Does the idea of praying 5 times a day come from the Qur'an?
The concept of praying five times a day is indeed rooted in the Qur'an, though the specific number is also reinforced by the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The Qur'an mentions the establishment of prayers at different times, which are interpreted to include five daily prayers.
One relevant verse states: Establish prayer from the decline of the sun till the darkness of the night.
Al-Kafi 4:30 This verse indicates the times for prayer, and while it does not explicitly mention the number five, it serves as a foundation for the practice. The Prophet ﷺ further clarified this by stating that Allah has ordained five prayers for His servants, as narrated in a hadith: Allah has ordained five prayers for His servants.
Sunan an-Nasa'i 5:12
In addition, the Qur'an emphasizes the significance of the dawn prayer, saying: Indeed, the Qur'an at dawn is witnessed.
17:78 This highlights the importance of the prayers during the specified times, which collectively form the five daily prayers when understood through the context of hadith and Islamic tradition.
Thus, while the Qur'an lays the groundwork for the prayers, it is the combination of the Qur'anic verses and the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ that establishes the practice of praying five times a day in Islam.
Sources
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17:78 · Al-Israa
17:78 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall
أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًۭا
Establish worship at the going down of the sun until the dark of night, and (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn is ever witnessed.
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Al-Kafi 4:30
Al-Kafi · Book 4, Hadith 30
If the Imam were removed from the earth even for a moment, its people would stir up like the waves of the sea with its people. — OR — The Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) said: There are three things that strengthen a man's affection for his Muslim brother: greeting him cheerfully when they meet, making room for him in a gathering when he sits down, and calling him by the most beloved of names to him. — OR — I asked him about what Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, has ordained regarding prayer. He said, 'Five prayers in the night and the day.' I asked, 'Has He named and clarified them in His Book?' He said, 'Yes. Allah Almighty said to His Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny): "Establish prayer from the decline of the sun till the darkness of the night." Its decline is its setting, and between the setting of the sun and the darkness of the night are four prayers which Allah named, clarified, and fixed their times. The darkness of the night is its middle.' Then He said, "Blessed and Exalted is the Qur'an at dawn. Indeed the dawn Qur'an is witnessed," and this is the fifth prayer.' He further said, 'Allah also said, "Establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night." The two ends are the Maghrib and the morning prayers, and the near part of the night is the last Isha prayer.' He said, 'Guard strictly the prayers, especially the middle prayer — which is the Zuhr prayer — and it is the first prayer the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) performed. It is the middle of the day and the middle of the two daytime prayers: the morning and the afternoon. And in another recitation: "Guard strictly the prayers and the middle prayer," meaning the Asr prayer. And: "Stand devoted to Allah." This verse was revealed on Friday when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) was traveling; he observed it in that state, both traveling and staying, and he only added two rak'ahs for the resident because of the two sermons with the imam. Whoever prays Friday alone should pray four rak'ahs like the Zuhr prayer on other days.' — OR — I asked Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) about the hawks and goshawks and their prey. He said, "Everything they kill is lawful if you catch their 'zakat' (the critical moment). And the last moment of zakat is when the eye blinks, the leg moves, and the tail twitches. He also said, "The hawks and goshawks are not mentioned in the Qur'an." — OR — Abu Basir said: Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) said, 'If a man struck another man with a ceramic shard, a brick, or a stick and he dies, the killing is intentional.'
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Sunan an-Nasa'i 5:12
Sunan an-Nasa'i · Book 5, Hadith 12 · Narrated by Anas
A man asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), "O Messenger of Allah, how many prayers has Allah made obligatory for His servants?" He replied, "Allah has ordained five prayers for His servants." The man asked, "Is there anything before or after them?" The Prophet answered, "Allah has ordained five prayers for His servants." The man swore that he would neither add to nor subtract from this. The Messenger said, "If he is truthful, he will enter Paradise."
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