*In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful*
*Assalaamu alaykum,* ** *The extract below is from Qur'aanic Studies - Volume IX, which is under preparation. The study in this extract is on Verse 4.43. The translation of the Verse is followed by comments thereon.* ** ** *43. O you who believe! Go not to prayer while you are under the influence of intoxication30, until you know what you say, nor while you are in an unclean state - unless on the move from one place to another - until you take a bath. And if you are ill, or on a journey, or any of you has come from the toilet or you have been in sexual contact with the women, and you cannot get water, then simulate the cleaning act with pure earth, wiping your faces and your hands therewith. Indeed, Allah is Lenient, Forgiving.* ------------------------------ *30. The human mind can be intoxicated in a number of ways. And the very next phrase in this Verse viz., 'until you know what you say', makes the divine meaning of the Arabic term sukara, used here, clear. The Arabic term obviously therefore means a state of the mind in which the person concerned does not fully understand the implications of what his/her mouth utters. Such a state of mind could be brought about by all sorts of intoxicants, or even by drowsiness. And any person could also be in such a state when his/her mind wavers to thoughts other than that of Allah. And the person's thoughts are bound to waver particularly when he/she does not understand the meaning of the Arabic words uttered in prayers. Understanding the meanings of what we say is therefore an absolute must for our prayers to be heard, accepted and answered. * ** *Wassalaam,* *Mohammad Shafi* *islam-n-interest.com <http://www.islam-n-interest.com>* **
