Salaam everyone

Thanks for your responses regarding the issue.

Sister Elke, I didn't mean to imply that I don't believe in other messengers or books. I meant that the Quran is the only book of guidance for manking from Allah. The only one that exists in its purest form and Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was the one who it was revealed to. I agree that all Prophets before him were Muslims, but after them the people had divided into various sects. Prophet Muhammad was the last prophet to come and unite the people into one ummah.

However, the main idea of my post was regarding unity and a common purpose. I didn't wish to imply that differences don't exist, but when differences become a hinderance to the common goal, it becomes an issue. Our goal is to show that the Quran is the clear guide for humanity, explained in detail by Allah. However, if we (the Quranites) can't even decide on a concept such as Salaat, what does it show the outsider? Is Quran really that clear? I mean all who claim 0,2,3,5 prayers in a day have verses to back up their points. This is just one example, but I see us going down the same road of sectarianism even though we are sort of united on one idea (the Quran is complete and fully detailed). To give you an analogy, the sunnis all believe in the Quran and the Sunnah as their main sources, but even then the Hanafi, Hanbali, Malaki, and Shafa'i "schools of thought" emerged. However, there are such fundamental differences between them and we question them and ask if the Sunnah is so clear why the differences. Should we not ask the same questions from our own selves as well. If the Quran is clear...then how come?

All I am saying is that we have left behind the sectarianism of our ancestors, but are we falling into the same traps. Are we making it harder for people to see the truth, by having so many different interpretations. The problem I see is in the search for specifics. The Quran, intentionally, does not give specifics in many cases and that is because it is a message for all times and with changing times the specifics may change. For ex. commands such as "lengthen your garments" or "spend all that is beyond your need" are by no means specific. The Quran gives us general hudood and there is much flexibility therein. This is not because God forget, Allah is not short of any words, but because He knew that with changing times certain things will change. I see that the problem of all these fiqh schools arose when people desired to just determine every single specific thing for life. The Quran which had come as a guiding light for all humanity, was restricted to the interpretations of particular individuals. Allah taala warns us that the people before us did the same, inventing things never ordained by God and dividing into sects.

Sorry, I think I might have digressed a little. The reason, I bring up the issue of Salaat or #of prayers is that it is probably the number one question asked by pro-hadith...if Quran is complete, then how do we pray?
In our efforts to gather out details...I think we have forgotten what the main purpose of Quran is. If we can't even come up with a single # for the times of prayers, does it not prove the claim of the pro-hadith to be true?

There are beautiful articles on this website that talk about Salaat as the Divine system that will embody all of the principles of Quran and show the world how heaven can be achieved on earth. I am not speaking of a utopian society, but a society that closely follows the laws given in the Quran. So, why then should we continue to argue about 2,3,5,0 prayers? Why not say that it is not the main purpose of Salaat. Prayer (or namaz) is a small part of the overall Salaat. Let us forget about these differences and focus on the main purpose of Salaat (establishing the Deen of Islam) and then the true Islamic government can address the issue and determine whatever # of salaat.

I do realize that no one calls anyone else a kaafir or wrong for differing in the # of prayers, but I do feel (and I might be wrong) that such differences cause a hinderance for us to show the Muslims and the world at large, that the Quran is indeed clear.

Again, just some thoughts. Please don't thikn the criticism is for this forum. I actually find the people on this forum more respective of opinions. I am referring to ALL Quranite movements.

Salaam everyone

I hope all of you are doing well.

I want to start of by saying thanks to all of those people who put in so much work to make things easy for people like me, who want to become students of the Quran. Your project on the Arabic root words is just amazing along with many other great works. I know my words mean nothing and the real reward for one's works will come from Allah, but the hard work you guys put in really makes a difference. I don't know Arabic and saw it as a huge barrier in between me and the Quran, but your hard work has really made it easy for people like me. If I may say a couplet that reflects the works of all such people (those who are raising the voice of the Quran)

Qadam Qadam par khunai dil kai charagh jalaatay hain yeh
Kai shayad koi inkay peechay bhi aata hoga

At every step they light lanterns of their hard work
Knowing that there might be someone following the path (of the Quran)

My post is just a call from my heart for all people who want to bring back the glory of Islam by eliminating man-made concepts regarding the Deen and bringing it out for all to see in the nuur of the Quran. However, the one feeling that I always get is that are we headed down the same road of sectarianism travelled by many before. Please don't get me wrong, by we, I mean all of us who want to uphold the Quran only. As we all know this is not a new concept and many scholars and movements have been doing the same in the past.
The problem is that already we see so many different interpretations of some of the core concepts like Salaat (2,3,5, or none at all) and many other things, that we have essentially become little sects. Each holding firmly to what it believes. I am not saying one view is right and the other wrong and I know these people have put in a lot of thought. However, if we sit back and think for a moment, these differences confuse the general public a lot. I know the answer will be that we all should study the Quran in detail, but I ask all those brothers and sisters who have studied the Holy book in detail, is it reasonable to expect the masses to do all of this? Where will the progress be if every human being has to sit down go through lexicons and try to do a detailed study of the Quran?
Now, already there are so many differences between us "Quranites" (if I may call us that) that someone who comes looking for the truth will obviously get lost. Giving them more reason to just "keep things simple" and follow whatever they already follow.

I know we call for unity, but are we again falling into the same traps? The same traps that led to different madhabs (or schools of thought). I know most people will probably not agree, but this was just a humble reflection. There are so many "back to the Quran" movements with opposing and differing views that if a newcomes was to look, he would feel very confused.

I hope I did not offend anyone and I hope you all keep up the hard work. I just hope that just like there is one Quran, one Messenger, one Allah....that we become one voice for the Quran (one ummah). I hope we don't become differing voices calling people to different interpretations of the Quran...
Don't get me wrong, I don't think that one person or group can come to COMPLETE understanding of the Quran. We should continually reflect on the Quran, but what is the result we want? If we want to establish the divine system back on earth for the world to see, then will we be able to reconcile the differences?
Are we trying to produce specifics from the Quran, just like all the madhabs did before. Can't we agree on atleast the general principles and work on them together. Differences are ok, but if they impede our unity and progress, what good will they serve?

Your brother

I hope nothing I said offended anyone. I am just a student starting to learn the Quran and I know you guys are much more knowledgable than I.