Who is Musallin(Perform Salat-Prayer)?
The word "musallin" appears in the Quran in three places. As the commentator Razi explains in his Tafsir al-Kabir, "Salat" essentially means "to follow". Derived from the root "salla," meaning "one who prays," he describes it as "a horse following the leading horse." He states that the head of the following horse is aligned with the two salv of the leading horse, and that these two salv are the horse's two thighs. Horses that follow closely behind the leading horse ('salawan'), without ever leaving its side, are called 'musallin' horses. Similarly, 'musallin' people are those who follow the target without ever leaving it, without losing focus, with all their strength, their entire being, everything (mentally and physically). Salat is the act of following. That is, it is the following of the message that Allah sent to humanity through His Prophet; it is adherence to the Quran. The Quran, which we are obligated to follow, contains the commands of Allah, and we become worshippers by following it and fulfilling those commands; by doing so, we perform prayer.
When we examine the verses where the word "musallin" appears, we begin with verse 43 of Surah Al-Muddathir, which was revealed in the early stages of the revelation.
40. [Who will be] in gardens, questioning each other
41. About the criminals(sinners),
42. [And asking them],"What put you into Saqar(Hell Fire)?"
43. They will say, "We were not of those who prayed(musallin),
44. Nor did we used to feed the poor.
45. And we used to enter into vain discourse with those who engaged [in it],
46. And we used to deny the Day of Recompense
Looking at the continuation of the verse, we see that the person making the confession is someone who has not yet believed, as evidenced by their denial of the Day of Judgment. Therefore, the meaning intended by the word "al-musallîne" in the verse should be interpreted as referring not specifically to prayer, but rather to all actions directed towards monotheism, including prayer. Above all, based on the meaning of the word "musallîne" as explained above, it should mean adhering to and following the Quran. Because, as seen in the following verses, it is clear that the verse should be referring not to the prayer of the person who has not yet believed, but to their attitude and preferences, and what they follow. Because, while the word "al-musallîne" is generally associated with prayer, prayer is certainly included in its meaning. However, for prayer to have the value of worship, it must be performed with belief.
Based on the word's other root meanings , "to lean on, to support," it can also be said that the message intended in the verse refers to those who "do not lean on Allah and do not support His religion". Whatever or whom a person leaned on in this world, whoever they sided with, whoever they trusted, and whoever they supported, they will be treated accordingly in the Hereafter. Those who sided with Allah in this world, that is, those who followed the Quran, will lean on Paradise in the Hereafter, while those who sided with Satan and followed him will lean on Hellfire. Understanding the word "salat" as "any action directed towards Allah, done for His pleasure, and whose preference is determined in favor of Allah," will include prayer as well as other acts of worship. All supplications in the form of "leaning on Allah and asking from Him" demonstrate being on Allah's side and proclaim His indispensability.
Let's continue our study with Surah Al-Maun, one of the other two surahs in the Quran where the word "Musalline" is used.
1. Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense?
2. For that is the one who drives away the orphan
3. And does not encourage the feeding of the poor.
4. So woe to those who pray(musallin).
5. [But] who are heedless of their prayer -
6. Those who make show [of their deeds]
7. And withhold [simple] assistance.
As can be seen, in Surah Maun, which also mentions those who pray (Musalline), just like in Surah Mudassir, the characteristics of those who pray but deny the religion and do not care for the poor are highlighted.
While it is generally agreed that Surah Ma'un is a Meccan surah, the acceptance of verses 4 and onwards as having been revealed in Medina has prevented Muslims from taking the warnings to heart, claiming that the message of the verse concerns hypocrites. Since the period in which Surah Ma'un was revealed is known to be the early period of the revelation, and hypocrites emerged in Medina, scholars have been led to this interpretation. However, unfortunately, the message of the Quran transcends time and people. Therefore, if a warning is given that there will be such people among those who pray, instead of shifting the target, everyone should take their share of the message. Indeed, the use of the particle "Fe" at the beginning of verse 4, according to grammatical rules, demonstrates the connection between the preceding sentence and its verse, revealing it as a miracle of divine revelation indicating that the entire verse was revealed at the same time.
