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905-487-8501, 0203-002-0934, importance of salah (prayer) according to the holy quran.
Salah is the major form of worship that a Muslim offers five times a day regularly. It is an obligation upon a Muslim and a Muslim is to offer no excuse when it comes to offering Salah. The offering of Salah in addition to representing the submission of Muslims to their Lord also has other benefits as well which are highly cherished by every Muslim.
The establishment of Salah is one of the major topics upon which Quran has emphasized more than anything else. In Quran Allah Almighty has stressed upon Muslims to learn to offer Salah regularly and with mentions of offering Salah Allah has also mentioned its benefits with it as well. The lines below give the major benefits of Salah that elaborate the importance of Salah.
Invoking Allah:
Although there is no constraint upon a Muslim on how to invoke Allah Almighty, however, prayer is the preferred means of doing so as when a person worships Allah he or she develops a connection with Allah and any invocation within that or after that connection is bound to be accepted by Allah more compared to invocation done in any other circumstance. In Quran, Allah Almighty says:
“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” (2:153)
Therefore, a Muslim must use prayers as a means of invocation and ask Allah Almighty for help and assistance in any difficulty or worry.
Leading To Taqwa:
Piety or righteousness is the prime objective which a Muslim has to achieve in this life. All the instructions, constraints, freedom, rights and education provided by Islam are with the objective that a Muslim becomes pious and moves on the righteous path. In this regard, prayer has a great role to play as it promotes Taqwa or piety in the follower. In Quran, Allah Almighty says:
“This is the Book in which there is no doubt, a guidance for those who have Taqwa: who believe in the unseen, and who establish Salah, and spend out of what we have provided for them.” (2:2-3)
Therefore, in addition to giving charity and believing in the unseen, a Muslim must also establish Salah in order to move towards Taqwa.
Reward In The Afterworld:
Every deed, whether good or bad that a Muslim undertakes in this life, he or she will have to be answerable for it in the afterlife. Although all the deeds get rewarded in the afterlife, however, the actual reward of Salah will truly be realized in the afterlife when Allah Almighty will shower special blessings on that person. In Quran, Allah says:
“Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakah will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.” (2:277)
Therefore, prayer is not something that ends in this world, rather the real reward of it will come to surface in the afterlife.
Staying Connected With Allah:
Muslims who realize that Allah Almighty is their Lord and the Giver of everything, they try to develop a relation with Him and wish to stay connected with Him as much as possible so that their relation grows strong. Salah can effectively help in achieving so, as Allah says in Quran:
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times. (4:103)
Therefore, performing prayers is a means of developing a connection with Allah Almighty and when a Muslim does so five times a day, then the consequent relationship is to naturally grow strong.
Protection From Satan:
Satan is an open enemy of believers and all what he tries is to make people go stray from the path of righteousness and go down in the path of oblivion and darkness. Satan tries to tempt a person in all the possible ways and when a person once listens to him, he gradually lures him or her down further into the pit of darkness. Therefore, seeking protection from Satan is also imperative for a Muslim. In Quran Allah Almighty says:
Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist? (5:91)
Therefore, not offering prayer is actually falling into the prey of Satan, whereas those who try to offer and establish prayer are actually resisting his temptation and when these temptations are resisted for long the result is one not falling prey to Satan ever again on any forefront.
Prevention From Lewdness:
In life, a Muslim gets exposed to all sorts of environments and people, all of which have a direct impact on the personality of the person. There is no denying the fact that the current plight of the people of the world is miserable where they are more prone towards ills and lewdness compared to goodness, thus if a Muslim starts being like other people, he or she goes down the road of darkness. Thus, in order to prevent one’s self from all the lewdness that is common in the world of today, a Muslim must find refuge in Salah as it will help in combating lewdness, as Allah says in Quran:
Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do. (29:45)
Therefore, a Muslim must consider Salah as an effective weapon when it comes to fighting lewdness and evils of all sorts.
Conclusion:
In a nutshell, those who learn and read Quran on regular basis are familiar with the importance of Salah and how strongly has Allah Almighty emphasized on it and explained its importance to the people in Quran. A Muslim must realize that above anything, Salah is an obligation and every Muslim has to fulfill his or her obligation.
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7 reasons Why Salah is So Important to Muslims
Linguistically, Salah (prayer) means invocation (Al- Fawzan, 2005). Allah ﷻ commanded the Prophet ﷺ to ‘pray’ for the believers saying:
“… And invoke (Allah’s blessings) upon them .” [Quran 9: 103]
Salah is the second pillar of Islam, after the Testimony of Faith by which one becomes Muslim. It is also the head of the physical acts of worship that was brought by all of Allah’s Messengers. Salah is not just a mere act, rather it is an act with multiple benefits that signify its obligation. These benefits are as follows:
1. Obligatory act
Prayer was commanded by Allah ﷻ to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on his ascension to Heaven (Al-Miraj) ,unlike any other act of worship. This shows its greatness and confirms its obligation on all Muslims. It is mentioned in a Hadith:
“ Between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his neglect of the prayer.” [Narrated by Muslim]
According to the unanimous agreement of the Muslim scholars, a Muslim who denies Salah is considered an apostate and he/she should be asked to renounce, and if he/she does not, he/she is supposed to be killed.
