There a light mist enveloped me and I fell down in prostration. I was told, “On the very day I created the heavens and the earth I ordained for you and for your community fifty prayers. Therefore perform them, you and your community.”

I returned to Abraham, but he did not ask me anything.

Then I passed by Moses. He said, “How many prayers has Allah made obligatory upon you and your community?” I answered, “Fifty prayers.” He then—just as mentioned earlier—advised me to go back to my Lord and request a reduction, until the number was brought down to five prayers. After that he said,

“Go back to your Lord and ask Him to lighten the burden, for the Children of Israel were commanded to pray only twice a day, and they could not keep up with them.”

So I returned to my Lord and petitioned Him to reduce the number. He said, “On the day I created the heavens and the earth I prescribed for you and for your community fifty prayers; five now count as fifty. Fulfil them, you and your community.” I realized then that this was a final, irrevocable decree from Allah.

I went back to Moses, peace be upon him, and he urged, “Return once more.” But I knew it was an unalterable command from Allah, so I did not return.