The Truth About the Three Fardh Prayers in the Qur’an

Islam was never meant to be overcomplicated. The Qur’an lays out a simple, practical, and logical approach to worship, one that fits naturally into human life. But over time, man-made additions turned prayer into a burdensome ritual rather than a connection with Allah.

One of the biggest distortions is the claim that Muslims are obligated to pray five times a day when the Qur’an only commands three Fardh (obligatory) prayers: Fajr, Zuhr, and Maghrib.

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The Qur’an’s Clear Command on Prayer

The Qur’an gives specific instructions on when to establish prayer:

“Establish prayer at the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night, and the recitation of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.” (17:78)

“So be patient over what they say and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting.” (50:39)

“And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and the approach of the night.” (11:114)

From these verses, we can clearly see:

• Fajr – Before sunrise (the recitation of dawn).
• Zuhr – At the decline of the sun (midday).
• Maghrib – At sunset and the approach of night.

There is no mention of Asr or Isha as mandatory prayers.

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The Logical Breakdown of Three Prayers

• Fajr is the first prayer of the day, marking the start of daily worship.
• Zuhr is the midday prayer, naturally breaking up the workday and allowing a reset, much like a lunch break.
• Maghrib happens at the end of the day, right after sunset, a logical point for worship before winding down and resting.

The concept of balance is built into these prayers. Morning, noon, and night—three key moments of transition in the day.

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The Fallacy of Five Prayers

The five-daily-prayer system originates from a fabricated Hadith about the Prophet supposedly bargaining with Allah.

The story claims:

• Allah originally commanded fifty prayers per day (which makes no sense).
• The Prophet kept going back and forth, asking for fewer.
• Allah “compromised” and allowed five, rewarding them as fifty.

This implies that Allah needed negotiation to figure out what humans can handle. As if Allah, the All-Knowing, didn’t already know what’s best. This is not only illogical but outright disrespectful to the concept of divine wisdom.

If five prayers were mandatory, the Qur’an would have stated them clearly. Instead, the only obligation given is three.

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Why Isha and Asr Don’t Make Sense as Fardh

• Asr can’t be the middle of the day prayer because it happens only a couple of hours before Maghrib. The true middle of the day is Zuhr (when the sun declines).
• Isha makes no practical sense in early civilizations. In a time without electricity, people didn’t leave their families at night to go pray in the mosque.
• The Qur’an never commands a midnight prayer as obligatory. The closest thing is Qiyam-ul-Layl (voluntary night prayer), which was practiced by those who wanted to go beyond their duty.

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Why Would They Add More Prayers?

Adding two extra prayers served institutional interests rather than spiritual benefit.

• The more times you’re required to pray, the more you visit the mosque.
• The more time you spend in the mosque, the more donations, community control, and scholar influence grows.
• Ritualistic religion takes priority over spiritual connection with Allah.

This isn’t about submission to Allah—it’s about controlling people’s daily lives.

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The Qur’an’s Approach to Worship is Practical

The Qur’an encourages balance, not excessive burden.

• Three prayers fit naturally into the daily rhythm of life.
• It allows time for family, work, and personal growth without guilt.
• The focus is on quality of worship, not just quantity.

You can pray extra if you want, but don’t let others dictate obligations that Allah never commanded.

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Final Thought

Islam was never meant to be about blind ritualism. It was meant to guide humans in the most practical, natural, and spiritually uplifting way.

The three daily prayers make sense because Allah designed them that way. The five-daily-prayer system was a later addition that serves religious institutions, not the Qur’an.

If Allah willed five prayers as Fardh, He would have made it explicit in the Qur’an. But He didn’t. That should tell you everything.