Quraanites or whatever...
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There is nothing wrong with praying five times a day. Many Quranist do. But it is not a must from a Quranic view point at least. The reason why some people here seem like they are not too into Muhammad is because
- Muslims have placed divine like figure status for Muhammad and Quranist don't and so they seem like they are demoting him.
- Many here realize that the Muhammad brand has been hijacked and used by traditionalist to create a religious autocracy so they suspicious of agendas.
- Most people here see Muhammad the same way as Moses or Abraham or Saleh. For many Muslims, Muhammad is treated differently from the others.
You can't be a Quranist and not think highly of its messenger. The Quran speaks highly of Muhammad and Muhammad suffered and sacrificed a lot for the Quran to be in our hands. He paid in blood and money and tears and sweat.
Ask yourself how you view Lot and Shuaib and Noah. Thats how they see Muhammad. No difference. But no Quranist can look down on the Quran's messenger. After all if God entrusted Muhammad with being the deliverer of the Quran to his people, then God must have had a high opinion of him. Its not the kind of job God gives to anyone.
Salaam bigmo,
True. Bt the truth still stands. The Quran instructs 5 prayers. If all "Quraan-aloners" could agree with this point, the community of true believers would be strengthened.In the end, Allah knows best.
Peace. -
I also wanted to ask, how you people pray? Please someone answer me, I really want to know. Thanks.
Hello Shirin and welcome!
I am sorry if you feel that our words make it sound like we think prophet Muhammed is just a dude and not at all "special". Yes, he was a "mere" human but he was an enlightened one. He was also a leader, a politician and a war strategist. Have you ever heard of the Medina charter? You should check it out. I think no "Quranites" think prophet Muhammed was NOT important. I personally feel very much respect towards him, not only for giving us the Quran but for other things as well. Just like I feel respect towards Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, Buddha and Jesus and Abraham. Strange perhaps to put non-religious persons in the same department as religious ones, but that is to highlight what "type" of respect I have for prophet Muhammed.
And when you ask how we pray.....Well there is a never ending debate.....The fact is that once taking hadith out as a source there is not definite answer to how one should pray. You are to prostrate but there is not any information about how to do it exactly. Some people will say I am wrong. Some say right, and that is proof in itself (that we cannot agree) that the HOW to pray is entirely up to you as long as you can "connect" with God. We are all different and we have different ways. I for one is "a nature guy". That is where I go to connect with God. To sit down on a rock in the middle of the forest and be absolutely quiet and still is where I truly find God, or when I am out on the ocean and a school of dolphins decide to jump in front of the bow of the ship gives me such a clear line I can almost hear God speak.
And then the debate about how MANY prayers a day. Well, if you read the bible it says three, and the Quran recognises the bible, does it not?
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What it entails to receive a revelation, and a long, faithful revelation like Qur'an I think it goes beyond mere enlightement. Nobody can receive a revelation without being completely open and transparent to God and least of all a revelation of the Qur'an calibre and transmit it and organize its transmisi?n as it was done wihout being a very holy person. It is not like putting an envelope in a letter box. If you can hear God or Gabriel or however or whoever brought to him aya after aya, you must be very, very conscious of God to a degree that for me it is very hard to imagine. For Muslims, for his followers, it is a very touching and tender trait that his followers were known as companionsand not disciples or mere followers. I do not need anybody to tell me or to impose on me to have love por prophet Muhammad. He did live for me, as he did live for all humanity. On the other hand, he was human, just human, but a holy human because he was transparent to God, like Mariam, that is the destiny of every human being in fact, to become transparent to God, so their existence strengthens ones faith and hope. I do think that the highest the regard for the Prophet, and for all those servants of the Highest who dedicated and dedicate their lives to humanity, the more we will profit from His message. It is justice that we correspond to their love for humanity, and it is good for us that we should feel some emotion for all their qualities. It is difficult to attain to any degree of virtue in this life, love for the most virtuous, I think, is a little help, and honouring those He has sent, we acknowledge God's mercifulness to us. His name is also As-Shakur.
On the other hand it is understandable that when love for the Prophet becomes superstitious or fanatical and blind, and even debasing for the prophet, there is an opposite reaction in order to balance attitudes, but reacting is not necesarily good for us. And revelation and prophets, I think we shuldn't forget, sends God for OUR sake. We must acknowledge that and be accordingly grateful. Those people were and are servants of humanity. They serve us, and they serve us because their love for God makes them love Humanity, which may seem difficult, but that is the measure of their closeness to God, of their holiness, which is not a demand for anything from us, but a concern for our innermost bliss and return to Him.
