Hello everyone,
My name is Kautsar Sagara, and I'm joining you from Indonesia. I'm a Qur'anist and an active on Quora, where I focus on exploring Islam from a Qur'anist reformist and liberal perspective.
I've been reflecting on the Qur'an's own language around ṣalāh and how it transcends mere ritual movements. Below is a summary of my key insights:
1. Why "ṣalāh" Is Not Just Ritual
Universal Connection
In the Qur'an, the same root ṣ-l-w describes how every being—angels, birds, sun and moon in orbit—"performs" ṣalāh by faithfully fulfilling its God-given role. This clearly isn't human-style ritual; it points to conscious, obedient alignment with divine law.
Contextual Meanings
Verses that link ṣalāh with moral guidance (e.g. preventing wrongdoing), social justice (Prophet Shuʿayb's "prayer" that challenged corruption), or existential remembrance (Moses told to "establish ṣalāh for My remembrance") all frame ṣalāh as active awareness and responsibility, not just specific postures or recitations.
Hadith Details vs. Qur'anic Essence
The five daily prayers, rakʿahs, and physical postures are prescribed in hadith as a structured way to embody what the Qur'an calls us to: ongoing surrender, remembrance, and righteous action. But those technical details are secondary—they express outwardly the deeper, universal concept of ṣalāh.
2. Ritual Ṣalāh as One Valid Expression
Cultivating Awareness
These formal prayers are indeed a powerful means to cultivate constant mindfulness of Allah and His guidance. When their aim is to remember Allah and evaluate our actions against His law, they fulfill the Qur'anic ideal of ṣalāh.
Not the Exclusive Form
However, if any tradition or sect insists that "ṣalāh" can only ever be those ritual prayers and nothing more, that reading goes beyond the Qur'an's own usage. The Qur'an applies the term to every conscious act of obedience, remembrance, and ethical responsibility—across all creation.
In sum, ritual ṣalāh is a legitimate and valuable practice when used to foster true awareness of God's presence and law. But the full Qur'anic scope of ṣalāh embraces every sincere act of submission, remembrance, and moral duty—far broader than just the prescribed ritual prayers.
I look forward to your thoughts on how this community defines and practices ṣalāh!