In verse 4, the word " Woe" is used to express a severe curse, a "woe" to those who pray. The reason for this curse is that those who pray are "heedless," meaning unaware of their prayers. Although there are interpretations such as "from their prayers" or "in their prayers," the result remains largely the same. A person's heedlessness in performing an action arises from doing it without knowing or understanding its content. At this point, considering the command, "Do not approach prayer until you know what you are saying" (Nisa 4:43) alongside the command, " Perform prayer to remember Allah" (Taha 20:14), it becomes unclear whether a person who is unaware of what they are saying, as described in the verse, is praying to remember Allah.
Are we performing our prayers to remember Allah by having Muslims recite Surah Tebbet and utter curses, or by reciting Surah Fil and recounting how Allah's wrath befell the owners of elephants, or are we among the heedless ones who are subject to the "Woe" in this verse of Surah Maun, which we also recite in our prayers? We need to sit down and reflect on this.
When we come to Surah Al-Ma'arij, the last surah where the word "musallin" appears, the section up to verse 22, where the word "musallin" is found, provides information about the profile of people cast into hell. Unlike Surah Al-Muddathir and Al-Ma'un, the characteristics that those who pray should possess are enumerated. Their unwavering adherence to the Quran is praised.
22. Except the observers of prayer(musallin)-
23. Those who are constant in their prayer(salat).
24. And those within whose wealth is a known right
25. For the petitioner and the deprived -
26. And those who believe in the Day of Recompense
27. And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord -
28. Indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe -
29. And those who guard their private parts
30. Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed -.
31. But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors -
32. And those who are to their trusts and promises attentive
33. And those who are in their testimonies upright
34. And those who guard their Salat (prayers) well.
35. They will be in gardens, honored.
Verses 29-32 of Surah Al-Ma'arij and verses 5-8 of Surah Al-Mu'minun are found to be identical. Surah Al-Mu'minun describes the characteristics of believers, emphasizing that they are those who are "humble(khushū) in their prayers" and "those who protect their prayers".
1. Certainly will the believers have succeeded:
2. They who are during their prayer(salat) humbly(khushū) submissive
3. And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allah has forbidden).
4. And they who are observant of zakah
5. And they who guard their private parts
6. Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed -
7. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors -
8. And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive
9. And who (strictly) guard their prayers(salat)
10. Those are the inheritors
Guarding Salat does not mean preventing danger or harmful situations, but rather showing the necessary care and attention to prevent something from changing or to prevent an ongoing situation from being altered. Indeed, the fact that they are referred to as inheritors in the following verse indicates a reference to previous societies who distorted Allah's word by failing to protect it, and therefore they are called protectors.
Regarding the concept of reverence(khushū) in prayer , it is important to see how the word "reverence," which is translated as "humble" in the following verse, is used .
107. Say, ‘Whether you believe in it, or do not believe in it, indeed when it is recited to those who were given knowledge before it, they fall down in prostration on their faces,
108. And they say, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled."
109. And they fall upon their faces weeping, and (the Qur'an) increases them in humble submission.
After Allah Almighty declared that the disbelief of the Meccan polytheists would not pose a problem for Him or for the revelation, it is stated that the People of the Book who were in Mecca and its surroundings before the revelation of the Qur'an understood that the Qur'an was of divine origin and immediately prostrated themselves. The passive verb يُتْلٰى (yutlâ) means "to be read and conveyed." The word الْاَذْقَان (al-azqān) is the plural of the word zekan. Although this word means "jaws," it is clear that the intention is "to prostrate oneself face down." This expression conveys deep respect, submission, and faith. Allah Almighty states that these people from the People of the Book prostrated themselves on the ground weeping, in the context of their sensitive attitude towards the Qur'an . This should be the attitude of those who understand that the Qur'an is the true book. Furthermore, regarding the impact of revelation on believers, it is said to increase their reverence, that is, their respectful submission. The Quran is a valuable resource that strengthens the faith of believers.