Dawah From Prison? *

Hasan al-Amin

Hasan al-Amin, who is in the Cook County Dept. of Corrections Facility, has sent us his response to an article which appeared in “OUR DAILY BREAD” published by the Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Mich., in their May 16th issue. This article talks about a Christian who visited the home of devout Muslims and observed Wudu and Salat performed by the woman of the house. After she was finished the Christian supposedly asked her the meaning of her prayers and her response was “I really don’t know:’ According to the article she did not know the meaning, did not understand the language, and was not even “conscious of having any contact with God.” The article then goes from this specific case to pointing out the principles for prayer taught in the New Testament. Here is Br. al-Amin’s response:

This Christian publication transgresses against the example of Prophet Issa (peace be upon him) who “fell on the ground” and “fell on his face” in prayer (Mark 14:35 and Matthew 26:39). The Prophet Daniel (peace be upon him) knelt on his knees and prayed three times a day (Daniel 6:10). However, in this publication Christians condemn repetition in prayer.
The author of the article is using the uncertainty of one Muslim to misrepresent the second Pillar of Islam (Salat) and gain credence for Christianity. In the third paragraph of the article; the author writes that Jesus (peace be upon him) taught that prayers were not to be showy, that we are not to mumble words mechanically, and that prayer begins with worship, requests forgiveness and expresses dependence on God (Allah) for spiritual and physical needs. This is the epitome and embodiment of what Salat represents. The New Testament says “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking:’ Matthew 6:7.

However, when a Muslim prays he is not using vain repetitions. Nothing in Salat is worthless, boring, irksome, wearisome and repetitive. “But if they are proud. yet those with your Lord glorify Him during the night and day, and they are not tired:’ Qur’an 41:38. What is vain repetition about glorifying your Lord?

In the second paragraph of the article the author speaks about the Muslim being disciplined to pray five times a day in a language she didn’t understand, and she was not conscious of having any contact with Allah (SWT). The author of the article must not realize the poetic consonance and harmonious intonation of the Arabic language. Did the author also forget that Roman Catholics until recently prayed by rote in Latin several times a day in a disciplined show of devotion called The Rotary Reading. “Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their prayers:’ Qur’an 2.3:1-2.

Salat is the highest form of worship in Islam. Through prayer one obtains peace with himself and the Creator. A Muslim who performs ablutions (wudu) well is preparing himself physically and mentally before standing in the presence of his Lord. “Prosperous is he who purifies and remembers the name of his Lord and he prays:’ Qur’an 87:14-15.

The Muslim then states intentions and faces our directional sign in prayer and worship which is the House of God (Holy Kaaba) in Mecca. Muslims don’t idolize or worship the Kaaba, but it is a symbol of ideological unity. The prayer then follows and is in itself a means of spiritual uplift, moral improvement, physical well-being and happiness. At the same time it is a means of attaining nearness to Allah (SWT) and seeking His help, protection, guidance and forgiveness for oneself. The prayer is the true spirit of humility, Taqwa (God consciousness) and it reaffirms Allah’s (SWT) omnipotence and our whole hearted reliance on Him.

The prayer is offered in Arabic because it is the language of the Qur’an and it further creates the atmosphere of universal brotherhood, Prostration signifies humbling ourselves before Allah (SWT) repeatedly and it shows the oneness of the Muslim Ummah because about one billion Muslims worldwide are praying at the same time with their forehead, nose, hands and knees on the ground, facing Mecca, and reciting the Qur’an. This makes the Holy Qur’an the most read book in the world and creates a total atmosphere of equality, brotherhood and universal love.

I may be incarcerated but I have repented my sins and now I put my complete trust in Allah (SWT). Through regular prayer I have wholeheartedly developed a complete reliance on Allah (S\MT) and through prayer I daily and regularly take stock of my life. It fosters and develops self-control that saves me from being an easy victim to temptation, and it consequently minimizes my chances of committing sins and it washes away my sins thus making me nearer to the Kingdom of Allah (SWT).

Inshallah, I have presented my rebuttal to the article in a good manner.
“Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation and have disputation with them in the best manner.”  Quran. 16:125

Originally published in the Summer 1990 print edition of

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