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THE SECOND PILLAR OF ISLAM IN THE BIBLE SALAT (PRAYER): THE LANGUAGE OF DEVOTION BETWEEN MAN AND GOD After recognising that God is One, the natural response of a believer is worship. A person who truly loves God does not only acknowledge His existence; he seeks a living relationship with Him through remembrance, humility, and prayer. This is why the second pillar of Islam is Salat (prayer). Prayer in Islam is not merely a request for personal needs. It is a complete act of worship involving: remembrance of God, humility before the Creator, physical submission, spiritual reflection, gratitude, repentance. The Qur’an describes prayer as a means of maintaining a connection with God: “And establish prayer for My remembrance.” (Qur’an 20:14) The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that prayer is one of the greatest expressions of a believer’s submission to God. Interestingly, when we examine the lives of earlier prophets in the Bible, we find a similar pattern: God's servants prayed with humility, physical submission, purification, and devotion. PRAYER IN THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM Abraham occupies a unique position in Islam and Christianity. He is respected as the father of faith and a model of complete devotion to God. The Bible describes Abraham worshipping God through humility and physical submission. “And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,” (Genesis 17:3, King James Version) The posture described here — falling upon one's face before God — is very similar to the position Muslims perform during prostration (sujood) in prayer. Abraham's servant also responded to God's blessing with worship: “And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.” (Genesis 24:52, King James Version) The message is clear: true servants of God have always expressed their devotion through humility. MOSES AND THE WORSHIP OF GOD Moses is one of the greatest prophets mentioned in both Islam and Christianity. The Bible repeatedly describes Moses worshipping through bowing before God. “And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.” (Exodus 34:8, King James Version) This posture of humility before God appears repeatedly throughout scripture. The Qur’an also describes Moses and his followers submitting themselves to God: “And Moses chose from his people seventy men for Our appointment. And when the earthquake seized them, he said, ‘My Lord, if You had willed, You could have destroyed them before and me [as well]. Would You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is not but Your trial by which You send astray whom You will and guide whom You will. You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy upon us; and You are the best of forgivers.’” (Qur’an 7:155) The attitude is the same: humility, dependence, and turning completely toward God. JOSHUA AND SACRED WORSHIP Joshua, the successor of Moses, also demonstrated reverence before God. The Bible states: “And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?” (Joshua 5:14, King James Version) A believer approaches God with humility, not pride. The physical act of lowering oneself before the Creator reflects an inner reality: God is greater than His creation. This is the meaning of the Arabic phrase often used in Islamic worship: Allahu Akbar — God is Greater. DANIEL AND REGULAR PRAYER One of the strongest examples of structured daily prayer in the Bible is Daniel. Daniel maintained regular prayer despite opposition. The Bible states: “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, King James Version) This passage contains several important elements: Regular daily prayer. A specific direction of prayer. Physical kneeling. Thanksgiving to God. Muslims also perform five daily prayers facing the direction of the Sacred Mosque in Makkah. The purpose is not that God is physically located in one direction, but that believers unite in worship and remember that they belong to one Creator. EZRA AND CONGREGATIONAL WORSHIP The Bible also records public worship involving a congregation. “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.” (Nehemiah 8:5-6, King James Version) This description contains elements familiar to Muslim prayer: standing, praising God, saying “Amen,” bowing, placing oneself before God. PRAYER IN THE LIFE OF JESUS For Christians, Jesus is the central figure of faith. The New Testament presents Jesus as a person who prayed regularly and submitted himself to God. Before dawn, Jesus prayed: “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” (Mark 1:35, King James Version) Jesus also demonstrated complete humility before God during a moment of great difficulty: “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39, King James Version) This statement carries a profound spiritual lesson: The highest form of worship is surrendering one's will to God's will. This is precisely the meaning of Islam — submission to the will of God. THE TIME OF PRAYER The New Testament also mentions specific prayer times. One example is: “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.” (Acts 3:1, King James Version) The ninth hour corresponds approximately to the afternoon prayer period in Jewish reckoning. This demonstrates that organised prayer at appointed times was part of the worship tradition of earlier believers. PURIFICATION BEFORE WORSHIP Prayer is not only about the body; it is about approaching God with respect and purity. The Bible contains examples of purification before worship. Moses was instructed: “And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.” (Exodus 40:31, King James Version) Jesus also demonstrated washing as an act of humility and service: “After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.” (John 13:5, King James Version) Islamic prayer begins with purification (wudu) because believers prepare themselves spiritually and physically to stand before God. REMOVING SHOES IN SACRED SPACE Another interesting connection appears in the story of Moses. When Moses encountered God, he was instructed: “And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5, King James Version) The New Testament repeats this event: “Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.” (Acts 7:33, King James Version) Muslims remove their shoes before entering mosques as an act of respect and cleanliness. A SHARED MESSAGE OF PRAYER When we look carefully at the lives of Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel, and Jesus, we find a common spiritual picture: They prayed. They bowed. They humbled themselves. They remembered God. They submitted their will to the Creator. The Islamic practice of Salat is therefore understood by Muslims not as a new invention, but as a continuation of the worship tradition of the prophets. The question for every sincere believer is not simply: "What tradition does my community follow?" The deeper question is: "How did the prophets worship the One God, and how can I return to that sincere devotion?" Prayer is the bridge between the human heart and its Creator. FOPRA Scholarly Peer-Review · Academic Series 2026 F FOPRA Academy Foundation for Peace & Religious Awareness. Providing scholarly comparative studies and peace advocacy for a global community. Registered in Nigeria: CAC/IT/NO 62815 Explore Academy Religious Research Library Sacred Text Explorer Religion Comparison Tool Exams & Certificates.