Selam brothers and sisters
Though I have a lot of points to make on this, I believe it would be best if instead of me listing them all, that we go one by one, try to agree on and settle one point and then move onto the next.
I am fully aware that traditionally "Salat" is understood as "prayer", more precisely "5 times a day, ritual prayer". Salat is also translated in the Quran as things like, blessing, honour and in 22.40 strangely as Synagogues.
The root meaning of "Salat" is to follow something closely. (In a horse race when the second horse follows the first one so closely that its head always overlaps the first horse's body that horse is called AL-MUSSALLI (i.e. the one who follows closely / remains attached).
My point would be referring to Surah 11 Verse 87 which is translated as [They said, "O Shuaib! Does your prayer (Salat) command you that we leave what worship our forefathers, or that we do concerning our wealth what we will? Indeed you, surely you (are) the forbearing, the right-minded."]
Some translators due to this nonsensical translation are forced to insert, in brackets, things such as
"(thy habit) of prayer" - Asad
"thy way of prayer" - Pickthall
"thy (religion of) prayer" - Yusuf Ali
to salvage the situation which fails.
As Im sure you will all agree, a prayer cannot command. A prayer is calling out to God and in this instance the person in question is Prophet Shu'ayb. How can prayer, coming from Prophet Shu'aybs own mouth, directed at God, command Prophet Shu'ayb himself?!?
This is the first point I would like discussed before we move on. This translation is a logical fallacy and the Quran being the Word of God, is free from such things. This Verse alone, is sufficent for me to reject "Salat" as prayer, much less "5 times a day ritual prayer"
Once we insert the correct meaning of the word into the verse, the result is this;
They said, "O Shuaib! Does, WHAT YOU FOLLOW (Salat), command you that we leave what worship our forefathers, or that we do concerning our wealth what we will? Indeed you, surely you (are) the forbearing, the right-minded."]
Which makes perfect sense.
Looking forward to reading your view and opinions.
Your brother in Faith
Cihan
Selam Cihan,
Your post is helpful resource to study the Qur'an and find meaning in prayer.
Prayer is such an important part of faith.
Mottel Baleston taught me that the word 'synagogue' (Greek: συναγωγη) originally meant a place of gathering.
"Jewish Christian Explains: What is the Synagogue of Satan? Hard Rebuke to Idiot Racists. Baleston". www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhSbKWp1y_A
συναγωγή, Wiktionary, the free dictionary
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CF%83%CF%85%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%B3%CF%89%CE%B3%CE%AE#Ancient_Greek
Peterson, Richard. "17. From Sabbath to Sunday, Passover to Easter and Dedication to Christmas (Some Historical Background)". https://tishrei.org/journal/17-from-sabbath-to-sunday-passover-to-easter-and-dedication-to-christmas-some-historical-background/
What you say about AL-MUSSALI is also confirmed online.
Multi Root Search
https://quranmorphology.com/multirootsearch?s=0&r1=%D8%B5%D9%84%D9%88&r2=%D8%B5%D9%84%D9%88
Select highlighted word > Dictionary
Your translation for Qur'an 11:87 makes sense given this textual evidence.
Do you think there is a linguistic relationship between the word 'saleh' (Arabic: صلح) and 'salat' (Arabic: صلاة)?
I believe there is a linguistic relationship between 'salam' (Arabic: سلم) and 'saleh' (Arabic: صلح), because of 'gafur' (Arabic: غفر) and '3fw' (Arabic: عفو), and possibly 'kafir' (Arabic: كفر).
Especially since all languages are transcribed from spoken word into written form. Arabic is of predominantly Mesopotamian origin, like Hebrew, yet both use letters which seem to originate in the Medu Ntr of Kemet, the Heiratic script, and its variants in the Sinai and Phoenicia.
I believe all the Abrahamic religions are strongly connected. I believe Qur'an is full of wisdom and ancient knowledge.
Knohl, Professor Israel. "YHWH: The Original Arabic Meaning of the Name". https://www.thetorah.com/article/yhwh-the-original-arabic-meaning-of-the-name
When you pray, how do you perceive your actions in relation to God?
Peace and blessings be upon you,
Fireheart47