Dr. Rashad Khalifa
All religious practices of Islam, namely Salat, Zakat, fasting, and Hajj, came from Abraham generation after generation, while Muhammad contributed the Quran.1, 2, 3
Arabian society before Muhammad, including his idolatrous opponents, observed the five daily Salat prayers as we do, except for using the Ibrahimy Faatihha instead of the Quranic one.1
Fasting was practiced before Muhammad through Abraham, when intercourse was forbidden all Ramadan day and night, and the Quran then permitted it during the nights.1, 2
Prophets before Abraham were given no religious practices, as only belief in God alone was required for salvation in that primitive society.1
The four sacred months were observed before Muhammad, further proving that Islam's religious practices were not initiated by him.1
Hajj is pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime for those who can afford it, while the first three pillars are obligatory on all Muslim men and women.1, 2
The Quran gives numerous commandments governing all aspects of life, while five basic pillars have been traditionally emphasized: bearing witness to God alone, five daily Contact Prayers, Ramadan fasting, Zakat, and Hajj.1, 2
Abraham was the original messenger of Islam, and all religious practices of Submission were already established and well known before the Quran was revealed, as shown by the command to Muhammad to follow Abraham's religion.1, 2
The Quran deals only with the religious practices that had been distorted.1
The universal acceptance of the number of units in the five daily prayers, about which there is no dispute, proves God preserved the contact prayers given to Abraham.1
Besides their spiritual benefits, the contact prayers, Zakat, Ramadan fasting, and Hajj bring many physical, economic, and health benefits.1, 2
The contact prayers were already established through Abraham, which is why the Quran does not need to detail them.1, 2
The religious duties God instituted are a great gift from Him and are the nourishment our souls need to grow and develop.1
Sura 2, the longest sura, contains the orders of prayer, fasting, Zakat, and pilgrimage, and its title, the Heifer, symbolizes people who are with the messenger but are rebels.1, 2, 3
Religious practices began with Abraham, who asked God to teach him and his descendants how to practice their religious duties.1, 2
God is in no need of us; His commandments such as prayer, fasting, and charity are given to develop our souls for our own benefit.1, 2, 3, 4
God commands the five contact prayers, and they are the minimum a believer must do; doing them straightens out everything in your life.1, 2, 3, 4
The contact prayers existed before the prophet Muhammad, as verse 9:54 shows people who rejected him still doing their five contact prayers.1, 2, 3
The month of Ramadan existed before Muhammad was born.1
God's prescribed practices such as Salat, Zakat, and fasting have reasons behind them, and we do them hoping they will cleanse us.1, 2, 3
People who adhere to God's commandments prove that they believe in God, and these obligations are for our benefit, not for God's benefit.1, 2, 3
Noah did not command the Contact Prayer or Ramadan fasting; his people were primitive, and simply believing in God was sufficient to save them.1, 2, 3, 4
The contact prayers came through Abraham and were practiced before Muhammad, and their universal acceptance shows the number of units is correct.1, 2
The laws and practices of Submission go back to Abraham, not to the Mosaic law or teachings attributed to Jesus.1, 2, 3
The Quran in 17:110 commands that Salat not be said silently nor too loudly but in an intermediate tone, so the noon and afternoon prayers should be audible.1, 2, 3, 4
Abraham is the father of Islam and contributed its religious practices, while the Prophet Muhammad contributed the Quran, which came through his mouth.1, 2, 3, 4
All the religious practices of Islam, including Contact Prayer, Zakat, fasting, and Hajj, came to us through Abraham.1, 2, 3
The initial fasting decree forbade sexual intercourse throughout Ramadan, day and night, and it was later modified to allow intercourse during the nights of Ramadan.1, 2
God prescribed the five prayers, fasting, and charity to develop our souls for our own benefit, since God is in no need and gains nothing from our worship.1, 2, 3, 4
Verse 9:54 shows that the contact prayers existed before Muhammad, since the disbelievers who rejected him were already observing them.1, 2, 3, 4
The religious practices are not chores, duties, or obligations but gifts from God, given to those who deserve them.1, 2, 3
Abraham is the founder and father of Islam, and all its religious practices, including the contact prayers, zakat, fasting, and Hajj, came through him, not through Muhammad.1, 2, 3, 4
Asking where the number of prayer units is in the Quran overlooks that all duties came through Abraham, so no one should be tricked into thinking the Quran is incomplete.1, 2, 3, 4
Abraham contributed all the practices of Islam, including contact prayer, zakat, Ramadan fasting, and Hajj, while the Prophet Muhammad contributed the Quran.1, 2, 3, 4
The contact prayers originated with Abraham, the founder of Islam; the Quran does not mention them before Abraham.1, 2, 3
The details of the contact prayers, such as the number of units, are not in the Quran because the prayers already existed when it was revealed, though the Quran is complete and fully detailed.1, 2, 3, 4
The fasting of Ramadan was slightly modified in the Quran in verse 2:187.1
The Prophet Muhammad followed the ways of Abraham, and the contact prayers were practiced before Muhammad; he did not break these practices.1, 2, 3
Abraham was the original messenger of Islam who brought its practices, such as fasting, zakat, and pilgrimage, while Muhammad brought the Quran.1, 2