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I have been thinking latley and deeply about the way that muslims have come to pray.. and I realized.. mohammad is the last prophet to arise.

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I have been thinking latley and deeply about the way that muslims have come to pray.. and I realized.. mohammad is the last prophet to arise.. and you say the "tahieaat" at the end and you pray to god for mohammad and his sahhabah. But how did people pray before mohammad? I don`t expect you to know this because this is a very wierd question.. but can you also explain briefly how muslims learnt how to pray? thank you for your time... may allah reward you for it 

 

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Answer:

 

How did the people pray before Islam

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Your Question: But how did people pray before mohammad?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verses 66-71:

66 It is He (Allah) Who gave you life, will cause you to die, and will again give you life: truly man is a most ungrateful creature!

67 To every People have we appointed rites and ceremonies (in religion) which they must follow let them not then dispute with thee (O Prophet (saws) on the matter, but do thou invite (them) to thy Lord: for thou art assuredly on the Right Way.

68 If they do wrangle with thee say "Allah knows best what it is ye are doing."

69 Allah will judge between you on the Day of Judgment concerning the matters in which ye differ."

70 Knowest thou not that Allah knows all that is in heaven and on earth? Indeed it is all in a record and that is easy for Allah.

71 Yet they worship besides Allah things for which no authority has been sent down to them and of which they have (really) no knowledge: for those that do wrong there is no helper.

 

Since the beginning of creation of the very first man, the Lord Most High has guided mankind to worship Him and Him Alone, and associate absolutely no partners with Him. In this context, the Lord Most High appointed for every people rites and ceremonies which were to be established for His Worship, and in light of the Glorious Quran it is very evident that the forms and rites of prayer of the generations before the advent of Prophet Mohamed (saws) involved the humble standing, bowing, and prostration in prayer unto their Lord Creator.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 163:

163 We have sent thee (O Mohamed (saws)) inspiration as We sent it to Nuh, and the Messengers after him; We sent inspiration to Ibraheem, Ismail, Ishaaq, Yaqoob, and the Tribes, and to Isa, Ayub, Yunus, Haaroon, and Sulaiman, and to Dawood We gave the Psalms.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imraan verses 42-43

42 Behold! The Angels said: "O Maryam! Allah hath chosen thee and purified thee; chosen thee above the women of all nations.

43 O Maryam! Worship thy Lord devoutly; prostrate thyself and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down."

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 20 Surah Taha verses 12-14:

12 (Allah Said to Musa): "Verily I am thy Lord! Therefore (in My presence) put off thy shoes: thou art in the sacred valley Tuwa.

13 I have chosen thee: listen then to the inspiration (sent to thee).

14 Verily, I am Allah: there is no god but I: so serve thou Me (only) and establish regular prayer for celebrating My Praise.”

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 43:

43 (And O children of Israel) be steadfast in prayer; practice regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship).

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 26:

26 Behold! We gave the site to Ibraheem of the (Sacred) House (saying): "Associate not any thing (in worship) with Me; and sanctify My House for those who compass it round or stand up or bow or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer).”

 

In light of the above verses of the Glorious Quran, it is absolutely evident that the people and the generations before the advent of Prophet Mohamed (saws) had been appointed their own rites of prayer and worship by their Lord through their appointed Prophets. The times and number of their prayers, what exactly was to done or recited in those prayers, etc. was distinct for each people according to their Shariah or Law, but it is evident it involved the same postures of humble standing, sitting, bowing down, and prostrations while in the act of conical prayer.

 

Your Question: but can you also explain briefly how muslims learnt how to pray?

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 366 Narrated by Zayd ibn Harith

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘When Jibrael (a.s.) came to him at the time of the first revelation, he taught him (the Prophet (saws)) how to perform ablution and observe prayer.’

 

Hadrat Jibrael (a.s.) under the Command of Allah Subhanah Himself taught the Messenger of Allah (saws) how to perform ablution and how exactly to observe prayer, and the Messenger of Allah (saws) would himself perform the prayers and taught and guided the believers to offer their prayers as he (saws) would offer them.

 

Thus although the offering of the five prayers were made obligatory upon the Muslim Ummah only during the Night Journey of the Prophet (saws) almost 12 years after his appointment to the office of Prophethood, from the very beginning of being appointed as a Messenger, the Prophet (saws) was taught the prayers by Jibrael (a.s.) and he (saws) and the believers would offer their prayers regularly in the form and format taught to them.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan

 


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