2. Virtuous deed
Salah is one of the most virtuous deeds as mentioned in the following hadith:
“ A man said to Ibn Mas’ud: ‘Which deed is most virtuous?’ He said: ‘I asked Allah’s Messenger (that). He said: “Salah at the beginning of its time.” I asked him: “What is after that O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Being dutiful to one’s parents.” I said: “What is after that [O Messenger of Allah]?” He said: “Jihad in the Way of Allah. “ [At- Tirmidhi, 173]
3. First question in the grave
Prophet ﷺ said:
“ The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad .” [Recorded by al-Tabarani]
Therefore, we should do our best to perfect our Salah, so as to perfect our deeds.
4. Relation to Allah
All acts of worship are performed so that one gets close to Allah ﷻ. Salah, too, helps bring one close to Him ﷻ, as it is an act performed five times a day. The connection between a servant and Allah ﷻ is established, put into practice, improved and increased through Salah. As mentioned in the aforementioned Hadith, if the prayers are sound and proper, then the rest of the deeds will be sound and proper. When a servant goes to sujood during Salah, he/she is close to his Creator. The Salah is like a conversation between a slave and his Master. The soul requires this connection so that it does not get corrupted.
5. Lasting effect
Salah has a lasting effect on a person, if it is done properly. It brings about the true remembrance of Allah ﷻ and causes one to turn to Him ﷻ for forgiveness. So, after finishing the prayer, one’s heart will be occupied with remembrance of Allah ﷻ; with fear of His displeasure and hope in His Mercy. Allah ﷻ said:
“ Verily, man was created impatient, irritable when evil touches him and niggardly when good touches him. Except for those devoted to prayer those who remain constant in their prayers… ” [Quran: 19-23]
6. Fight temptation
When one performs Salah, it means he/she is aware of Allah ﷻ and this helps in successfully striving against all kinds of evils and temptations. It also helps one to remain steadfast at times of trials and hardships and protect oneself against the weakness of the flesh and the harm of excessive appetites, Allah ﷻ said:
“ Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing .” [Quran 29:45]
7. Type of purification
A Muslim turns to Allahﷻ five times a day, making it a type of purification for the evil deeds he committed. Also, the repeated standing in front of Allah ﷻ should keep the person away from performing sins during the day. Moreover, it should also be a time of remorse and repentance, such that he earnestly asks Allah ﷻ for forgiveness for all those sins that he has committed. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it five times a day, do you think he would have any filth left on him?” The people said, “No filth would remain on him whatsoever.” The Prophet ﷺ then said, “That is like the five daily prayers: Allah wipes away the sins by them. ” [Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Salah, being the second pillar of Islam, has a great importance in the lives of Muslims of all ages, all over the world. Allah ﷻhas chosen an ideal life for Muslims, and prayer presents the real picture of that life. In Salah, you are getting an opportunity to speak to the All-Powerful God Who created everything in this universe. A great deal of emphasis is placed on Salah so that it is observed dutifully, since whatever good deeds done by one who neglects Salah are useless. So, as Muslims, we should realise that above all, Salah is an obligation, and it is upon us to fulfil this obligation no matter what.
Written by: Emily Edited by: The Editorial Team © The Islamic Reflections Blog
Dr Salih Al Fawzan 2005. A summary of Islamic Jurisprudence, Volume 1.
https://islamqa.info/en/answers/12305/the-importance-of-prayer
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single2/en_The_Importance_of_Prayer.pdf
https://sunnah.com/
https://quran.com/
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The Power of Prayer: 10 Benefits of Salah in Islam
Salah is the most important pillar of Islam, second only to declaring the oneness of God. It is the first duty ordained upon every messenger from Adam to Muhammad. Allah told Prophet Musa (peace be upon him), “ Truly I am God, there is no god but I. So worship Me, and perform the prayer for the remembrance of Me. ” ( Taha 20:14 )
Salah is integral to our faith and a sure means of salvation. It is the key to paradise and has countless benefits. Understanding the importance of Salah can help us consistently pay attention to its performance.
Here are ten benefits of Salah:
1. Salah is a direct line of communication between us and Allah, our Creator and Sovereign Lord. In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah refers to it as a dialogue and exchange between Him and His servant. Through Salah, we can have a direct connection with Allah without any intermediaries or intercessors. It bestows dignity upon us and dispenses with intermediaries who diminish our spiritual worth.
2. Salah is the hallmark of faith, as it sets believers apart from others.
3. Salah serves as a light that illuminates our passage through the challenges and ups and downs of the world. It saves us from being swept away by temptations that keep us away from the meaning and purpose of life. In the next world, when we rise from the dead, thanks to the effects of Salah, the light will shine forth from our front, back, right, and left as others are stumbling aimlessly, gripped with terror and fear.
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4. Salah guarantees us paradise and spares us from the dismal fate of tyrants like Pharaoh, Nimrod, Qarun, Haman, and the wicked, who will suffer perpetual torment in hellfire.
