Contents

Acknowledgements
AfewQur'anic
versestoponder,at
thebeginningofthe
study
1.Introduction
2.Knowledgeof
Arabicandits
importance
3.BasicRulesTo
BeFollowedInThe
StudyOfThe
Qur'an
4.Explanationof
theQur'anbythe
Qur'an
5.Understanding
thefirstsura:Al
Fatiha,thekeyto
theQur'an

11. The five pillars (11.111.3)

11.THEFIVEPILLARS
TheHadithliteraturehascondensedIslamintofiveprinciples,knownastheFivePillarsofIslam.Iquotebelow
fromBukhariVol.1hadithno7:
NarratedIbnUmar:Allah'sMessengersaid:Islamisbasedon(thefollowing)five(principles):
1.TotestifythatnonehastherighttobeworshippedbutAllahandMuhammadisAllah'sMessenger.
2.Toofferthe(compulsorycongregational)prayersdutifullyandperfectly.
3.TopayZakat(i.e.obligatorycharity).

6.Basicteachings
oftheQur'an

4.ToperformHajj(i.e.PilgrimagetoMecca).

7.Theprophetsand
theirrevelations
(7.17.7)

5.ToobservefastduringthemonthofRamadan.

7.Theprophetsand
theirrevelations
(7.8)
8.Topicsapparently
controversial(8.1
8.6)
8.Topicsapparently
controversial(8.7
8.11)
9.Latterdaysaints
10.Implicationsof
HadithforIslam
(10.110.2)
10.Theimplications
ofHadithforIslam
(10.310.4)
11.Thefivepillars
(11.111.3)
11.Thefivepillars
(11.411.5)
12.Economic
systemofthe
Qur'an
13.Lawmakingin
Islam
14.Qur'anand
Science
15.Thepurposeof
Mankind
16.TheIslamic
state
17.Islamand
humanrights
18.TheJewish
scripturesandthe
Bible
19.Human
evolution
20.Conclusion
Appendices(A1,A2,
A3,A4,A5,A6)
Bibliography
BookReviews(2nd
edition)
Questions
Shortdiscussions
MoonSighting

ThefiveprinciplesarealsorepeatedinBukhariVol.1,No.50,Vol.2,No.480,Vol.6,No.300andafewothers.
ThefoundationofIslamaccordingtotheHadithscomprisesof:1.Belief(Faith)2.Prayer3.Zakat(compulsory
charity)4.Fastingand5.Hajj(pilgrimage).
ThereisageneralmisconceptionamongMuslimsthattheQur'anisatheoreticalBookasitdoesnotgivethe
details,anditisthebooksofHadithsthattellusthemethodsofpractisingIslaminreallife.Underthis
misapprehension,MuslimshaveisolatedthemselvesfromtheQur'an,sinceitisbelievedthattheHadithsgive
everythingthatisrequiredtoperformthefivepillars.MuslimchildrenaremadetoreadtheQur'anparrotfashion
withoutunderstandingthemeaningand,therefore,exceptforafew,thevastmajorityhavenoclueastowhatis
recitedintheprayers.
Sadly,theresultisthatthevastmajorityofushavenoknowledgeoftheguidancegivenintheQur'an.Thefew
whounderstanddarenotsayanythingopenlybecauseofthesocialpressuretoconform,whilethepoliticalleaders
finditeasiertocontrolpeopleaslongasthemajorityremainignorantoftheteachingsoftheQur'an.
Beforeanalysingthefiveprinciples,wemustemphasisethatthesefivesubdivisionsnotonlydonotgiveafull
pictureofIslam,butalsofundamentallydistortitsrealmeaningasfarastheQur'anisconcerned.Infact,theyhave
becomeritualsintheextremesomuchso,thatallthepracticalteachingsoftheQur'anaretotallyignored.We
needlooknofurtherforthecauseofourdownfallinallspheres.
11.1DeclarationofFaith/Belief
TheMuslimdeclarationoffaithis:"ThereisnoGodbutAllahandMuhammadisthemessengerofAllah".Yet
thisseemstodefythecentralconceptof"Tawhid"orthe"OnenessofAllah"asstressedintheQur'an.Nowhere
intheQur'anarethesetwoconceptslinkedtogether.Thatis,nowhereisthephrase:"ThereisnoGodbutHim
(Allah)"linkedwiththephrase"andMuhammadistheMessengerofAllah".Afactaboutwhichallbutthemost
unusuallyinformedMuslimistotallyignorant.Let'slookatQur'anicexamples:
(3:18)AllahbearswitnessthatthereisnoGodbutHim(lailahaillahu)andsodotheangels,andmen
possessedofknowledgeupholdingjusticethereisnoGodbutHim(lailahaillahu),theAlmighty,the
Wise.
Furtherexamplescanbefoundinthefollowingverses:2:163,2553:2,64:876:102,1067:1589:31,12911:14
13:3016:220:8,14,9821:25,8723:11627:2628:70,8835:339:640:362,6544:847:1964:1373:9.
