Early Practices Of Itekhaf And Salah
According to your specific interest in how these traditions existed before Islam and how they were passed down, here is a curated list of books. Each of these offers a different “angle” on the subject, so I’ve included a brief description of what you can find in each one related specifically to your concern: Meezan (The Law of Islam) — Javed Ahmad Ghamidi This is perhaps the most critical work for your specific question. Specifically, read the section on “Al-Sunnah.” Ghamidi Sahab provides a scholarly framework explaining that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not “invent” prayer and fasting, but rather revived and purified the existing Sunnah of Abraham that was already being practiced by some. Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources — Martin Lings This biography is unique because it draws heavily on the earliest Arabic sources. It provides a vivid description of the Hanifs—individuals in pre-Islamic Mecca who rejected idols and followed the “Religion of Abraham,” practicing forms of prayer and spiritual retreat long before the first revelation. The Sealed Nectar (Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum) — Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri While this is a traditional narrative biography, the initial chapters are excellent for understanding the “before and after.” It describes the religious state of Arabia and how the original monotheism of Abraham (AS) had become clouded by paganism over time. A History of God — Karen Armstrong If you want a comparative lens, this is the one. It tracks the evolution of monotheistic rituals across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam over 2,000 years. It helps place Islamic prayer and fasting within the broader historical continuity of the Near East. The Life of Muhammad — A. Guillaume (Translation of Ibn Ishaq) This is the primary source. It is the earliest surviving biography of the Prophet (written in the 8th century). If you want to see the “raw” historical records of how the people of that time viewed their connection to Abrahamic traditions, this is the book. If you want to start with the most direct answers to your question, I’d suggest starting with Martin Lings for the “story” and historical feel of pre-Islamic rituals, and Ghamidi’s Meezan for the academic logic of how those rituals were preserved.