Salam
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Hello Shirin and welcome!
I am sorry if you feel that our words make it sound like we think prophet Muhammed is just a dude and not at all "special". Yes, he was a "mere" human but he was an enlightened one. He was also a leader, a politician and a war strategist. Have you ever heard of the Medina charter? You should check it out. I think no "Quranites" think prophet Muhammed was NOT important. I personally feel very much respect towards him, not only for giving us the Quran but for other things as well. Just like I feel respect towards Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, Buddha and Jesus and Abraham. Strange perhaps to put non-religious persons in the same department as religious ones, but that is to highlight what "type" of respect I have for prophet Muhammed.
Salaam Emil & Shirin,
As brother emil rightly pointed out, any muslim who calls himself Quranite or whatever can never be a true muslim if he does not respect the messengers of Allah almighty. But unlike the mainstream muslims and even christians, the only difference is that we would not raise the messenger to such a height that it becomes difficult to differentiate between respect and idol worship.And when you ask how we pray.....Well there is a never ending debate.....The fact is that once taking hadith out as a source there is not definite answer to how one should pray. You are to prostrate but there is not any information about how to do it exactly. Some people will say I am wrong. Some say right, and that is proof in itself (that we cannot agree) that the HOW to pray is entirely up to you as long as you can "connect" with God. We are all different and we have different ways. I for one is "a nature guy". That is where I go to connect with God. To sit down on a rock in the middle of the forest and be absolutely quiet and still is where I truly find God, or when I am out on the ocean and a school of dolphins decide to jump in front of the bow of the ship gives me such a clear line I can almost hear God speak.
Brother emil,
i like that you're a 'nature guy'... i'm glad you are able to find peace and connect with the Almighty in the most beautiful of surroundings. At the same time, as a brother, i would also point out the importance of 'submitting' yourself with total humility where we humans as the creation- fall on the floor, worship, thank and beg for mercy/ forgiveness to the Creator without any ego or pride. This is the real essence of 'salat' where we are able to remind ourselves everyday how utterly useless we are without the love of GOD. I'm sure a closer look at some verses of the Holy Quran will remind you about the same.And then the debate about how MANY prayers a day. Well, if you read the bible it says three, and the Quran recognises the bible, does it not?
http//www.jesus-is-savior.com/niv.jpg
Brother, Wouldn't you say there are many many verses which are corrupted in the bible? It does contain many verses from the original 'Injeel' but the rest as we know are 'inspired' works by authors over the centuries. Yes, sadly the 5-prayers still a matter of debate. The 5-prayers are actually mentioned in the Quraan. Its high time this debate is put to rest.
Peace bro.
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Salaaman Emil,
I am sorry if you feel that our words make it sound like we think prophet Muhammed is just a dude and not at all "special". Yes, he was a "mere" human but he was an enlightened one. He was also a leader, a politician and a war strategist. Have you ever heard of the Medina charter? You should check it out. I think no "Quranites" think prophet Muhammed was NOT important. I personally feel very much respect towards him, not only for giving us the Quran but for other things as well. Just like I feel respect towards Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, Buddha and Jesus and Abraham. Strange perhaps to put non-religious persons in the same department as religious ones, but that is to highlight what "type" of respect I have for prophet Muhammed.
True, please look at post # 31
I for one is "a nature guy". That is where I go to connect with God. To sit down on a rock in the middle of the forest and be absolutely quiet and still is where I truly find God, or when I am out on the ocean and a school of dolphins decide to jump in front of the bow of the ship gives me such a clear line I can almost hear God speak.
MashaAllah, You lucky by Allah's grace.
I love to be "a nature guy" always but don't know how '(
May Allah guide us all towards the Correct Path.