Thesecondwaythis'formula'contravenestheQur'ancanbeseenbythefactthatAllahstatesasmanyasfive
timesthatwemustnotmakeanydistinctionbetweenanyofHisprophets.Indoingsowebecomedisbelieversand
faceseverepenalties.Therelevantversesare:2:136,2853:844:150,152ofwhichIquotethefollowing:
(4:150152)ThosewhodenyAllahandHismessengers,andwishtoseparateAllahfromHismessengers,
saying:'Webelieveinsomeandrejectothers,andwishtochooseawayinbetween'Sucharedisbelievers
intruthandfordisbelieversWehavepreparedashamefuldoom.ButthosewhobelieveinAllahandHis
messengersandmakenodistinctionbetweenthem,untothemAllahwillgivetheirwagesAllahisever
Forgiving,Merciful.
Infact,theShahadahfortheMuslims(i.e.thedeclarationoffaith/belief)isgivenbytheQur'anitselfinthe
followingverse:
(2:136)Say(OMuslims):WebelieveinAllahandthatwhichisrevealeduntousandthatwhichwas
revealeduntoAbrahamandIshmael,andIsaac,andJacob,andthetribes,andthatwhichMosesandJesus
received,andthatwhichtheprophetsreceivedfromtheirSustainer.Wemakenodistinctionbetweenanyof
them,anduntoHimwehavesurrendered.
Otherversesconfirmthisdeclaration(e.g.verses2:285,3:84and2:177).
Note:ExceptfortheQur'an,therevelationsgiventoallotherprophetsdonotexistintheiroriginalformsdueto
lossandhumaninterference.This,however,isnotaproblemforussincethemessagesgiventotheotherprophets
areallcontainedinwhattheQur'anteaches,theBook,whichhasremainedintactinitsoriginalform.TheQur'an
statesveryclearlythatnothingwassaidtotheProphet(Muhammad)thatwasnotsaidtoothermessengersbefore
him.
(41:43)Nothingissaiduntothee(Muhammad)savethatwhichwassaiduntomessengersbeforethee[...].

Itisalsonotenoughsimplytomakeaverbaldeclarationofbelief.Wewillinvariablybetestedastowhetherwe
aresteadfastinourbeliefornot.Thefollowingversesillustratethis:
(29:2)Domenimaginethattheywillbeleft(atease)becausetheysay,webelieve,andwillnotbetested
withaffliction?
(3:142)OrdeemedyethatyewouldenterParadisewhileyetAllahknowethnotthoseofyouwhoreally
strive,norknoweththose(ofyou)whoaresteadfast?
(2:155157)AndsurelyWewilltryyouwithsomethingoffearandhunger,andlossofwealthandlives
andcropsbutgivegladtidingstothesteadfast.Whosay,whenamisfortunestrikeththem:Lo!weare
Allah'sandlo!untoHimwearereturning.SucharetheyonwhomareblessingsfromtheirSustainer,and
mercy.Sucharetherightlyguided.
Theprophetsthemselvesweresubjectedtoveryrigoroustestsbeforetheywereconfirmedintheirprophethood.
Abraham(seesection7.5)wassubjectedtotestsbeforehewasmadetheleaderofmankind.Similarly,Muhammad
underwentseveretestsasthefollowingversesuggests.
(2:214)OrthinkyethatyewillenterParadisewhileyettherehathnotcomeuntoyouthelikeof(that
whichcameto)thosewhopassedawaybeforeyou?Afflictionandadversitybefellthem,theywereshaken
aswithearthquake,tillthemessenger(ofAllah)andthosewhobelievedwithhimsaid:Whencometh
Allah'shelp?NowsurelyAllah'shelpisnigh.
InfacttheonlywaythatwecanbetruetoourbeliefinAllah'sMajestyandOnenessisbymakingsureofour
understandingofHisWordsintheQur'an,sothatwecanfollowtheseasourguidanceineverydaylife,tothebest
ofourability.
11.2Salat(Prayer)
Salatistranslatedmostlyas'prayer'byYusufAliandas'worship'byPickthal.Thereisalsothewordibadat(pl.)
whichmeansactsofdevotionorreligiousobservances.Thishasoftenbeenusedsynonymouslywiththeword
'salat'.Weshouldnotethatthewordibadatisderivedfromtherootword'abada'whichmeanstoserve,to
worship,todevotetotheserviceofAllahetc.IntheQur'aniccontext,thewordibadatmeansobediencetothe
lawsofAllahascontainedintheQur'an,andthus,ithasamuchwidersignificancethansalat.Thewordsalatcan
beregardedasoneofthedutiescontainedbythewordibadat,atermwhichitselfincludesalltheduties.