📚 Read Also: 5 Daily Prayers and 5 Opportunities for Forgiveness
5. Salah is a means of expiation and redemption; it helps erase the minor sins and mistakes we make day and night, as long as we avoid the most serious sins.
6. Each step we take towards the mosque to perform Salah helps erase sin and raise our spiritual status in the eyes of Allah.
Time Management and Responsibility
7. Conditioning ourselves to pray at the appointed time also helps us manage our time and be mindful and productive.
8. The mindful performance of Salah restrains us from lewdness and obscenity, helping us to purify our morals and character.
4 Tips to Increase Your Love for Prayer
9. Salah imparts a sense of responsibility, reminding us of our final standing before Allah on the Day of Reckoning.
10. Lastly, Salah serves as a spiritual boost that empowers us spiritually, helping us navigate through the rough waters of mundane life, which is full of trials and tribulations. It is no wonder that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) referred to Salah as the single most source of joy for him in this world.
I pray that Allah honors us to perform Salah diligently and mindfully, making it a source of light and comfort for us in this life and the next.
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Amazing Facts About Salah and Why Salah is Important
- Lily Syahirah Ramlan
- 05 Nov 2021
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The Second Pillar of Islam: Salat, The Daily Prayers
Azhar Goraya, Mexico
Prayer takes astonishingly different forms in the world’s diverse religious traditions. In Jerusalem, one can see black-hatted Jews rocking back and forth while reciting prayers at the wailing wall, and just a short distance away, see Muslims standing and bowing in deep contemplation of God. In the same city, Christians can be seen in their churches, sometimes on their knees, sometimes with their hands raised high, praying and singing praises of God. All are expressions of a deep-seated desire to give voice to the longing to be heard and acknowledged by a Higher Power.
Most of the world prays regularly. According to a Pew Research Center, “In the average country across 105 surveyed, about half of adults (49%) say they pray every day, including majorities in sub-Saharan Africa (75%), the Middle East and North Africa (70%) and Latin America (62%)” [i]
Seeing the universality of prayer across all areas and cultures, respect and tolerance is of paramount importance. This tolerance for all forms of religious worship is amply expressed in Islam.
Of the three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), Islam appeared last, being revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (sa) in seventh century Arabia. During his life, the Prophet Muhammad (sa) had ample interaction with Jews, Christians, Pagans and others. His practice, in line with the teachings of the Holy Book of Islam, the Qur’an, demonstrated that all forms of worship are to be respected. The Qur’an tells us that we should not argue with each other about the form of prayer in our respective religious traditions (22:68) [ii] . On one occasion, the Prophet Muhammad (sa) even allowed a Christian delegation to offer their prayers in his mosque, facing towards the East (presumably towards Jerusalem) rather than towards Mecca. [iii]
Islam teaches various forms of prayer. There are formal, informal, obligatory, and voluntary prayers. Some are offered in congregation, others in private. Some are silent, others out loud. Though all have their place and importance, it is the formal, obligatory daily prayer, known as Salat , that forms the bulk of the prayers for the average Muslim.
Salat is the second of the five pillars of Islam. The pillars of Islam are those basic actions and deeds that are all Muslims are obliged to fulfil. Of the five, the Salat is the one that is practiced most frequently. It has both a physical, outer form that functions to channel and highlight an underlying spiritual reality. Every aspect of the Salat thus has a deep philosophy that is based on divine wisdom.
Salat is practiced five times a day. The timings of the five daily prayers follow the movement of the sun. The first prayer (Fajar) is offered before sunrise, the second (Zuhur) after solar noon, the third (Asar) after midday, the fourth (Maghrib) at twilight, and the final (Isha) at nightfall. Each prayer is to be offered within its specific time-period. In cases of necessity, such as travel or work, certain prayers can be shortened or combined.
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam (as) was the awaited divine reformer, sent to revive the true teachings of Islam. His various writings highlight the importance and philosophy of the Salat.
He explained that the timings of the prayers reflect, through the imagery of light and darkness, the various stages of trials that one goes through that affect one’s well-being.
The first stage of trial is where a person comes to know of a problem that he must face, and his happiness begins to decline. For example, when he receives a summons to appear before a judge. He begins to worry and automatically begins to search for reassurance and a way to be secure from his problem. This is represented by the prayer known as Zuhr, as it is offered after the sun begins to set from its zenith.
Likewise, the next three prayers (Asr, Maghrib and Isha) represent further states of anxiety coinciding with the further declining of the sun. These can be compared to the same person being presented in court, being declared guilty and ultimately, being thrown in jail. The final stage in a trial is of liberation and ease – when a person is finally released from jail, and his happiness knows no end. This state is represented by the Fajar prayer, which is offered at the coming of the dawn. [iv]
Four of the five daily prayers thus represent our natural states of fear and necessity in life. The final prayer at dawn represents the trial of well-being – some remember God during difficult times but forget Him when their difficulties have passed. A true believer remains steadfast during trials and is grateful during times of ease. The daily prayers remind and reinforce within us the principle that in every stage, we should always remain attached to God. It is only when a person remains steadfast under all conditions that his sincerity and effort are demonstrated to their highest degree, upon which he comes worthy of receiving the highest levels of blessings from God. The Holy Qur’an tells us:
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ [] الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ [] أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ
[2:156] And We will try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives, and fruits; but give glad tidings to the patient
[2:157] Who, when a misfortune overtakes them, say, ‘Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.’