Mohammed M. Khan -
I love to be "a nature guy" always but don't know how '(
Mohammed M. Khan
Easy bro,
step 1 dump your car
step2 cycle to the nearest park.
step3 Breath some fresh air, roll in the grass, climb the trees etc.
step 4 Go to the beach and stare at the sea instead of staring at all the 'birds' on the beachhttp//www.roatanonline.com/images_wallpapers/images_wallpapers/west_bay_beach.jpg
There, you're a nature guy now! yay
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Salaam Emil & Shirin,
As brother emil rightly pointed out, any muslim who calls himself Quranite or whatever can never be a true muslim if he does not respect the messengers of Allah almighty. But unlike the mainstream muslims and even christians, the only difference is that we would not raise the messenger to such a height that it becomes difficult to differentiate between respect and idol worship.Brother emil,
i like that you're a 'nature guy'... i'm glad you are able to find peace and connect with the Almighty in the most beautiful of surroundings. At the same time, as a brother, i would also point out the importance of 'submitting' yourself with total humility where we humans as the creation- fall on the floor, worship, thank and beg for mercy/ forgiveness to the Creator without any ego or pride. This is the real essence of 'salat' where we are able to remind ourselves everyday how utterly useless we are without the love of GOD. I'm sure a closer look at some verses of the Holy Quran will remind you about the same.http//www.jesus-is-savior.com/niv.jpg
Brother, Wouldn't you say there are many many verses which are corrupted in the bible? It does contain many verses from the original 'Injeel' but the rest as we know are 'inspired' works by authors over the centuries. Yes, sadly the 5-prayers still a matter of debate. The 5-prayers are actually mentioned in the Quraan. Its high time this debate is put to rest.
Peace bro.
Salaam Harris, how is it hanging?
Yepp, that is basically what my prayer is and I couldnt agree with you more. Thank you God for showing me your greatness. He is truly in everything. I bow to him in utter humbleness. So there, brother, we are in sync and I think most of us are if we were to talk about what prayer is all about. The bowing to God is outmost important in your heart, not in your action. I interpreted Shirin's question more towards the latter, how we physically pray. How we bow, how many times, what direction to pray to etc. etc. and that is where (in my opinion) we are more "free" to have whatever ritual we need in order to connect with God. And for me that is to remove all man made things and be surrounded by that which is created by God. By that I don't mean I never pray when I don't have access to my "mosque". No of course not. I pray everytime I look at my children, thanking God for teaching me true love.
And yes I agree with you about the bible, it is just one big hadith.....BUT.....it depends a little in what role you give the bible IF you are to use it as a source of God.. Was the Quran given to us to rectify all the man made wrongs in the bible and Torah? Or does the Quran superseed the other books making them obsolete?
I don't know Harris, it is a difficult subject.....I am however leaning towards the theory that three books are three chapters and we need to understand them all to get the one message. -
Salaam harris,
Oh ho ho ho...! Thank you bro, very nice pic, mashaAllah.
But, to be a nature guy
step 1 dump your car
Don't have car to dump it (
Can I get scrap/body of a car to dump?step2 cycle to the nearest park.
Got a cycle but don't have any park nearby (
No worries, btw, I don't have a key for cycle either.step3 Breath some fresh air, roll in the grass, climb the trees etc.
Breathing full pollution in city, no grass to roll in, no place to climb the trees, and no etc... (
Is it better to sit at home to get away from pollution?step 4 Go to the beach and stare at the sea instead of staring at all the 'birds' on the beach
Don't have any beach in my city, no sea to stare at (
Can I sit near a big tub, full of water and feel that I am at sea?
But still no use, cause water in a tub will be still, and I will get bore staring at it in a while.rotfl
But I do have birds at home yay
but you don't want me to stare at birds '(
There, you're a nature guy now! yay
I am not a nature guy still nope brickwall
But still Allah guided me, Alhamdulillah !
May Allah guide us all towards the Truth pr
Mohammed M. Khan -
Salaam,
And yes I agree with you about the bible, it is just one big hadith.....BUT.....it depends a little in what role you give the bible IF you are to use it as a source of God.. Was the Quran given to us to rectify all the man made wrongs in the bible and Torah? Or does the Quran superseed the other books making them obsolete?
I don't know Harris, it is a difficult subject.....I am however leaning towards the theory that three books are three chapters and we need to understand them all to get the one message.568
568 Say O people of the Book, you are not upon anything until you uphold the Torah and the Gospel and what was sent down to you from your Lord. And for many of them, what was sent down to you from your Lord will only increase them in transgression and rejection. So do not feel sorry for the rejecting people.
May Allah guide us all towards the Truth. pr
Mohammed M. Khan -
Salaam,
568
568 Say O people of the Book, you are not upon anything until you uphold the Torah and the Gospel and what was sent down to you from your Lord. And for many of them, what was sent down to you from your Lord will only increase them in transgression and rejection. So do not feel sorry for the rejecting people.
