Page 565 - An Index to the Qur'an

Allah. Certainly Allah sees what you do. (2:110) alms’? Then when fighting is prescribed for them,
And when We made the House (Kaaba) a place a group of them fear people as Allah should be
of return, a sanctuary for mankind: They took the feared, or even more than that. They say, ‘Our
place where Ibrahim stood (to pray) as a place of Lord, why have you prescribed fighting for us? If
prayer. We contracted with Ibrahim and Isma‘il: only You would give us just a little more time!’
‘Purify My House for those who circle it, and Say, ‘The enjoyment of this world is very brief.
those who stay there, and those who bow and The hereafter is better for those who guard
who prostrate.’ (2:125) against evil. You will not be wronged by so much
You who believe! Seek help in steadfastness and as the smallest speck.’ (4:77)
prayer. Allah is with the steadfast. (2:153) When you are travelling in the land, there is
It is not devoutness to turn your faces to the East nothing wrong in your shortening your prayer if
or to the West. Rather, those with true devoutness you fear that those who disbelieve may harass
are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, you. The disbelievers are your clear-cut enemies.
the Angels, the Book and the Prophets, and who, (4:101)
despite their love for it, give away their wealth to When you are with them and leading them in
their relatives and to orphans and the very poor, prayer, a group of them should stand with you,
and to travellers and beggars and to set slaves keeping hold of their weapons. When they pros-
free, and who perform prayer and give the alms; trate, the others should guard your backs. Then
those who honour their contracts when they the other group who have not yet prayed should
make them, and are steadfast in poverty and ill- come and pray with you. They too should be
ness and in battle. Those are the people who are careful and keep hold of their weapons. Those
true. They are the people who guard against evil. who disbelieve would like you to be negligent of
(2:177) your arms and equipment so that they can swoop
Safeguard the prayer–especially the middle one. down on you once and for all. There is nothing
Stand in obedience to Allah. (2:238) wrong, if you are bothered by rain or you are ill,
Those who believe and do right actions and per- in laying your weapons down; but take every
form prayer and give the alms, will have their re- precaution. Allah has prepared a humiliating
ward with their Lord. They will feel no fear and punishment for the disbelievers. (4:102)
will know no sorrow. (2:277) When you have finished prayer remember Allah
The angels called out to him while he (Zakariyya) standing, sitting and lying on your sides. When
was standing in prayer in the Upper Room: you are safe again perform prayer in the normal
‘Allah gives you the good news of Yahya, who way. The prayer is prescribed for the believers at
will come to confirm a Word from Allah, and will specific times. (4:103)
be a leader and a celibate, a Prophet and one of The hypocrites think they deceive Allah, but He
the righteous.’ (3:39) is deceiving them. When they get up to pray,
You who believe! Do not approach the prayer they get up lazily, showing off to people, and
when you are drunk, so that you will know what only remembering Allah a very little. (4:142)
you are saying, nor in a state of major impu- But those of them who are firmly rooted in
rity–unless you are travelling–until you have knowledge, and the believers, believe in what
washed yourselves completely. If you are ill or has been sent down to you and what was sent
on a journey, or any of you have come from the down before you: those who perform prayer and
lavatory or touched women, and you cannot find give the alms, and believe in Allah and the Last
any water then take for yourselves clean earth, Day–We will pay such people an immense
wiping your faces and your hands. Allah is Ever- wage. (4:162)
Pardoning, Ever-Forgiving. (4:43) You who believe! When you get up to perform
Do you not see those who were told: ‘Hold back prayer, wash your faces and your hands and your
from fighting but perform prayer and give the arms to the elbows, and wipe over your heads,
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