[2:158] It is these on whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy , and it is these who are rightly guided.
The daily prayers consist of cycles of physical postures (standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting) as well as verbal supplications in each position. These too have underlying wisdom. The Promised Messiah (as) explained how the postures of the Salat represent different stages of humility before God:
Of all the things which take a man to God, there is nothing more potent than prayer. When a person stands [in prayer] he adopts a path of humility. When a slave stands before his master, he always stands with his hands clasped together. A person falls into prostration when he brings himself to the stage of Fana (self-negation before God). It is a pity that the uninformed and those given up to the world desire to change the form of the prayer. They object to the various positions of the prayers, such as the prostration and the bowing, while these are in fact things of the highest excellence. The truth is that until a person does not experience that state where prayer reaches its climax, he remains clueless as to its truth…the prayer is a combination of all excellences and it removes evils. (Malfuzat, vol. 5, pg. 94) [v]
The supplications in the Salat are to be offered in Arabic, after which one is encouraged to offer prayers in their native tongue as well. Arabic is the religious language of Islam. It is the language in which the Qur’an, the sacred scripture of Islam and word of God, is preserved. It was also the native tongue of the prophet Muhammad (sa). To date, the words of the Qur’an have been perfectly preserved in their original language, and to a great extent the words of the prophet Muhammad (sa) as well.
It was not a coincidence that Arabic was chosen as the language of Islam. The Holy Qur’an explains that as the message of Islam is universal, so too is the language in which it was revealed. It is for this reason that Arabic is believed to be the original language of the world from which all others are derived [vi] .
Moreover, knowledge of Arabic binds together Muslims from all parts of the world, regardless of their culture, and enables access to the original teachings of the faith.
Each prayer is preceded by ritual cleansing, known as Wudu , or ablution. This cleansing, which consists of washing the bodily extremities and rinsing out the nose and mouth, is an important part of the physical hygiene of a Muslim. It also has a spiritual dimension – the physical cleansing is a foreshadow to the spiritual purification through the prayer that is to follow. Indeed, ablution done with proper intention is itself a means of forgiveness. The Prophet Muhammad (sa) stated:
When a Muslim believer washes his face (in course of ablution), every sin he contemplated with his eyes, will be washed away from his face along with water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin they wrought will be effaced from his hands with the water, or with the last drop of water; and when he washes his feet, every sin towards which his feet have walked will be washed away with the water or with the last drop of water with the result that he comes out pure from all sins. (Sahih Muslim, The Book of Purification, Chapter: Sins exit with the water of wudu’, Hadith # 244) [vii]
Although some may view offering prayers five times a day impractical and tiring, millions of Muslims do so without it hindering their other activities. Far from causing stress, the daily prayers act as a cushion against the daily pressures of life by providing a ready mental and spiritual oasis and refuge through quiet contemplation, meditation and above all, connection with God.
The supplications in the daily prayers revolve around the praise and glorification of God, along with humble petitions for His help and blessings. A sense of overwhelming gratitude before God for all that one has received is a hallmark of the daily prayers. The daily prayers thus rejuvenate and refresh the mind and soul, much like eating and drinking physical food throughout the day refreshes the physical body.
True satisfaction comes when one’s day revolves around the remembrance of God. As the Qur’an states:
أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
[13:29] … Aye! it is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts can find comfort;
The Prophet Muhammad (sa) once remarked, “my highest delight and satisfaction has been granted to me through my Salat” [viii] . Moreover, the discipline that the daily prayers instill is an invaluable character trait that can help to regulate other aspects of life as well. In the words of Louis XIV, King of France, “There is little that can withstand a man who can conquer himself.”
Though itself beneficial, the physical aspect of salat acts only as a conduit and frame to channel and realize its underlying spiritual benefits.
Apart from referring to the daily prayers, linguistically Salat is an Arabic term that comes from the word Sala , which means to burn. The five daily prayers have been called Salat because they act to burn or cleanse out the spiritual maladies of man. Subsequently, the term also refers to the state of an individual during his prayers – one’s soul should be burning with a deep desire for communion with His lord.
The daily prayers are thus a means of purification and remembrance of God. The Qur’an states:
وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ
[Al-Ankabut 29:46] …and observe Prayer. Surely, Prayer restrains one from indecency and manifest evil, and remembrance of Allah indeed is the greatest virtue…
The Prophet Muhammad (sa) once likened the daily prayer to bathing in a stream five times a day. Those who do so will most certainly be purified [ix] .
In another place, the Qur’an states that the daily prayers establish one upon a solid relationship with Allah. Allah promises to remember those who take the time to remember Him (2:153) [x] .