May Allah guide us all towards the Truth. pr
Mohammed M. KhanPeace Mohammed
In your opinion, is 568 directed towards the jews and christians or towards the muslims? That is where I get a little confused, because reading the whole of surah 5 I see most part of it as being directed to those who follow the torah and bible, not the Quran. The followers of the old books must also follow the Quran, but if you follow the Quran then you don't need to follow the old books ???
And the fact remains what Harris pointed out, the bible was written by men long time after Jesus died. So if we are to accept the bible, are we right to accept it as divine even though it may be corrupted?
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Breathing full pollution in city, no grass to roll in, no place to climb the trees, and no etc...
Is it better to sit at home to get away from pollution?
Don't have any beach in my city, no sea to stare atMove....you are making me depressed. Some pics from my surroundings.
http//www.danielsresor.se/Bilder/Bilder%20Mina%20bilder/Rainbow.jpg
http//www.danielsresor.se/Bilder/Bilder%20Mina%20bilder/Skymning.jpg
http//www.danielsresor.se/Bilder/Bilder%20Mina%20bilder/Sommar.jpg
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Salaam harris,
Oh ho ho ho...! Thank you bro, very nice pic, mashaAllah.
But, to be a nature guy
Don't have car to dump it
Can I get scrap/body of a car to dump?
Got a cycle but don't have any park nearby
No worries, btw, I don't have a key for cycle either.
Breathing full pollution in city, no grass to roll in, no place to climb the trees, and no etc...
Is it better to sit at home to get away from pollution?
Don't have any beach in my city, no sea to stare at
Can I sit near a big tub, full of water and feel that I am at sea?
But still no use, cause water in a tub will be still, and I will get bore staring at it in a while.rotfl
But I do have birds at home yay
but you don't want me to stare at birds '(
I am not a nature guy still nope brickwall
But still Allah guided me, Alhamdulillah !
May Allah guide us all towards the Truth pr
Mohammed M. Khanlol, looks like my suggestions were not helpful afterall..... hmm hmmmmm, lets see wat do we do nw......
there's only one thing left to do---watch the discovery channel..
peace bro.
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Salaam Harris, how is it hanging?
Yepp, that is basically what my prayer is and I couldnt agree with you more. Thank you God for showing me your greatness. He is truly in everything. I bow to him in utter humbleness. So there, brother, we are in sync and I think most of us are if we were to talk about what prayer is all about. The bowing to God is outmost important in your heart, not in your action. I interpreted Shirin's question more towards the latter, how we physically pray. How we bow, how many times, what direction to pray to etc. etc. and that is where (in my opinion) we are more "free" to have whatever ritual we need in order to connect with God. And for me that is to remove all man made things and be surrounded by that which is created by God. By that I don't mean I never pray when I don't have access to my "mosque". No of course not. I pray everytime I look at my children, thanking God for teaching me true love.
And yes I agree with you about the bible, it is just one big hadith.....BUT.....it depends a little in what role you give the bible IF you are to use it as a source of God.. Was the Quran given to us to rectify all the man made wrongs in the bible and Torah? Or does the Quran superseed the other books making them obsolete?
I don't know Harris, it is a difficult subject.....I am however leaning towards the theory that three books are three chapters and we need to understand them all to get the one message.Yo emil,
hanging great mate... peace to you and your loved ones.
Nice to read your post. I too thank God when I look at my baby and see him growing so fast in front of my eyes. God is indeed merciful.Regarding the validity of bible and torah, i like to look at this scenario of the 3 books in another light. For me its like Windows 95, Windows XP and now Windows 7. ;D Each software was good by itself but then the company released a newer better version whenever the old one had become redundant needing an update or there were too many new security threats over the years. But once we have shifted to the new software, there's no need for the old one. Tat ofcourse doesn't mean the old ones can't be used. On the other hand, there are plenty of ppl who comfortably still use the older versions of Windows. Its just that those ppl would have a harder time browsing the internet, wat with all the glitches, errors and frozen screens...
So in conclusion, now that we've accepted the Holy Quraan, the earlier holy books are good for reference, nothing more, nothing less.
