Indonesian Qur'anist and ṣalāh Perspective

Kautsar_Sagara

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

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.

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!

Fusion

You are most welcome brother and please find some links.

https//resurgentislam.com/wp-content/uploads/As-Salaat-Gist-By-GA-Parwez.pdf

https//resurgentislam.com/wp-content/uploads/What-is-Islam-By-G.A-Parwez.pdf

Best Regards

shukri

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.

Yes, you are very right!

But may I know
Do you believe in "sunni/shia" prescribed ritual prayers and observe them accordingly?

Welcome to the forum and thank you!

shukri

Yes, you are very right!

Just to clarify my above statement

My understanding on salat is in line with the thread starter

In simple words
For me, salat has two categories ...
(a) Exclusive ritual salat refers to the movement of physical posture such as standing, ruku and sujud
(b) General salat refers to any deed of commitment/connection to God's commandments without time's limit

The first one is bound to a specific time frame (4103) and taking the ablution (56)
Whereas the second category should be done continuously in every moment of our lives (act of submission, remembrance, moral duty, etc.)!
I will do both of them, God willing!

Just my take!

Thank you.

Kautsar_Sagara

You are most welcome brother and please find some links.

https//resurgentislam.com/wp-content/uploads/As-Salaat-Gist-By-GA-Parwez.pdf

https//resurgentislam.com/wp-content/uploads/What-is-Islam-By-G.A-Parwez.pdf

Best Regards

Thanks, thats give me new perspective.

Kautsar_Sagara

Just to clarify my above statement

My understanding on salat is in line with the thread starter

In simple words
For me, salat has two categories ...
(a) Exclusive ritual salat refers to the movement of physical posture such as standing, ruku and sujud
(b) General salat refers to any deed of commitment/connection to God's commandments without time's limit

The first one is bound to a specific time frame (4103) and taking the ablution (56)
Whereas the second category should be done continuously in every moment of our lives (act of submission, remembrance, moral duty, etc.)!
I will do both of them, God willing!

Just my take!

Thank you.

Then brother, about your ritual salah, do you only follow the Qur'an or add details from hadist? then do you know the explanation about why on the Qur'an, the salah and sujud is for all, but ruku only for humans?

shukri

Then brother, about your ritual salah, do you only follow the Qur'an or add details from hadist?

My ritual salat (Reply #3)
https//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9612753.0

I quote

Salam Ervin

Formerly I used to pray 5 times a day as Rashad Khalifa did
But now only 3 times a day

Since the Quran do not specify how to observe salat
I just do it without rakaat
But with standing, ruku' and sujud as these words are familiar in the Quran
Reciting whatever i wish in Arabic (especially Quran verse which i know the meaning of it)
And other recitations I done in my own mother tongue
I just concentrate on "khusyuk" and behave myself before God

I take this website as my best guidance concerning salat (391
https//www.quran-islam.org/main_topics/islam/pillars/number_of_salat_(P1200).html

Note

Although i believe Rashad Khalifa was the God's messenger of the covenant (381)
But he reminded us to follow the Quran alone, not him per se! ... Link https//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9606178.0
I believe if the Quran does not specify how to observe salat, we just do it according to our wisdom and don't be like Israelites
asking Moses about the heifer to sacrifice! (267-71) ... No hardship in practicing religion (227!
"Khusyuk" is a word used to describe reverence of the physical and mind in observing salat

Just my take!
Thank you.

Just for info only!
And anyone is entitled to his decision whatever he wishes.

3918 They are the ones who examine all words, then follow the best. These are the ones whom God has guided; these are the ones who possess intelligence.

then do you know the explanation about why on the Qur'an, the salah and sujud is for all, but ruku only for humans?

I don't know the answer
But as humans we are able to do both ruku and sujud very easily
Since our physical body is designed perfectly for these movements!

Just for my record
Do you believe in ritual salat
How did you do this?

Thank you.

shukri

Salam everybody!
I'm very appreciate if anyone here can give me his understanding about salat in the Quran and answer this two questions sun

(1) Is salat ritual with standing, ruku and sujud implicitly/explicitly forbidden in the Quran?

(2) Is the wisdom of salat i.e. prevents/prohibits evil and vice really happens to you!

2945 You shall recite what is revealed to you of the scripture, and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), for the Contact Prayers prohibit evil and vice. But the remembrance of God (through Salat) is the most important objective. God knows everything you do.

Thanks in advance!