Salah

[Hassan]

Assalamu alaikum. I'm hoping for clarity about the number of times to pray Salah. Traditionally, it is unanimously agreed to be five. However, I stumbled on this person who claims it is three times a day (Fajr, Wusta, and Isha):
https://www.quran-islam.org/main_topics/islam/pillars/number_of_salat_(P1200).html

To be clear, this person is only in support for the Noble Qur'an and against Hadith. Also, I'm not sure what's going on in terms of the step by step ritual of Salah as we know it (this person is saying it does not exist). Then the person says the concept of Raka neither exists in Salah nor in the Qur'an:
https://www.quran-islam.org/main_topics/islam/pillars/al-salat/how_many_raka_%28P1404%29.html

My head is very confused and I'm not certain about what to believe. Surely the conventional mode of praying still aligns with the Noble Qur'an's principles? I would very much appreciate your help and wisdom on this topic inshallah.

[Zainab_M]

Walaikum As-Salaam.   

For information and confirmation of 5 daily prayers directly from the Noble Quran please take a look at our post Salaah to be offered 5 times and not 3.

Actually, several sources claiming to be "progressive" Muslims adhering to the Quran only are doing quite the opposite.  They maybe different from the traditional hadith followers, yet they're not adhering to the Quran either, instead they are following their own whims and misinterpretations as suits their personal values and requirements.  Therefore, one needs to be careful of them as well.  E.g.  Claiming salah is thrice, fasting is 10 days not 30, Paradise is a state of mind not reality, that the Quran does not forbid alcohol, that Essa son of Virgin Maryam did not ascend but died on the cross are some of the falsehoods these so-called progressives have been spreading since long.   With the help of their own misinterpretations they deny matters that have been clearly asserted and confirmed in the Quran.  One such source is (or used to be) Free Minds.  Just ignore them.   In other words, abandoning the questionable hadith doesn't automatically make one a Quran alone follower.  Instead, we need to carefully assess the contents of their arguments to know where they're coming from.   They do tend to confuse people a lot.  I understand you.  You just need to be very discerning with these folks.

Another point I would like to mention is that if one tries to understand Arabic correctly, Salaat al Wusta may not necessarily mean the Asr prayer but it includes all prayers.  You will understand this better if you read our post on this topic Salat al Wusta.   However, Asr salaah has already been confirmed in another Verse quoted in the first link I've posted here on 5 daily salaah not 3.