Move....you are making me depressed. Some pics from my surroundings.
http//www.danielsresor.se/Bilder/Bilder%20Mina%20bilder/Rainbow.jpg
http//www.danielsresor.se/Bilder/Bilder%20Mina%20bilder/Skymning.jpg
http//www.danielsresor.se/Bilder/Bilder%20Mina%20bilder/Sommar.jpg
Woww... great pics bro.. u really live in a gorgeous locality... no wonder u find peace and connect with GOD through nature. If it was me, i might even have reached nirvana... lol sun
Peace.
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Salaaman Emil,
Peace Mohammed
In your opinion, is 568 directed towards the jews and christians or towards the muslims? That is where I get a little confused, because reading the whole of surah 5 I see most part of it as being directed to those who follow the torah and bible, not the Quran. The followers of the old books must also follow the Quran, but if you follow the Quran then you don't need to follow the old books ???
568 Say O people of the Book, you are not upon anything until you uphold the Torah and the Gospel and what was sent down to YOU from your Lord. And for many of them, what was sent down to you from your Lord will only increase them in transgression and rejection. So do not feel sorry for the rejecting people.
When it is said "...and what was sent down to YOU from your Lord..." that clearly means "...O people of the Book..." also include us.
Or else it could have said like
55
55 Today, the good things have been made lawful to you, and the food of those who have been given the Book is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them; and the independent females from those who are believers, and the independent females from those who have been given the Book before you, if you have given them their dowries, to be independent, not for illicit sex or taking lovers. And whoever rejects belief, then his work has fallen, and in the Hereafter he is of the losers.
Bible?? ?? I Don't brother what Bible is? I was talking about Injeel.
AlTauraat remains Torah still
AlQuraan remains Quraan stillBut how come AlInjeel became Bible? nope Bible is not Injeel.
Allah said
544
544 We have sent down the Torah, in it is a guidance and a light; the prophets who have submitted judged with it for those who are Jewish, and the Devotees, and the Priests, for what they were entrusted of the Book of Allah, and they were witness over. So do not be concerned with the people but be concerned with Me; and do not purchase with My revelations a cheap price. And whoever does not judge with what Allah has sent down, then these are the rejecters.
Point to be noted brother
1- Torah was sent and still in it is a guidance and a light.
2- The prophets judged with Torah for Jewish .
3- Still it called "The Book of Allah" in AlQuraan.Then,
548
548 And We have sent down to you the Book with the truth, authenticating what is between their hands of the Book and superseding it. So judge between them by what Allah has sent down, and do not follow their desires from what has come to you of the truth. For each of you We have made laws, and a structure; and if Allah had willed, He would have made you all one nation, but He tests you with what He has given you; so strive to do good. To Allah you will return all of you, and He will inform you regarding that in which you dispute.
In the above translation "superseding" for the word "Muhaiminan" is not the correct translation I hope. Please look at
5923
5923 He is Allah; there is no other god besides Him. The King, the Holy, the Peace, the Faithful, the Supreme, the Noble, the Powerful, the Dignified. Allah be glorified; far above what they set up.
I think that Muhaimin means "Controller" or "Dominant" or "Absolute Master". Someone may correct me if I am wrong here.
May Allah guide us all towards the Truth. pr
Mohammed M. Khan -
Salaaman Emil,
Oh Allahu Ahad! Do you live there? MashaAllah. You are really really really very very very lucky bro. I love to be in such places to be a nature guy yes
Move....you are making me depressed. Some pics from my surroundings.
Move? You mean, you want to move there? I would love to, but how? P
MashaAllah, very great!
Mohammed M. Khan -
Salaam harris,
lol, looks like my suggestions were not helpful afterall..... hmm hmmmmm, lets see wat do we do nw......
there's only one thing left to do---watch the discovery channel..
peace bro.
Wow.. what a great idea. yay Why I did not think of it? brickwall
Wait.... tempt
Watching the discovery channel while still sitting in full of pollution? hmm
Haann... but atleast I could feel that I am a nature guy while watching the discovery channel rotfl
Mohammed M. Khan
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Salaaman Emil,
Oh Allahu Ahad! Do you live there? MashaAllah. You are really really really very very very lucky bro. I love to be in such places to be a nature guy yes
Move? You mean, you want to move there? I would love to, but how? P
MashaAllah, very great!
Mohammed M. KhanSalaam Mohammed
I haven't read all what you write, no coffee yet. But what is very apparent even without coffee is that we are yet again Lost in Translation. In my version of the Quran surah 568 does not say "Oh people of the book" but "Followers of older revelations", clearly turning towards the jews and christians and not muslims.