Summarizing the reasons behind why the daily prayers have been made obligatory, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) in one place writes:
It is also worthy of note that the prayer which has been made obligatory upon Muslims in the Holy Word of God has been prescribed for four reasons. (1) The first is, so that by turning to God Almighty at every time and in every condition, one should be firmly established on the Unity of God, inasmuch as supplicating Him is to acknowledge that God alone bestows one’s objective upon one . (2) The second is, that faith might be strengthened by the acceptance of prayer and the achievement of the objective. (3) The third is, that if Divine favour is bestowed in any other way, knowledge and wisdom might he increased . (4) The fourth is, that if one is informed of the acceptance of prayer through a vision or revelation which is fulfilled, the understanding of the Divine might be promoted and understanding might grow into certainty and certainty into love and through love there might be deliverance from every sin and a cutting asunder from everything beside God, which is the fruit of true salvation . [Ayyam-us-Sulh, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 14, p. 242][Essence of Islam, vol. 2, pg. 210]
Such are the blessings of the daily prayer, and so closely are they linked with the entire essence of Islam, that the Prophet Muhammad (sa) explained that to abandon Salat is a sin and tantamount to disbelief [xi] . It is the first action about which a Muslim will be questioned about on the Day of Judgement [xii] . Once, an Arab tribe accepted Islam and sought permission to forego the daily prayers. The Prophet Muhammad (sa) replied: “There is no good in a religion that does not have bowing (i.e. Salat)” . [xiii]
The daily prayers in Islam are thus a fundamental practical demonstration of devotion to God. From its timings, to its physical postures to its verbal supplications – each aspect is based on deep wisdom which fulfils, highlights, and develops our different spiritual faculties. It provides a framework for spiritual discipline and at the same time, a means for profound meditation, quiet reflection, and deep contemplation. In our ever busy, material, and connected world, the daily prayers provide us with precious moments where we can disconnect from all that is worldly and focus on what which will truly help our well-being – a wholesome, loving and intimate relationship with God.
[i] Pew Research Center. “The Age Gap in Religion Around the World”. June 13, 2018. pg. 57
لِّكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا هُمْ نَاسِكُوهُ ۖ فَلَا يُنَازِعُنَّكَ فِي الْأَمْرِ ۚ وَادْعُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ هُدًى مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
[Al-Hajj 22:68] To every people have We appointed ways of worship which they observe; so let them not dispute with thee in the matter; and invite thou to thy Lord, for surely, thou followest the right guidance.
قَالَ ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ: وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، قَالَ: قَدِمُوا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآله وسلم المدينة، فَدَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ مَسْجِدَهُ حِينَ صَلَّى الْعَصْرَ، عَلَيْهِمْ ثياب الحبرات جُبَبٌ وأردية في جَمَالِ رِجَالِ بَنِي الْحَارِثِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، قَالَ: يقول مَنْ رَآهُمْ مِنَ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآله وَسَلَّمَ: مَا رَأَيْنَا بَعْدَهَمْ وَفْدًا مِثْلَهُمْ، وَقَدْ حَانَتْ صَلَاتُهُمْ فَقَامُوا فِي مَسْجِدِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآله وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلُّونَ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآله وَسَلَّم: «دَعُوهُمْ»، فَصَلَّوْا إِلَى الْمَشْرِقِ (تفسیر ابن کثیر، سورة آل عمران ۳:۶۲)
Ibn Ishaq said, “Muhammad bin Ja`far bin Az-Zubayr said that, `The (Najran) delegation came to the Messenger of Allah in Al-Madinah, entered his Masjid wearing robes and garments, after the Prophet had prayed the `Asr prayer. They accompanied a caravan of camels led by Bani Al-Harith bin Ka`b. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah who saw them said that they never saw a delegation like them after that. When their worship time came, they stood up to perform their worship in the Prophet’s Masjid. Messenger of Allah said: “Let them (worship)” and they prayed towards east. (Tafseer Ibn-e-Katheer, under Surah Al-e-Imran 3:62)
[iv] Malfuzat, vol. 5, pg. 94-95
نماز سے بڑھ کر خدا کی طرف لے جانے والی کوئی چیز نہیں۔ جب انسان قیام کرتا ہے تو وہ ایک ادب کا طریق اختیار کرتا ہے۔ ایک غلام جب اپنے آقا کے سامنے کھڑا ہوتا ہے تو وہ ہمیشہ دست بستہ کھڑا ہوتا ہے۔ پھر رکوع بھی ادب ہے جو قیام سے بڑھ کر ہے اور سجدہ ادب کا انتہائی مقام ہے۔ جب انسان اپنے آپ کو فنا کی حالت میں ڈال دیتا ہے اس وقت سجدہ میں گِر پڑتا ہے۔ افسوس ان نادانوں اور دنیا پرستوں پر جو نماز کی ترمیم کرنا چاہتے ہیں اور رکوع سجدہ پر اعتراض کرتے ہیں۔ یہ تو کمال درجہ کی خوبی کی باتیں ہیں۔ اصل بات یہ ہے کہ جب تک انسان اس عالم میں سے حضہ نہ لے جس سے نماز اپنی حد تک پہنچتی ہے تب تک انسان کے ہاتھ میں کچھ نہیں۔۔۔نماز ایسی چیز ہے جو جامعِ حسنات ہے اور دافعِ سیئات ہے۔
(ملفوظات، جلد ۵، صفحہ ۹۴)
[vi] See “Arabic: Mother of all Languages”. Eng. Trans. of Minanur-Rahman. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). https://www.alislam.org/topics/arabic/Arabic%20-%20Mother%20of%20all%20languages.pdf