IntheQur'antheveryfirstoccurrenceofaderivedwordfromtherootabadaisfoundinthefifthverseofthefirst
suraAlFatiha,innabudu.Thereareasmanyas94versesintheQur'aninwhichaderivedformoftherootabada
isused.Thewordsalatoccurs67timesintheQur'anandinthecontextoftheverseswhichcontainstheword
salat,thenearestEnglishwordthatcanbeusedforsalatiseitherprayerorworship.TheQur'anhoweverhasused
thepluralsenseforsalat,indicatingthatthisfunction,initsentirety,ismeanttobecarriedoutcollectively.We
needtoexaminefurtherwhattheQur'anhastosayregardingthepracticeofsalatinthesenseofprayerand
worship.WecanthenlookatthepositionoftheHadithsonthisissueinthelightofwhattheQur'anhastosay.A
fewoftherelevantQur'anicversesarequotedbelow:
(2:43)[...]andbowdownyourheadswiththosewhobowinworship.
(2:149)[...]turnthyfacetowardstheinviolableplaceofworship.
(5:6)Oyewhobelieve,whenyeriseupforprayer,washyourfaces,andyourhandsuptoelbows,and
lightlyrubyourheads,andwashyourfeetuptoankles,andifyeareuncleanpurifyyourselves[...]
(11:114)Establishworshipatthetwoendsofthedayandsomewatchesofthenight[...]
(17:78)Establishworshipatthegoingdownofthesun(sunset)untilthedarkofnight,and(therecitalof)
theQur'anatdawn.Lo!(therecitalof)theQur'anatdawniseverwitnessed.
(24:58)Oyewhobelieve!Letyourslaves,andthoseofyouwhohavenotcometopubertyaskleaveof
youatthreetimes:Beforetheprayerofdawn(SalatulFajr),andwhenyelayasideyourraimentforthe
heatoftheafternoon,andaftertheprayeratnight.(SalatulIsha)[...]
(62:9)Oyewhobelieve!WhenthecallisproclaimedtoprayeronFriday(thedayoftheAssembly),
hastenearnestlytotheremembranceofAllah,andleavebusiness.
(4:43)Oyewhobelieve!approachnotprayerswithamindbefogged,untilyecanunderstandallthatye
say,norwhenyearepolluted,exceptwhenjourneyingupontheroad,tillyehavebathed[...]
(17:107,108)[...]falldownprostrateontheirfaces,adoring,andsaying:GlorytoourSustainer!Verilythe
promiseofourSustainermustbefulfilled.
(25:64,65)AndwhospendthenightbeforetheirSustainer,prostrateandstanding,andwhosay:Our
Sustainer!AvertfromusthedoomofhellLo!Thedoomthereofisanguish.
(17:110,111)[...]Neitherspeakthyprayeraloud,norspeakitinalowtone,butseekamiddlecourse
between.Andsay:PraisebetoAllah,WhohathnottakenuntoHimselfason,andwhohathnopartnerin
Sovereignty,norhathHeanyprotectingfriendthroughdependence.AndmagnifyHimwithall
magnificence.
Itmaybenotedthatverse24:58mentionsSalatulFajrandSalatulIshabyname.Verse11:114ontheotherhand
states,thatsalatistobeperformedatthetwoendsofthedaywhich,logicallyspeaking,aretheFajrandthe
Magribprayers.Alsoverse17:78statesthatsalatistobeperformedatthegoingdownofthesun(orsunset)until
thedarkofnight.ThisagainindicatestheMagribandIshaprayers.Itisalsointerestingtonotethatinverse24:58

whenonelaysasideone'sclothesfortheheatoftheafternoon,thereisnomentionoftheZuhrprayer.Futher,
accordingtoverse17:110,prayerisnottobesaidsilently(thisobviouslyimpliessalatasusedintheQur'an,i.e.in
acongregationalprayer,orsalatinthepluralsense).Incontraventionofthiscleardirective,Muslimsperform
ZuhrandAsrprayerssilently.
Concludingfromtheversesquotedabove,wefindthattheQur'anclearlyindicatesestablishingsalatinthe
morning,eveningandatnighti.e.threetimes.Forthedayitsays:"Lo!Thouhastbythedayachainofbusiness"
(73:7).TheexceptionforthisisFriday,whenonemustlayasideallbusinessandrushtothemosque.Onthis
occasion,mentioned'asthedayoftheAssembly',importantissuesandtopicsshouldbecomepartofthesermon,
followedbytheprayernotthetraditionalsermontowhichwehavesadlybecomeaccustomed,whichhasno
relevancetopresentdaysociety.AsfarastheritualpartoftheprayerisconcernedtheQur'anmentionsthe
standing,bowing,prostration,direction,andtheglorificationofAllahinthestateofprostration.However,Allah
saysinmanyverses(e.g.5:7,11:5),thatHeknowswhatisinourheart,andthisimpliesthatthemethodorthe
ritualpartoftheprayerisnotofprimaryimportancetoHim.Thisisfurtherconfirmedinverse4:43whichstates
thatwemustunderstandwhatwesayinourprayer.