S?g "Ni st?r inte p? grund, efterf?ljare av ?ldre tiders uppenbarelser (google translate it), s? l?nge ni inte f?ljer Tora och Evangeliet liksom det som er Herre har uppenbarat f?r er." Men det som din Herre har uppenbarat f?r dig g?r helt s?kert m?nga av dem ?nnu ?vermodigare och f?rh?rdar dem i deras otro. Men s?rj inte ?ver f?rnekarna!
Frustrating this is....Same book, two very different meanings.
-
Salaaman Emil,
Salaam Mohammed
I haven't read all what you write, no coffee yet. But what is very apparent even without coffee is that we are yet again Lost in Translation. In my version of the Quran surah 568 does not say "Oh people of the book" but "Followers of older revelations", clearly turning towards the jews and christians and not muslims.
S?g "Ni st?r inte p? grund, efterf?ljare av ?ldre tiders uppenbarelser (google translate it), s? l?nge ni inte f?ljer Tora och Evangeliet liksom det som er Herre har uppenbarat f?r er." Men det som din Herre har uppenbarat f?r dig g?r helt s?kert m?nga av dem ?nnu ?vermodigare och f?rh?rdar dem i deras otro. Men s?rj inte ?ver f?rnekarna!
Frustrating this is....Same book, two very different meanings.
Please read what I wrote, inshaAllah, you may understand it.
In Arabic it says "Qul yaa ahl-alKitaabi lastum...." 568 that means
Qul = Tell
Yaa = 'O'
Ahl = People/family
AlKitaab = The BookQul Yaa AhlaAlKitaab = Tell O People of The Book.
If you notice, 568 talks about Torah, Injeel and WHAT WAS SENT DOWN TO YOU FROM YOUR LORD.
568 Say O people of the Book, you are not upon anything until you uphold the Torah and the Gospel and what was sent down to YOU from your Lord. And for many of them, what was sent down to you from your Lord will only increase them in transgression and rejection. So do not feel sorry for the rejecting people.
When it is said "...and what was sent down to YOU from your Lord..." that clearly means "...O people of the Book..." also include us.
You can also check your translation for the word "Aha-alKitaab" in 370, 371, 372, 398, 399, 3110, 3113, etc...
Hope this may help you inshaAllah.
May Allah guide us all towards the Truth. pr
Mohammed M. Khan -
Asalaam Alaykum,
There is a whole discussion here, I read it with high interest, lots of things surely are true. About the prophets and the messengers I believe we don't have to make a difference between them, we only have to be grateful, for the message they all brought The MESSAGE is what is really important and they all told the same message There is only ONE GOD and we have to worship that ONE GOD and not the messengers! NONE of the messengers themselves ever said we have to worship them but all makes us clear to worship GOD ALONE.
Surely the early books are corrupted, at least the Thora and the Bible, that is why GOD revealed his last book the Quran! This doesn't mean you can't read the Thora and the Bible, because you can check with the Quran. Yes the Bible is written many years after Jesus death and so are the hadiths... that is why I prefer to follow the Quran and not the hadiths because all of them are also written about 200 years after Mohammad died and so many of them are also corrupted or fabricated. And ultimately GOD himself is our guidance.... we only have to learn to hear, see, feel, understand his 'personal' guidance to all of us!
And than the discussion of 2,3,5 prayers/salat a day/night to accomplish..... the goal of prayers is to worship GOD, to remember him, to praise him, to thank him, to ask him forgiveness, to ask him guidance .... Prayers are a HELP to accomplish what we have to do..... and that is LIVE every second of our life in Knowledge, remembering..... of that.... in fact our whole life has to be a prayer, a worship. Do you need a ritual like bowing and prostrating to remember that? Sure, doing this with your whole heart, is surely good. If you bow and prostrate in full conscience...; it is great.... unfortunately I am sure many do this 'ritual' as a habit. And when you pray, rather let the heart without words than the words and rituals without heart! I don't remember who of you posted the article over meditation. I knew that, it is a real good article. In the same reasoning, do you know that prostrating helps the body clean from the overload of electrical submersion we all have in our life? So, there is a hidden and unknown reason in things God asks us to do? Standing bare-foot helps you better grounding and also get rid of this same electrical overload (some shoesole would prevent that) Sure.... HE IS the ALL-KNOWING and He is the only one who can read in your heart, He is the only one who can judge your intentions...