“The Source of all the Languages”. Muhammad Ahmad Mazhar. https://www.alislam.org/topics/arabic/The%20source%20of%20all%20the%20languages.pdf
إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ الْعَبْدُ الْمُسْلِمُ – أَوِ الْمُؤْمِنُ – فَغَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ خَرَجَ مِنْ وَجْهِهِ كُلُّ خَطِيئَةٍ نَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا بِعَيْنَيْهِ مَعَ الْمَاءِ – أَوْ مَعَ آخِرِ قَطْرِ الْمَاءِ – فَإِذَا غَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ خَرَجَ مِنْ يَدَيْهِ كُلُّ خَطِيئَةٍ كَانَ بَطَشَتْهَا يَدَاهُ مَعَ الْمَاءِ – أَوْ مَعَ آخِرِ قَطْرِ الْمَاءِ – فَإِذَا غَسَلَ رِجْلَيْهِ خَرَجَتْ كُلُّ خَطِيئَةٍ مَشَتْهَا رِجْلاَهُ مَعَ الْمَاءِ – أَوْ مَعَ آخِرِ قَطْرِ الْمَاءِ – حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ نَقِيًّا مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ (صحیح مسلم، کتاب الطھارة، باب خُرُوجِ الْخَطَايَا مَعَ مَاءِ الْوُضُوءِ، حدیث ۲۴۴)
عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ حُبِّبَ إِلَىَّ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا النِّسَاءُ وَالطِّيبُ وَجُعِلَ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلاَةِ ” (سنن السنائی، کتاب عشرة النساء، باب حُبّ النساء، حدیث ۳۹۳۹
(It was narrated that Anas (ra) said:
“The Messenger of Allah said: ‘In this world, women and perfume have been made pleasing to me, but my greatest comfort has been provided for me through Salat.'” (Sunan An-Nasai, the Book of the Kind Treatment of Women, Chapter: the Love of Women, Hadith #3939)
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ” أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ نَهَرًا بِبَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ، يَغْتَسِلُ فِيهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسًا، مَا تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ يُبْقِي مِنْ دَرَنِهِ ”. قَالُوا لاَ يُبْقِي مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْئًا. قَالَ ” فَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ، يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِهَا الْخَطَايَا ” (صحیح البخاری، كتاب مواقيت الصلاة، باب الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ كَفَّارَةٌ، حدیث ۵۲۸)
Narrated Abu Huraira (ra):
I heard Allah’s Messenger (sa) saying, “If there was a river at the door of anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day would you notice any dirt on him?” They said, “Not a trace of dirt would be left.” The Prophet (sa) added, “That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah blots out (annuls) evil deeds.” (Sahih Bukhari, The Book of the Timings of Prayers, Chapter: The five Salat (prayers) are expiations (of sins), Hadith #528)
فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ
[Al-Baqarah 2:153] Therefore remember Me, and I will remember you; and be thankful to Me and do not be ungrateful to Me.
بَيْنَ الْعَبْدِ وَبَيْنَ الْكُفْرِ تَرْكُ الصَّلاَةِ (سنن ابن ماجہ، كتاب إقامة الصلاة والسنة فيها، بَابُ مَا جَاءَ فِيمَنْ تَرَكَ الصَّلَاةَ، حدیث ۱۰۷۸)
‘Between a person and Kufr (disbelief) is abandoning the prayer.’ (Sunan Ibn Majah, The Book of the Establishment of Salat and the Sunnah regarding it, Chapter: what has been Narrated about he who abandonds Salat, Hadith #1078)
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ صَلاَتُهُ فَإِنْ وُجِدَتْ تَامَّةً كُتِبَتْ تَامَّةً وَإِنْ كَانَ انْتَقَصَ مِنْهَا شَىْءٌ قَالَ انْظُرُوا هَلْ تَجِدُونَ لَهُ مِنْ تَطَوُّعٍ يُكَمِّلُ لَهُ مَا ضَيَّعَ مِنْ فَرِيضَةٍ مِنْ تَطَوُّعِهِ ثُمَّ سَائِرُ الأَعْمَالِ تَجْرِي عَلَى حَسَبِ ذَلِكَ (سنن النسائی، کتاب الصلاة، باب الْمُحَاسَبَةِ عَلَى الصَّلاَةِ، حدیث ۴۶۶)
“The first thing for which a person will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be his Salah. If it is found to be complete then it will be recorded as complete, and if anything is lacking He will say: ‘Look and see if you can find any voluntary prayers with which to complete what he neglected of his obligatory prayers.’ Then the rest of his deeds will be reckoned in like manner.” (Sunan An-Nasai, The Book of Salat, Chapter: Being Brought to Account for the Salat, Hadith #466)
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ، – يَعْنِي ابْنَ مَنْجُوفٍ – حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَاصِ، أَنَّ وَفْدَ، ثَقِيفٍ لَمَّا قَدِمُوا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْزَلَهُمُ الْمَسْجِدَ لِيَكُونَ أَرَقَّ لِقُلُوبِهِمْ فَاشْتَرَطُوا عَلَيْهِ أَنْ لاَ يُحْشَرُوا وَلاَ يُعْشَرُوا وَلاَ يُجَبُّوا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ لَكُمْ أَنْ لاَ تُحْشَرُوا وَلاَ تُعْشَرُوا وَلاَ خَيْرَ فِي دِينٍ لَيْسَ فِيهِ رُكُوعٌ ” (سنن ابی داود، كتاب الخراج والإمارة والفىء، باب مَا جَاءَ فِي خَبَرِ الطَّائِفِ، حدیث ۳۰۲۶)
When the deputation of Thaqif came to the Messenger of Allah (sa), he made them stay in the mosque, so that it might soften their hearts. They stipulated to him that they would not be called to participate in Jihad, to pay zakat and to offer prayer. The Messenger of Allah (sa) said: You may have the concession that you will not be called to participate in jihad and pay zakat, but there is no good in a religion which has no bowing (i.e. Salat) . (Sunan Abu Daud, The Book of Tribute, Spoils, and Rulership, Chapter: The Conquest Of At-Ta’if, Hadith #3026)
