Are the 3 daily prayers unique to the Quran?

We have seen that the number of daily prayers (Salat) that are authorised by God in the Quran are three. For details go to: Three Salat authorised in the Quran

Is this number (3) unique to the Quran? How many prayers were prescribed to those before us?

To get some answers to these questions, we can consult various Biblical verses that shed light on this matter. Although the Biblical content may not be taken as conclusive evidence, it offers valuable indications to the subject of our inquiry. The Old Testament has at least two verses which indicate that the receivers of the Torah observed three prayers per day:

"As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice" Psalms 55:16-17.

It is interesting to note that not only are the number of prayers in Psalms 55, which is 3, identical to the Quranic number, but also the times of these three prayers are identical to the times of the three prayers in the Quran.

- The 'ISHA' prayer in the Quran corresponds to the EVENING

prayer in the Bible. The Isha prayer is observed from sunset till the last ray of light disappears from the sky. The word EVENING speaks of the early hours of the night, which is also called Dusk.

- The 'WUSTA' (Middle) prayer in the Quran is due exactly at NOON as does the Biblical prayer in Psalms 55.

- The 'FAJR' prayer in the Quran corresponds to the MORNING prayer in the same Biblical verse.

The second Biblical verse to confirm the three daily prayers is found in the Book of Daniel:

"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime" Daniel 6:10