When were five daily prayers enjoined upon the believers?
The prayer in fact has been an important worship ritual in all the divine religions only with slightly different methods. It has always been an obligation for the followers of all religious doctrines. It has been promulgated among the followers of Abrahamic religious traditions both Israelite (Jewish and Christian) and the Ishmaelite (descendents of Ishmael sws) as a Sunnah of the Prophet (sws) Abraham. Thus we find that the pre-Islamic Arabs would also offer prayers. The Holy Qur’ān and the pre Islamic Arabic literature contain ample evidence in this regard. Therefore, we believe that the prayer has been an obligation for the followers of all the divine religions from the beginning. When the Holy Prophet (sws) began preaching Islam and reviving the religious traditions of the Holy Prophet (sws) Abraham in Makkah he exhorted his addressees upon establishing the prayer. Historical evidence shows that the timing and form of the prayer has also been almost the same over the history in different religious faiths. Thus we can safely conclude that the prayer has been a necessary obligation for the followers of the divine religion since its conception. We need not find the date on which it was promulgated or held necessary. In the Islamic religious tradition it takes its place as a Sunnah of the Prophet (sws) Abraham revised and promulgated by the Holy Prophet (sws) as necessary part of Islam.