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- v.55(Suppl 2); 2013 Jan
The Islamic prayer (Salah/Namaaz) and yoga togetherness in mental health
Shabbir ahmed sayeed.
Department of Medical Biology, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah 21418, Saudi Arabia
Anand Prakash
1 Department of Clinical Psychology, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah 21418, Saudi Arabia
Religion and its practices have been duly implicated in treating not only problems related to medical health, rather, intervening and preventing such problems as well. In the present article, the authors have reviewed significance of the Islamic prayers (Salah/Namaaz) in healthcare in general and mental health in particular. The nature, procedures, practices and the benefits of Salah have been comprehensively described and discussed. In addition, an attempt to combine yoga and its practices with Salah has been made for intervening and preventing the problems of mental health as an expeditious tool. In upshot, the clinicians in the field of mental health care have been suggested to incorporate these two viewpoints in their intervention program, at least, for the Muslim patients for a more desirable outcome.
INTRODUCTION
In an increasingly stress ridden and emotionally distraught world the need for providing appropriate and adequate counseling and psychotherapy has made the therapists look for novel and integrative approaches to meet the challenge. In the course of the last century, psychotherapy has evolved into a varied source of techniques and therapies to cater to the problems of the new order where rapid progress in science and technology has rendered life more of a materialistic meaning devoid of mental peace and contentment.[ 1 , 2 ] Attempts to draw from diverse sources such as alternative and complementary treatment modalities, use of spiritual healing processes, yoga, Reiki, etc., have yielded mixed results. Religion at large has always been at hand to lend useful guidance to approach both the physiological illnesses and psychological maladjustments.[ 3 ] In this regard, counselors and therapists have looked up to religious texts and acts of worship for help in their practice to address the specific needs of religious minority patients where a spiritual approach was more acceptable to the client. Major religions in the world have contributed enormously to this process and resulting advancements in therapeutic efficacy are widely documented.[ 4 – 6 ]
That Islam as a major religion followed by well over a billion people has made its impact in this aspect of alleviating physical and mental afflictions among its followers is very obvious. The Indian sub-continent is home for nearly half the world Muslim population. Similarities in the socio-cultural practices and economic status in this population, besides its remarkable religious coherence makes it a really vast segment of the society that deserves to be treated as a unit. Muslims in the sub-continent largely occupy the lower and middle rungs of the social strata and therefore, a fair share of the psychological and health problems as well. Traditionally conservative family and religious values of this community serve as a formidable barrier for openly seeking access to medical help, particularly for the psychological maladjustments. Professional counseling and psychotherapy as a mainstream solution to cognitive disorders in Muslim patients has not been known in Islam as it is recognized in the western context, however, the concept itself is not new.[ 7 ] Attempts to integrate indigenous knowledge from religious practices in Islam have resulted in increased awareness about its effectiveness and application value to a wide range of human health problems. One of the most basic and mandatory acts in Islamic tenets is the 5 times daily obligatory prayer. Perhaps this act of worship alone can provide solutions to most psychological and somatic problems in humans.[ 8 , 9 ]
Daily prayer referred to as Salah in Arabic language is an act of worship specific and unique to Islam both in its form and spirit. While the English word prayer conveys a general meaning of supplication or invocation, Salah is an act of submission to the Supreme Creator Allah and is expressed in a specific and well defined physical act embodying the spirit. This act of worship is ordained upon all Muslims as a duty and is the second pillar of the faith. While the prescribed five daily prayers are mandatory on all individuals post puberty as commanded in the Holy Book “Verily, Salah is an obligation on the believers to be observed at its appointed time.” (Qur’an 4:103), voluntary prayers in excess of the above are highly encouraged and are recommended as a means of turning to the divine help at times of personal grief and distress. The second form of worship which is called Zikr, meaning meditation is an individual act of remembering Allah at all times to glorify Him and remain thankful for His mercy and beneficence. Through both these means the Muslim individual seeks closeness to the Creator and attains inner peace and tranquility Allah knows best His creation and thus says in the Qur’an “Verily, man was created impatient, irritable when evil touches him and niggardly when good touches him. Except for those devoted to prayer those who remain constant in their prayers…” (70:19-23).