InsometranslationsoftheQur'an,particularlybyYusufAliandM.Asad,theverse17:78hasbeeninterpretedto
meanthatitconfirmsthepracticeoffivedailyprayers.YusufAliinnote2275states:
Thecommentatorsunderstandherethecommandforthefivedailycanonicalprayers,viz.thefourfromthe
declinationofthesunfromthezenithtothefullestdarknessofthenight,andtheearlymorningprayer,
Fajr,whichisusuallyaccompaniedbyareadingoftheholyQur'an.Thefourafternoonprayersare:Zuhr,
immediatelyafterthesunbeginstodeclineintheafternoonAsr,intheafternoonMagribimmediately
aftersunsetandIshaaftertheglowofsunsethasdisappearedandthefulldarknessofnighthassetin.
Thereisdifferenceofopinionastothemeaningofparticularwordsandphrases,butnoneastothegeneral
effectofthepassage.
HoweverYusufAlicarefullyavoidsnamingthewordorphraseinwhichtherearedifferencesofopinion,asit
wouldthenhavebeendifficultforhimtointerprettheversewithoutcomingintoconflictwiththetraditionoffive
dailyprayers.
Theconfusionarisesinthetranslationofthephrasedulukasshamsintheverse.YusufAlitranslatesthisas'sun's
decline'.M.Asadtranslatesit'asthetimewhenthesunhaspassedthezenith'.M.Pickthalltranslatesthephraseas
'goingdownofthesun'andN.J.Dawoodas'sunset'.TheArabicEnglishDictionarybyHansWehrstatesdulukas:
toset,togodown(sun).Italsodefinesthewholephrasedulukasshamsas'sunset'.
YusufAliandM.AsadobviouslywanttointerpretthisphraseinawaythatconfirmswhatisstatedintheHadiths
(i.e.thedailyfivetimesprayer).IftherealmeaningisacceptedfromtheArabic,thentheverse17:78'Establish
worship(salat)atthegoingdownofthesun(orsunset)untilthedarkofnight[...]'impliestheMagribandIsha
prayersandnottheZuhr,Asr,MagribandIshaprayersashasbeensuggested.YusufAlialsomisinterpretsverse
20:130inhisnote2655,and50:39inhisnote4978,wherethewordHamdhasbeeninterpretedtomeansalat,
insteadofitscorrectmeaningas'praise'.AllwecandoistotrytokeeptothewordsasusedintheQur'anwithin
theboundsoftheArabiclanguageratherthanstretchingthesensetomeetourownexpectations.
11.2.iTheHadithsonprayer(salat)andontheoriginofprayer
Hadithliteratureisoftenconcernedwiththeritualpartofourprayersi.e.themethod,thetimesandthenumberof
prayers.However,wemustrememberthatanystatementbytheHadithsonthisissuemustnotcontradictthe
Qur'an.
AccordingtotheHadithsthemethodandthetimesofprayerwererevealedtotheProphetinthesamewayasthe
Qur'anwasrevealed(thatis,asadirectrevelationfromAllah).Moreover,itismaintainedthatGabriel(Jibreel)A1
demonstratedtotheProphetthemethodofprayingatstatedtimesbyleadingeachoftheprayershimself(Bukhari
Vol.1,No.500andVol.4No.444).Thisimmediatelyraisesthequestion:ifthemethodortheritualpartofthe
prayerwasarevelation,whywasitnot,then,includedintheQur'an?DowethenacceptthattheQur'anis
incomplete?Ontheotherhand,ifweaccepttheviewthattheQur'an,astheFinalRevelationiscompleteandhas
remainedintact,wordforword,andthatAllahhastakenituponHimselftoprotectit,thentheaboveHadithsmust
befalse.Inotherwords,Gabriel(Jibreel)A1didnotdemonstratetotheProphetthemethodoftheprayers,asstated
intheHadiths.
Thequestionthenarisesastohowthesemethodsorritualsoriginated.Beforeansweringthisquestion(section
11.2.ii),itwouldbeusefultodiscussthequestionofthefivedailyprayers.Bukharigivesusanexampleofthe
kindofnarrationweareexpectedtoswallowregardingthisissueinVol.1,No.345,Vol.4,No.429andVol.9No.
608.Accordingtohim,thematterwassoimportantthattheProphetwastakenbyGabriel(Jibreel)toseeAllahto
settlethisissue.Accordingtohim,Allahinitiallyordainedfiftyprayersaday.However,afteralotofbargaining,
inwhichtheProphetMosesactedasanadvisertotheProphet,Allahrelentedandreducedtheburdentofivetimes
aday.WhatismostsurprisingisthattheQur'andoesnotmentionsuchanimportantjourneywhatsoever,whereas
itmentionshistoricalincidentsofmuchlesserimportance.TheoneQur'anicversewhich,itisclaimed,refersto
thisjourneyisinSura17:1givenbelow:
(17:1)GlorifiedbeHeWhocarriedHisservantbynightfromthenearestmosque(TheKaba)tothe
farthestmosque,theneighbourhoodwhereofWehaveblessed,thatWemightshowhimsomeofOur
Signs!
