Salamun Alaikum brother,
When we come across statements such as
'wa-ir'ka'u ma'a-rakeen' (and bow down with those that bow down), there is more than a suggestion that the Quran is clearly instructing a people to join an
'existing / prevailing' practice. This is what was clearly expected from the People of the Book who followed the prayer rituals of their forefathers. We are all told to follow the guidance of the great prophets.
"...and show us our ways of worship..." (2:128 part)
006.090 (part)"Those were the (prophets) who received God's guidance: COPY (iq'tadih) THE GUIDANCE they received ..." The Arabic verb 'iqtada' means to copy, imitate, to follow closely.
Therefore, the Quran clearly recognises that there was a practice of monotheistic 'salah' amongst the existing communities even before revelation was given to Prophet Muhammad. Where matters needed to be elaborated for believers, such as the specific wudu details, which direction to follow, the tone of prayer, the need for a leader etc, these details were expounded by the Quran.
Please see the following videos of early prayer amongst the People of the Book. Note the similarities. Did they copy the believers or did the early Muslims in Arabia take guidance from the previous methods of prayer?
I am sure you will know the answer.
Early Jewish Prayerhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aHWASyMjwg&feature=player_embeddedEarly Christian Prayerhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRLFeldPG3Y&feature=player_embeddedIf I say to you 'eat' with those that 'eat', that does not mean that you have to find a new way to eat on your own. You will still eat with your plate, spoon, cups and your hands sitting on most likely the table or on the floor. If I want to 'enhance' the way you eat with a view to change your existing practice, I will say 'wash your hands before you eat' or 'eat on the 'table'. These are no different from the change in 'wudu' details or the instruction of what to do in fear (shorten prayer) or when you are in transport.
I hope you see the point.
I think it is unhelpful for us to label 'hadithers' and to imply that it is their 'prayer'. It is not
'THEIR' prayer. It is a 'consensus' prayer. No tradionalist ever learnt to completely pray by studying the hadith alone. Prayer is learnt by a continuous practice which is independent of hadith. Prayer was clearly established at the time of the Prophet which is confirmed by the Quran and there is more than an implication that it was 'copied' en masse by generations. Guidance of the previous prophets was always meant to be 'copied' and it is clear that the Jews were also praying at the time of the Prophet. Otherwise, the following statement would be meaningless "and bow down with those that bow down".
Therefore, 'prayer' is a mutwattir practice which finds its root from the Quran and it is unreasonable for any believer to ignore. This is not a 'hadithi' prayer. Yes, many 'hadithers' may argue for irrelevant pedantics, like where to put your hands or how to tap your finger on your knee or indeed, what to do if one accidently misses a rakat. However, these are clearly 'irrelevant' in the wider remit of the Quran's instruction to simply establish prayer.
We don't need to over-engineer something that is already there if it is consistent with the Quran's guidance.
So if we were to get together, we would have a choice. We could either 'reinvent' the practice, consisting of any number of sajdah's, rukuh's and content, or we can take the Quran's advice to follow the best meaning (39:18, 39:55) and continue the existing practice (2:43) and make any adjustments that we feel are necessary in light of the Quran.
For example, you may find that some of your fellow worshippers in a congregation don't understand Arabic at all. So you may decide to read the Arabic during prayer and translate it as you go along during prayer, in line with verse 4:43. Or you may just abandon the Arabic and pray in a language you all understand while keeping with the traditional form.
Who is to say that from a Quran's perspective, that you did not complete the command of 'aqeemusalah'? Of course you did! If Prophet Muhammad was asked to follow the ways of Abraham (16:123), then why did he not read his prayer in Abraham's language?
Like I said, I find no convincing proof that we need to ‘reinvent’ the traditional practice that the 'traditionalists' have 'inherited'. Remember, it is not ‘their’ practice. It is a misunderstanding that it is their practice.
Also it is useful to separate Hadith and Sunnah where the latter clearly has greater authority due to its very nature. Although they are both subservient to the Quran, they are nevertheless different transmissions with differing credibility.
The current prayer is a 'consensus' practice followed en masse (mutawattir) which has its source (to establish) from the Quran.
I hope that helps, God willing.
Joseph.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HADITH AND SUNNAhttp://quransmessage.com/articles/hadith%20and%20sunna%20FM3.htm