| Answer: The prayer in fact has been an important worship
ritual in all the divine religions only with slightly different methods. It has
always been an obligation for the followers of all religious doctrines. It has
been promulgated among the followers of Abrahamic religious traditions both
Israelite (Jewish and Christian) and the Ishmaelite (descendents of Ishmael sws)
as a Sunnah of the Prophet (sws) Abraham. Thus we find that the pre-Islamic
Arabs would also offer prayers. The Holy Qur’ān and the pre Islamic Arabic
literature contain ample evidence in this regard. Therefore, we believe that the
prayer has been an obligation for the followers of all the divine religions from
the beginning. When the Holy Prophet (sws) began preaching Islam and reviving
the religious traditions of the Holy Prophet (sws) Abraham in Makkah he exhorted
his addressees upon establishing the prayer. Historical evidence shows that the
timing and form of the prayer has also been almost the same over the history in
different religious faiths. Thus we can safely conclude that the prayer has been
a necessary obligation for the followers of the divine religion since its
conception. We need not find the date on which it was promulgated or held
necessary. In the Islamic religious tradition it takes its place as a Sunnah of
the Prophet (sws) Abraham revised and promulgated by the Holy Prophet (sws) as
necessary part of Islam. |