Thereseemtobefourdifferentinterpretationsonthisverse:
(i)ThemajorityofcommentatorstakethisnighttomeanthattheProphetwastransportedbyGabriel(Jibreel)A1
fromthenearestmosque(MasjidAlHaram)inMeccatothefarthestmosque(MasjidAlAqsa)in
Jerusalem,(whichdidnotexistatthetime),sopresumablytheymeantheTempleofSolomoninJerusalem
orwhateverexistedthereatthattime.

(ii)TheHadithliteraturegoesfurtherbystatingthattheProphetwastakentoseeAllahfromJerusalemby
GabrielA1,andthatatthatmeetingthefivedailyprayersweresealed.
(iii)Thewholejourneywasspiritual,possiblyinadream.
(iv)ThatitreferstotheflightoftheProphet(Hijra)withAbuBakrfromMecca(wherethenearestmosquethe
Kabawas)toMedina,whereamosque(thefarthestmosquei.e.MasjidAlAqsa)wasestablishedbefore
Muhammad'sarrivalthere.Insupportofthisthereishistoricalevidencethatadelegationof73peoplefrom
MedinacametoseetheProphetwhilehewasatMeccaandthattheProphetsentMusabbinUmairwith
thedelegationtoconductprayersandhelpthepeopleinMedinatoenterthebrotherhoodofIslam.The
Medinans,therefore,musthavebuiltthemosquebeforethearrivaloftheProphet.
ThelastinterpretationseemsthemostlogicalsinceMedinawasmoreconducivetohismission,andwasthusa
neighbourhoodblessedbyAllahtobeusedforthelaterpartoftheProphet'smission.Someindicationofthiscan
befoundininthefollowingverses:
(93:4,5)Andverilythelatterportionwillbebetterfortheethantheformer,andverilythySustainerwill
giveuntotheesothatthouwillbecontent.
11.2.iiFormatormethodofprayerintheHadiths1,2
Bukharidoesnotgivethemethodsofprayerinacoherentform.Onehastogothroughalotofhisquotedhadiths
toformsomesensibleidea.AccordingtoBukhari(Vol.1No.346)whenAllahenjoinedprayer,itwastwo
rakatsA4ineveryprayer,bothwhenathomeoronajourney.Thentheprayersofferedonjourneyremainedthe
same,buttherakatsoftheprayersfornontravellerswereincreased.ForexampleinHadith(Vol.1,No.474),the
Prophetleadstheprayerwith2rakatsforZuhrand2rakatsforAsr.InHadith(Vol.1,No.518)theProphet
prayed8rakatsfortheZuhrandAsrand7rakatsforMagribandIshainMedina.InHadith(Vol.1.No.566)
Allah'smessengernevermissed2rakatsbeforeFajrprayerand2rakatsafterAsrprayer.Infact,thenumberof
rakatsofthecompulsoryprayersi.e.2rakatsfortheFajr,4rakatsfortheZuhr,4rakatsforAsr,3rakatsfor
Magriband4rakatsforIsha,arenotspecifiedinBukhariatall.Andthesameappliesforthesunnatprayersthat
weperformtoday.Itisonlyaftersearchingthroughalargenumberofhadithsthatwecanfindwhatperhapswe
aremeanttosaywhileperformingthesetofposturesfromstandingtobendingandtheninprostrationbutonly,it
shouldbeemphasised,afterawidesearch,andnotwithoutvariationsandcontradictions.Soonecanquiteclearly
seethatHadithdoesnotgiveanyorganisedorcoordinatedmethodsofprayerthatcanbefolloweduniversally.
ThisisaninterestingpointwhenyouconsiderhoweasyitwouldbeforanyevenmoderatelyeducatedMuslimto
giveapreciselistofthemechanicsofallthedailyprayersasprescribedbythe'scholars'.Anotherimportantpoint
thatcomesoutisthatalthoughattahiyatuinthesittingpositionismentionedinBukhari,thedarudwereciteafter
attahiyatuisnot.
ThehadithsinMuslimdonotgiveanyclearindicationofthemethodsofprayereither.Thenumberofrakatsof
thecompulsoryprayerisnotgivenintheformatasperformedatthepresenttime.Theonlysimilaritybetween
BukhariandMuslimisinthesetofposturesfromstandingtobendingandthentheprostrationand
pronouncementsinthesepositions.Muslimmentionsattahiyatuinthesittingposition,andthedarud.However,
thelatterisnotmentionedbyBukhariatall.MuslimisveryclearabouttherecitationofAlFatihaineveryrakat,
themainconfusionliesinthenumberofrakats,particularlyforthecompulsoryprayers.Forexample,hadith1017
statesthattheProphetperformedtworakatsforZuhrandtwoforAsrprayer.Thisappearstocontradicthadith
911:
(911)AbuSaidalKhudrireported:TheApostleofAllahusedtoreciteineveryrakatofthefirsttworakat
ofthenoon(Zuhr)prayerabout30versesandinthelasttwoaboutfifteenverses,andineveryrakatofthe
Asrprayerofthefirsttworakatsaboutfifteenversesandinthelasttwohalfofthefirstones.
