The Prayer in Islam
Imam Dr. Abduljalil Sajid (Edited from All in Good Faith)
Session
Co-ordinator: Kazi Nurul Islam
Prayer is the essence and manifestation of faith. It is the
symbol of humble reverence before the Creator of the heavens,
the earth and everything above and below. In the Holy Qur'an,
Allah says: 'Establish regular prayer, for prayer restrains
from shameful and unjust deeds, and remembrance of Allah the
Creator is the greatest thing in life without doubt'. Prayer
is the pillar of Islamic faith, the mainstay of its conviction,
'the chief of good works and the best act of obedience,' said
the Prophet of Islam, Muhammed, peace and blessing of God
be upon him.
The Prophet Muhammed felt so strongly about the institution
of prayer that in one of his last directives to his followers
before his death, he emphasised the importance of safeguarding
and promoting its observance. Prayer in Islam is a beautiful
exercise in meditation through which a Muslim is able to forge
a direct link with God. Thus, it is not only an obligation,
but also a gift and privilege. When a person neglects the
worship of God he loses contact with Him and his sense of
direction in life becomes faulty. He loses spiritual guidance
that comes from submission and obedience to God and a person
may become an easy prey for the evil influences of selfishness
which confront every soul throughout every aspect of daily
life. The spiritual vacuum created when prayer is neglected
is soon filled with greed, prejudice, and other sins.
When
there is no prayer, there can be no purification of the soul..
It cleanses inner being, giving a fresh outlook on life and
release from self-deception and conceit and an outer expression
of an inner condition of belief and trust. The Holy Prophet
once said: 'What stands between a man and disbelief is the
abandonment of his Prayer to God.' Prayer in Islam is truly
an act of worship to God. Worship means serving and obeying
God in all aspects of life. Worship means that whatever is
done in the world, it should be in accordance with God's guidance.
Whether we sleep, wake, eat, drink or work - in fact, whatever
activity we do - we are worshipping God if these activities
are done in love of and obedience to Him. Performing the prayer
regularly serves as a repeated reminder to the Muslim during
the day and night of his relationship with his Creator.
Basically, prayer in Islam consists of recitation from the
Holy Qur'an and glorification of God accompanied by various
bodily postures. The five times of worship correspond to the
five periods of the day: daybreak, noon, afternoon, the close
of day, and night, corresponding to the organisation of man's
time around various activities. In addition to this through
the bodily postures of prayer, which consist of standing,
bowing prostrating and sitting, repeated a number of times
in each prayer, the Muslim expresses submission, humility
and adoration of God Most High with his entire being.
When God commands and charges the Muslim to pray regularly,
he means to help us; because whatever good we do is for our
own benefit, and whatever offence we commit is against our
own souls. It is possible to hide from the world but not from
God. Muslims should come together to form strong communities
to help each other in their life Mission: serving God, obeying
Him, observing His laws and promulgating it in the world.
Prayer may be said to be supplication and praise.
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