The Ritual Prayer (distinct from the supplication prayer, “dua’a” in Arabic) is one of the most important elements of a Moslem’s daily life. Yet, it differs somewhat among the various sects and groups. The Salat is divided into several segments, in applying to individuals or groups:
- “Adhan”, sometimes called “Iqamah”
- “Wudhu”, or ablutions
- Performance of the prayer
- Frequency of prayers during the day
Some of the details regarding the elements above are not readily evident in Quran, and that opens the door for Moslems to claim that there is a need for “hadith” to explain to the people how to do the ritual prayer. Yet, there is nowhere in the books of hadith where the prophet is telling anyone how to perform the ritual prayer. There are several reports -sometimes different- from people who saw the prophet doing them in a certain way, or giving his agreement, or not issuing his disagreement about.
- The “Adhan”. Stories about how it was arrived at, the inclusion of the sentence “prayer is better than sleep’ (assalatu khairun mina ennaoum) at least for the dawn prayer, and who did it the first time inject some difference, but the big difference is in the shia adding the sentence “Alyun walyou Allah” (Ali is a supporter of Allah).
- “Wudhu” is the symbolic cleansing prior to the prayer. It is found in Sura 5 verse 6 of Quran. It is written with a very precise specification in its spelling declination, to enumerate the necessary sequence of the 4 actions the wudhu has to follow. Yet, Moslems in general do it in a different way, according to how the prophet was reported seen doing it. It is worth noting that sura 5 was one of the last suras revealed in Medine (order of revelation /114). That means that for at least 12 years in Mecca, and probably another 10 in Medine, the prophet as well as the rest of the Moslems were doing their ablutions in a way different from the one prescribed by Allah. Allah changed it, as He did for the “Qiblah”, the direction to face for the prayer. That means that all the “ahadith” reporting how the prophet was doing his ablutions for all those years are null and void. But that did not deter Moslems from continuing to do it that way for 14 centuries.
- Some differences found also their way into the prayer when it comes to our stance and what needs to be recited or said. Everyone agrees that the “fatihah”, the opening sura of quran, should be recited at every prayer unit, but some people (as well as some imams) do not consider the first verse as part of the sura. Most people recite a short sura or short segments of a longer sura in addition to the “Fatihah”. Some people do some prayer units silently and others loud. Some people hold their hands in a certain way when standing and when they do “takbir” (when they proffer the words “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is Greater). Allah says He gave the rituals of Islam to the children of Abraham ( )
- The number of prayer times is indicated throughout the text of Quran, but some people join some prayers together (particularly the second and third). And some people claim that The number of units for each particular prayer is not indicated in Quran, but it seems to have been indicated in the numerical and mathematical structure that supports the text.
Quran Perspective 