Theabovehadithseemstocontradicthadith909alsowhichstatesthatinthelasttworakatstheProphetwould
recitesuraAlFatihaonly,andthathewouldsometimesreciteloudenoughtomaketheversesaudible.Thisisat
variancewiththepresentdaypracticewherebyZuhrandAsrareperformedsilently.
RegardingtheWitrprayer,weseeaclearcontradictionbetweenhadithsnos.1602,1604,and1607,whichmention
one,five,andthreerakatsrespectively.
Concerningthesunnatprayers,thereseemstobenoclearindication.Theseareprayerswhichaccordingto
'traditionalIslam'arerecommendedoverandabovethecompulsoryprayers.Forexample,hadith1579statesthata
housewillbebuiltinParadiseforanyonewhopraystwelverakatsinadayandanight.
Itisadisturbingfactthat,accordingtotheHadith,theProphetappearstobewhollyoccupiedwithprayersday
andnightasifthatweretheonlythingAllahrequiredofus.Theprayersmentionedincludehisforenoonprayer
offourtoeightrakats(no.1549)additionalprayersathomeafterleadingthecompulsoryprayersinthemosque
nightprayers(Tahajjud)afterIshaleadingtothemorningprayer(no.1584etc.).Hadithnos.927and928state
thattheProphetusedtorecite60to100versesinthemorningprayer.OnebeginstowonderhowtheProphet
managedtocarryoutallhisotherduties,includingthecompilationoftheQur'an,theguidanceofthepeople,state
activities,plushismanyotherduties,nottospeakofhispersonalandfamilylife.
Thepointthatcanbetakenfromallthisisthattheformatofallourprayersunderwentsubstantialchangesbefore
itwasfinallyestablishedinitspresentform,andthatmostofthesechangestookplacewellafterthedeathofthe
Prophet.Thereisnothingwronginthisaslongasweacceptthattheritualpartoftheprayerdidnotrequireany
revelation.Itwaspurelyacommonsensewayofdevelopingtheruleswithintheboundaryconditions(seeverses
onthesalat)specifiedintheQur'an,andiftheProphethadnotdoneso,aproperIslamicStatewouldhave.The
pointwemustrememberisthatritualsareonlyimportantwhenweplacetheminthecontextofmanyimportant
dutieswhichAllahhasaskedustoperform.Otherwisetheybecomejustformswithoutanysubstanceorvalue.
11.2.iiiConclusion
Ithasalreadybeenstatedthatthemethodortheritualpartoftheprayercannotpossiblyarevelationasitisnotin

theQur'an.Yet,astandardquestionisalwaysraised:astheHadithgivesthemethodofprayerhowcouldwelearn
toprayifweignoredtheHadith?WehavealreadyshownthatBukharidoesnotgivetheformatoftheprayersthat
weperformtodayandthattheformatofallourprayersunderwentsubstantialchangesbeforeitwasfinally
establishedinitsoverallpresentform,andthatmostofthesechangestookplacewellafterthedeathofthe
Prophet.Besides,thereisagapofabout250yearsbeforetheHadithliteratureappears(seesection10.1for
discussiononHadith).Sohowdidthepeopleprayduringthistime?Obviously,theProphetmusthaveestablished
amethod,bytakingintoaccounttheprinciplesintheQur'anandbyconsultinghiscompanions.Thereisno
differenceinthismatterthaninestablishinganysubsidiarylawswithintheboundsofthefundamentalprinciples
(seeSection13.5).
Importantly,theProphetdidnotrecordeitherthemethodofprayer,orhisownsayingsandpractices.We
canonlyinferfromthisthatherealisedthatthiswouldhavecreatedconfusionbetweentherecordingsofhisown
sayingsandpractices,andtherecordingsoftheQur'an.However,aritualonceestablished,andpractisedregularly
bytheMuslimcommunitiesofthattimewasunlikelytohavefallenapart,eventhoughitwasnotwrittendown.
Thus,thecontentionthatwithouttheHadiththepracticeofsalatcouldnotbecarriedoutdoesnotholdwater.Itis
acuriousfactthat,Bukharihassuccessfullyavoidedpeople'soutrageonthemanydenigratinghadithshequoted
regardingtheProphet,bymeansofthesimpleandyeteffectivecontentionthatwithouthisinvestigationsand
writingsonsalatthepracticetodaywouldhavebeenimpossiblewhichisevidentnonsense.Thetruthisthata
practicewhichsurvivedfor250yearswithouttheinfluenceoftheHadith,wouldhavecontinuedtosurvivesimply
byvirtueofitsregularpracticepassedfromgenerationtogeneration.
