.

Outlines

00:00

🕌 Faith and Actions: A Balance of Good Deeds and Prayer

In this paragraph, a Muslim exchange student named Fus H. Kima asks why it isn't enough to just do good deeds without performing prayers (Salah). The speaker responds that Islam encourages both faith in God and righteous deeds, explaining that good behavior alone, without faith or gratitude to God, cannot lead to paradise. The speaker compares this to a school where some students excel and others fail, suggesting that while someone may do good things, if they don't acknowledge or thank God, they miss an essential part of Islam.

05:02

🙏 The Importance of Thanking God and the Prescribed Way of Prayer

The speaker explains why thanking God is essential and why Muslims should follow the prescribed way of praying. They assert that acknowledging the Creator is more important than merely helping others, comparing prayer to a student respecting a teacher by following their instructions. They emphasize that God, as the Creator, knows best how He should be worshiped and how these practices, such as placing the forehead on the ground during prayer, help humble the body and mind.

10:02

📜 The Role of Sunnah and Unity in Fasting and Prayer

In this paragraph, the speaker explains the significance of fasting and following the Sunnah, the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. They highlight how fasting teaches self-restraint, unity, and God-consciousness. The speaker also emphasizes that Muslims fast and pray in unity, which brings additional blessings and that these practices are not arbitrary but have been prescribed by God for the spiritual growth of individuals.

🤔 The Value of Questioning and Understanding Islam’s Teachings

Here, the student admits to having questioned her faith and certain practices, like fasting and prayer. She expresses confusion about the need for these practices despite believing in God and doing good deeds. The speaker reassures her by explaining that belief in one God and the Prophethood of Muhammad is fundamental, while other practices follow. They pray for her continued guidance and understanding, emphasizing the spiritual benefits of following all aspects of Islam.

🕋 The Significance of Salah and Prioritizing Faith Over Good Deeds

The student questions whether a person who does good deeds but doesn't pray is better than someone who prays but still makes mistakes. The speaker responds that Salah is one of the five pillars of Islam and is crucial for a believer. While a person who prays and makes minor mistakes is still better than one who does good deeds but neglects prayer, they stress that prayer is a form of gratitude to God and is of utmost importance in Islam, even more so than avoiding minor sins.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Salah

Salah refers to the Islamic practice of formal prayer, which is performed five times a day. In the video, it is discussed as a fundamental act of worship in Islam and one of the pillars of the faith. The speaker emphasizes that offering Salah is essential for showing gratitude to God and that it plays a central role in a Muslim's spiritual life. The video highlights that even Muslims who make mistakes in life should prioritize Salah as it is the first action they will be judged on in the afterlife.

💡Iman

Iman, or faith, in Islam refers to the belief in one God (Allah) and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. The video stresses that having Iman alone is not sufficient for entering paradise; righteous deeds, inviting others to truth, and patience are also necessary. The concept is central to the message that true faith must be coupled with action to fulfill the requirements of the religion.

💡Good deeds

Good deeds refer to acts of kindness and righteousness, such as helping others and living truthfully. In the video, the speaker discusses that doing good deeds alone, without having faith or offering Salah, is not enough to enter paradise. The concept highlights the importance of balancing faith and righteous actions in Islam, as both are essential for a complete spiritual life.

💡Paradise (Jannah)

Paradise, or Jannah in Arabic, is the Islamic concept of the eternal afterlife reward for believers who follow God's commands and live a righteous life. The video explores the criteria for entering paradise, stating that belief in God, good deeds, calling people to the truth, and exercising patience are all required. The speaker emphasizes that even people who do good but lack faith or proper worship may not be eligible for Jannah.

💡Humility

Humility is described in the video as a crucial aspect of worship, especially during Salah. The act of placing one's forehead on the ground in prostration is highlighted as a way to humble both the body and the mind before God. The video suggests that humbling oneself physically can lead to mental humility, which is necessary for true worship and submission to God's will.

💡Unity in worship

Unity in worship refers to the collective acts of devotion that Muslims perform together, such as praying and fasting. The video discusses the importance of fasting during the month of Ramadan and praying in a specific manner, not only for individual spirituality but also for fostering unity among the Muslim community. This concept underscores the social and communal aspects of Islamic rituals.

💡Fasting

Fasting, particularly during the month of Ramadan, is a practice where Muslims refrain from food, drink, and other physical needs during daylight hours. The video explains that fasting is not only a commandment from God but also a means to attain self-restraint, piety, and God-consciousness. The speaker highlights that fasting together as a community fosters unity and shared spiritual discipline.

💡Righteous deeds

Righteous deeds in Islam are actions that are morally and ethically good, in line with God's commandments, such as charity, truthfulness, and kindness. The video discusses how righteous deeds are one of the four criteria for entering paradise, along with faith, patience, and inviting others to the truth. The emphasis is on the necessity of coupling good deeds with proper faith and worship.

💡Major sins

Major sins in Islam are severe transgressions that are explicitly condemned in the Quran and Hadith. The video mentions major sins such as associating partners with God (Shirk), killing innocent people, practicing black magic, and neglecting Salah. These sins are highlighted as significant barriers to entering paradise, stressing the importance of avoiding them to maintain one's faith and righteousness.

💡Thanking God

Thanking God is portrayed as one of the most important aspects of faith in the video. It is emphasized that expressing gratitude to the Creator through prescribed acts of worship, like Salah, is more important than merely doing good deeds. The speaker suggests that failing to thank God properly is a greater wrongdoing than failing to help fellow human beings, as it reflects a lack of recognition of God's role in one's life.

Highlights

The speaker emphasizes that some people are truthful, helpful, and good but lack faith in God, which prevents them from entering paradise.

The act of prayer, particularly the physical gesture of putting the forehead on the ground, is discussed as a means to humble both the body and the mind.

The speaker mentions the concept that humans can control their bodies but not directly their minds, which is why physical acts of worship are important.

The speaker distinguishes between those who pray and may commit minor sins and those who do not pray but are generally good, emphasizing the importance of prayer.

The concept of faith in God (Iman) being the first and most important requirement for entering paradise is highlighted, along with righteous deeds, spreading truth, and patience.

The speaker clarifies that Islam does not teach anything harmful or contrary to humanity, and any Muslim doing wrong is not following Islamic teachings properly.

The analogy of a school is used to explain why some Muslims may fail in their actions, but this should not be attributed to Islam itself.

Fasting is discussed as a pillar of Islam prescribed to teach self-restraint, God-consciousness, and unity, as all Muslims fast together in Ramadan.

The speaker explains that acts like fasting and praying are performed in specific ways as prescribed by God and should not be done based on personal preference.

Prayer (Salah) is identified as the second pillar of Islam and the first thing for which one will be questioned on the Day of Judgment.

The speaker stresses that not offering Salah is considered the fourth major sin in Islam, more significant than telling a lie, for instance.

The speaker explains that while doing good deeds is important, the act of thanking God through prayer takes precedence, as God is the Creator and deserves acknowledgment.

The Quran, specifically Surah Al-Asr (chapter 103), is cited to emphasize the four essential criteria for salvation: faith, righteous deeds, spreading truth, and perseverance.

The speaker discusses that even those who do not believe in God or thank Him will not enter paradise, even if they do good deeds and are truthful.

The idea that a person who prays but occasionally sins is better in God's eyes than someone who does not pray but acts righteously, because the former is at least fulfilling a core duty of faith.

The speaker points out that proper prayer (Salah) leads to moral behavior, as it restrains a person from unjust deeds, highlighting the connection between worship and ethics.