Prayers in KSA and Prayers in Pakistan

That’s one of things that I just cant stop thinking about. There are lot of positives and negatives on both sides. The best thing about KSA that can be said is here a large number of people offer Salah regularly or at least 4 times a day. Govt has played a major part in this since no shop or market can kept open at prayer times. There is heavy fine on any supermarket that’s not closed at the time of prayers. Although a large number of people offer Salahs regularly, they are not aware of the true meaning of Salat, at least in my opinion. Salat should be viewed by a Muslim as means of establishing direct connection with Allah SubhanWaTalah. Its very common here to run in mosque to somehow get into Rukuh before the Imam gets up. Even if its being done in the true spirit of Salah i.e. not to miss a Rakah rather than doing it because One will have to pray an Extra Rakah, still I believe its against the code of conduct of Mosque. Every Muslim should know how the companions of Holy Prophet (SAW) used to sit in the mosque. It is narrated that We (companions) used to sit in the gathering of Muhammad (SAW) as if we had falcons on our heads and even a slightest bit of movement would lead them fly away! We all should learn from this as to what sort of behavior is allowed in a religious gathering or mosque. In fact, in a Hadeeth, even Holy Quran should be recited in a low voice in the presence of someone offering Salat. That is the importance of Salat. Almost everyday I see a large number looking around during Salat, talking in the mosque, begging in the mosque, running in the mosque. The other thing that really frustrates me over here is that people just have an odd habit of spreading their legs while standing in prayers about twice their own length! And I mean it. Muslims are supposed to be standing in a disciplined queue where there feet and shoulders should be in-line and very close to each other. In fact one of the Hadeeth relates the distance between the feet of the adjacent Salat doers as the distance between their Hearts. No wonder why we Muslims arent united anymore. Not only will it look good but it will save space that is usu. scarce in mosques. And last but not least, it’s almost a custom to cross the praying person. It disturbs Salat doer’s concentration, not only this some people are so careless that they collide with you while passing. Many times have I been left off balance by this. Its not only the Saudis or Arabs, in fact I see more of Banladeshis, Indians do this. I cant recall from my 5 years that I spent in Pakistan a single incident where a person did this. This is Strictly Forbidden in Shariah.

However I do believe the major difference apart from all the carelessness described above, The Saudis and even the foreign inhabitants of KSA are keen to call themselves Muslims unlike in Pakistan where you are not a Muslim but a Barelvi, Ahl-e-Hadees, Deobandi and the list goes on and on… I pray May Allah guide us through these difficult times and lead us to the Right path to real glory and success in this life and hereafter. Ameen