It is stated that the other prophets also performed prayers. Did performing prayers exist in other religions?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The principles of belief conveyed to people by all prophets, from Hz. Adam to Hz. Muhammad (pbuh), are the same. It is a common quality of all of the true religions that the prophets conveyed to people. No prophet changed the principles of belief, nor did they make any additions. Hz. Muhammad (pbuh), the last prophet, called people to believe in the same principles as Hz. Adam did. 

There is no difference among heavenly religions in terms of principles of belief; there is no difference in terms of basic deeds of worship either.

Similarly, prayer, which is like the pillar of the religion, is a deed of worship rendered fard for all prophets and their ummahs. The difference is related to the number of times and rak'ahs. It was rendered fard for us five times a day but we receive the thawabs of fifty times a day.  

It is stated in the Quran itself that prayer was ordered to the previous ummahs too. For instance, it is stated in a verse that Hz. Ibrahim preformed prayers regularly and that he wanted his offspring to perform prayers too:

"O my Lord! Make me one who establishes regular Prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring O our Lord! And accept Thou my Prayer." (Ibrahim, 14/40)

Hz. Musa was also ordered to perform prayers. It is stated in verse 12 of the chapter of al-Maida that Sons of Israel were made promise definitely that they would perform prayers. 

Hz. Shuayb performed prayers a lot. They even tried to insult him because of it. It is expressed in the Quran as follows:

"They said: ‘O Shu´aib! Does thy (religion of) prayer command thee that we leave off the worship which our fathers practised, or that we leave off doing what we like with our property?...’" (Hud, 11/87)

It is also stated in the Quran that Hz. Ishaq, Hz. Yaqub, Hz. Zakariyya and Hz. Isa performed prayers.

On the other hand, fasting and zakah are not deeds of worship peculiar to the ummah of Muhammad (pbuh). As a matter of fact, it is stated in the Quran that they were rendered fard to other ummahs too. The following is stated in verse 183 of the chapter of al-Baqara:

"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint."

Yes, prayer, fasting, zakah and many other deeds of worship existed in the shari’ahs of the other prophets too. However, the Jews and Christians abandoned or changed those deeds of worship. Then, instead of saying, "Muslims took prayer from Jews", it is more appropriate to say, "God Almighty ordered prayer to Jews and other ummahs too."

For more information, please click on the link given below;

How did prayers reach today from the previous prophets? Did the other prophets and their ummahs perform prayers?

Questions on Islam