What was the nature of the prayer, zakat, and fasting of the previous prophets, peace be upon them, and their followers, before they were legislated for our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him?

Prayer, zakat, and fasting were prescribed for previous nations, as indicated by the verses of the Holy Quran which mentioned prophets such as Jesus, Ishmael, Abraham, and Shu'ayb performing them or enjoining them. Allah Almighty informed us about the prescription of fasting for previous nations in His saying: "O you who have believed, prescribed for you is fasting as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous." Although Allah informed us about the prescription of these acts of worship, He did not inform us about the manner of their performance, and there is no authentic text from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, that explains their description. Therefore, one should not burden oneself with searching for what Allah has not made clear. The similitude in the verse of fasting is in the essence of the obligation, not in the description of the fasting, its time, or its duration.