Moreover,therapidexpansionofIslamwithinafewdecades,gavetheaddedresiliencetothepracticeofsalat.
DuringtheAbbasideperiod,somechangescameinthemethodsandpracticesofprayer,causedbythefour
schoolsoflawi.e.Hanafi,Shafi,MalikiandHanbali.Furtherchanges,particularlyinthenumberofrakatstobe
performedduringeachprayertime,musthavetakenplaceovertimeduetohumaninterference.Somechanges
alsocameduetoculturaldifferencesinvariouspartsoftheworldandonedoesn'thavetotraveltoofartoseethese
variations.Howdoweexplainthese?Andwhereisthecommonconsensusregardingourmethodsofprayer?
Note:Inthisstudywehaverestrictedsalattoitsmostcommonlyunderstoodsenseof'theritualprayer'.The
Qur'anusesthewordsalatinamuchwidersensethanthatofsimpleprayer.Wealsoobservethatinthe
Qur'anthewordsalatisusedinthepluralnumber.Wehaveconcentratedhereonthegeneralmeaningof'prayer'
inordertobringoutsomeofourconfusionandpreoccupation,regardingthiseverydaypractice.
11.2.ivConflictsbetweenthepresentdayprayerandtheQur'anapersonalview
Theversesrecitedmustberelevanttotheprayer.Atpresent,apartfromthefirstsura(AlFatiha),manyofthe
verseswerecitehavenorelevancetoourprayerthatis,wedonotknowwhatwearesayingorwhetheritis
meaningfulforthepurpose.Forexample,inrecitingsura112inourprayerswesay:'Say:HeisAllah,theOne!
[...]'InotherwordswearetellingAllah:'Say:HeisAllah,theOne![...]'ascenariowhichisridiculous.Prayeris
asupplicationofthebelievertoAllah,andsoverseswhichdonotfulfilthispurposeareinappropriate.Weneedto
choosewhatwesaythatis,chooseversesanddoasofwhichtherearemanywhichconveythesenseofour
supplicationtoHim.Failingthis,itwouldbebettertoperformthebowingandprostrationimmediatelyafterthe
recitationofthefirstsura.Theutterancesweuseinthepositionofbowingandprostrationconformtosura17:107,
108,i.e.theGlorificationofAllahinthosepositions.Howevertherearewordsinbothattahiyatuandthedarud,
recitedinthesittingposition,whichgoagainstQur'anicguidance.Forexample,thewordsinattahiyatutranslate
as:
Allreverence,allworship,allsanctityareduetoAllah.PeacebeonyouOProphet!andtheMercyof
AllahandHisblessings.PeacebeonusandtherighteoussevantsofAllah.Ibearwitnessthatthereisno
GodbutAllahandIbearwitnessthatMuhammadisHisservantandmessenger.
Theinclusionof'peacebeonyou,OProphet'addressestheProphetinthesecondpersonvocativeagrammatical
constructionwhichassumesthepersonaddressedisstillalive.Thisiscompletelywrong,anddoublysosincethe
Qur'anforbidsustomakeanydistinctionbetweentheProphets.Theappropriatephrasewouldbe'Peacebeonall
theProphets'asthiswouldconformwiththeQur'an(37:181).Forexplanationonthefinalpartof'Ibearwitness...'
seesection11.1.
Thefollowingversesgivefurtherrelevantpointsonprayer.
(72:18,19)AndtheplacesofworshipareonlyforAllah.SoinvokenotanyonealongwithAllah:And
whentheslaveofAllah(theProphet)stoodupinprayertoHim,theycrowdedonhim,almoststifling.
(72:20)Say(untothem,OMuhammad):IprayuntoAllahonly,andascribeuntoHimnopartner.
Weneedtounderstandthattheformofprayerweuseisaritual,althoughthisritualperformedincongregationis
importantasithelpstobringpeopletogether.Butthefunctionofthemosquemustbemorethanjustaplacefor
performingthecongregationalprayer.TheImamorthepersonwholeadstheprayershouldbeascholarwell
versedintheQur'ansohecanuseitmeaningfullyandbeabletoarrangelecturesorseminarsontheQur'an.Itis
important,too,thatthemosquebeopenforcommunityandsocialfunctionsbeneficialtothesociety,insteadof
beingkeptemptyexceptatprayertimes(seesection11.2.v).
TherearemanyQur'anicversesrelevanttoprayer.Ihaveselectedafew,includingsomefromtheversesofprayer
whichtheProphetsperformedduringtheirlifetimes.
(2:286)[...]OourSustainer!condemnusnotifweforget,orfallintoerror.OourSustainer!Laynotonus
suchaburdenasThoudidstlayonthosebeforeus!Imposenotonusthatwhichwehavenotthestrength
tobear!Pardonus,absolveusandhavemercyonus!ThouartourProtector,sograntussuccouragainst
thosewhorejectThee.(Ageneralprayerverse)
(2:127,128)AndwhenAbrahamandIshmaelwereraisingthefoundationsoftheHouse,(Abraham
prayed):OurSustainer!Acceptfromus(thisduty).Lo!Thou,onlyThou,arttheHearer,theKnower.Our
Sustainer!andmakeussubmissiveuntoTheeandofourseedanationsubmissiveuntoThee,andshowus

ourwaysofPrayer,andrelenttowardsus.Lo!Thou,onlyThou,arttheRelenting,theMerciful.
(7:155)AndMoseschoseseventyofhispeopleforOurplaceofmeetingwhentheywereseizedwith
violentquaking.Heprayed:OmySustainerifithadbeenThyWillThoucouldsthavedestroyed,long
before,boththemandme:wouldstThoudestroyusforthedeedsofthefoolishonesamongstus?Thisis
nomorethanThytrial:byitThoucausestwhomThouwilttostray,andThouleadestwhomthouwiltinto
therightpath.ThouartourProtector:soforgiveusandgiveusThymercyforThouarttheBestofthose
whoforgive.
(5:118)IfThoupunishthem,lo!theyareThyslaves,andifThouforgivethem(lo!theyareThyslaves)
Lo!Thou,onlyThou,arttheMighty,theWise.(PrayerofJesus)
(23:97,98)OourSustainer!IseekThyprotectionagainsttheincitementsoftherebelliousonesandIseek
Thyprotection,lesttheyshouldapproachme.(PrayerofMuhammad).
OtherinstancesofversesofintheQuranwhichwecanuseinoursupplicationtoAllahare:2:127,128,201,286
3:8,16,26,27,38,53,191,192,193,1944:755:83,847:23,12611:4512:10114:40,4120:25,2,27,28,29,114
21:83,87,89,11223:28,29,93,94,97,98,11824:65,6125:7426:83,84,8527:1937:100.
Finally,wemustrememberthatAllahisalwaysnear(2:186).HewilllistentousandhelpusifwepraytoHim,
providedwearefollowing'thestraightpath'.If,insteadofglorifyingHimandprayingforourguidance,wetell
HimwhatisintheQur'anbyrecitingverseswhichhavenorelevancetoourprayers,thenIcannotseehowHecan
benefitus.WecanreachHim,butonlybyhearingHiscallandHisguidanceallofwhichinvolvesgooddeeds.
(2:186)WhenMyservantsaskyouconcerningMe,tellthemthatIamalwaysnear.Iheartheprayerofthe
suppliantwheneverhecallsouttoMe.Therefore,letthemhearMycallandputtheirtrustinMe,thatthey
mayberightlyguided.
11.2.vTheroleofthemosque:
Atpresentwehavemagnifiedtheimportanceofthefivedailyprayersoutofallproportiontoourotherduties
specifiedintheQur'an.Letmeexplainthisbymeansofanexample:intheU.K.theMuslimshaveestablished
over700mosques,almostexclusivelyforthepurposeofprayers.Itisimpossibletousethesemosquesforany
sensiblediscussionontheQur'anorforissueswhichfaceMuslimsinthiscountry,unlessourviewsarein
conformitywiththoseofthegovernorsandtheImam.Theresultisthatthesemosquesaretotallyunderused.
Enormoussumshavebeenspentintheirconstruction,buttheMuslimscanhardlyusethemexceptforprayers.
TheonlysermonthatonegetsfromtheImamisbeforetheFridayprayerandinthatthetopicsaremostlybasedon
theHadithsandarehardlyunderstoodbytheyoungergeneration.Solittleisinvestedintheeducationofthe
youngergenerationthatwiththedemiseoftheoldergenerationthemosqueswillsufferthesamefateasthe
churchesinthiscountryi.e.theywilleitherremainemptyorbecomebingohalls.Moreover,continualinfighting
forthecontrolofthemosqueissocommonthatpeoplearemovingawayindisgust.Hence,unlessweareableto
putwelleducatedImamsinthemosques,Imamswhohavebeenbroughtupinthiscountry,whocancommunicate
withtheyoungergeneration,whoareabletoorganiseseminarsonimportantissuesandareabletoorganisesome
sensibleteachingoftheQur'anfortheyoungergeneration,thefuturelooksextremelybleakforMuslimsinthis
country.Peoplewhoareinterestedinorganisinglecturesoreducationforthebenefitofthecommunityarenotable
tousethesemosques.Instead,theyhavetouseachurchhallorsomeotherrentedhallandtherebyincur
unnecessaryexpenses.
11.3Zakat(seesection12.3.iii)
Home>Contents>11.Thefivepillars(11.111.3)