Several reports on the application of prayers in psychotherapy illustrate the positive outcome in the individuals exhibiting pathological symptoms such as tension, anxiety, depression and anti-social tendencies.[ 10 ] These studies have highlighted the efficacy of Salah as a cure to mental distress when followed in the correct form and measure. Since Salah is an act of submission to Allah, the believer puts his/her total unconditional faith in the Lord and pleads for acceptance of the prayer and grant him/her remission from the condition of ill health, irrespective of its nature. Studies have proven that non-Muslim participants merely going through the physical movements of Salah also showed appreciable results from the exercise.[ 11 ] This observation is of significance for a comparative analysis of similar approaches from other religious practices.
Islam is not only a religion but a complete way of life that provides a comprehensive methodology for practice and solutions to problems of mankind in the realms of spiritual, intellectual, and physical challenges (“Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds” Holy Qur’an 29:45). All such prescriptions in form and function and the underlying philosophy are firmly rooted in the two authentic texts namely the Holy Qur’an and the Hadith, the latter being the teachings and sayings of the Prophet Mohammed (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, PBUH). It is important to note that any attempt to add or delete, modify or even try to interpret the procedure otherwise is considered innovation and is strongly abhorred, to say the least. It is this divine and pure nature of Islamic worship that lends it the distinction of being unique and a spiritually enriching experience.
As the second pillar of Islam, Salah is performed by all Muslims across the globe in exactly the same manner and measure, at least the mandatory five prayers. The steps and specific supplications are demonstrated by example by the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) as mentioned in this Hadith “Pray as you have seen me praying and when it is the time for the prayer one of you should pronounce the Adhan and the oldest of you should lead the prayer”. (Sahih Bukhari-Book 11: Call to prayers; Hadith 604). In order to realize the far-reaching and deep-seated impact on the attitude, behavior and life of a believer Salah must be understood properly and exercised appropriately as given in the authentic texts. This paper is an attempt to briefly outline the procedure and the underlying philosophy of Salah such that it may be understood and applied as an effective tool to mitigate psychological issues of Muslim patients and possibly others as well by the therapists. Furthermore, we shall try to seek similarities in the physical details of yet another ritualistic act well recognized as a therapeutic tool – the Yoga.
Ablution – The purification and preparation
Any act of worship in Islam requires the devotee to make an intention and perform physical cleansing and ready himself spiritually. The term Wodu broadly translates to ablution which Muslims perform before the salah by washing their hands, face and feet in a specific order. This in itself is an act of worship since it preconditions the person to perform a serious and sacred duty. The Prophet (PBUH) has said that Wodu does not only clean the person physically but also washes off his sins committed by the washed parts through the dripping water as evident from this Hadith-A Muslim who purifies (himself) and completes purification as enjoined upon him by Allah and then offers the prayers, that will be expiatious (of his sins he committed) between these (prayers). (Sahih Muslim Book 2, Book of Purification-Hadith # 0444). Before every mandatory salat or when one intends to recite the Holy Qur’an the Muslim performs Wodu and thereby maintains a high level of physical cleanliness and spiritual purity. The mind is put to rest from worldly distractions and stress as the act of ablution conditions the psyche to focus singularly on the act of obedience and submission to His will. By commencing the salat with clean body and clear intention the worshiper enters into a state of mind appropriate to communicate with Allah. This is an exclusive act performed at least five times by the Muslims and has scientifically been noted to relax the mind and reduce stress levels as the spirituality overtakes any worldly concern.[ 12 ]
Niyyah – The intention
Expression of intention called Niyyah in Arabic to perform the salat is an essential precondition and is usually done within one's heart appropriately for the Salah of the time. With the intention the worshiper is committed to complete the action as prescribed and obey all the rules therein in order that his prayer is accepted and rewarded.
Salah – The formal prayer
The five mandatory salat are spread over various parts of the day in such a way that the devotee is not only in contact with the Creator frequently and receives peace and blessings as his reward but also experiences physical well-being that has now been scientifically confirmed.[ 3 , 7 , 12 ] Importance of Salah can be appreciated from the following Hadith-The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: “The first thing that Allah made obligatory upon my Ummah was the five prayers; and the first thing from their acts of worship that shall be taken up will be the five prayers; and the first thing that they will be questioned about will be the five prayers (Kanzul Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 18859). Each prayer has a certain number of repetitive units called Raka’a and a total of seventeen are prayed during the day. Each of the physical and spiritual movements of salah demonstrated by the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is accompanied by supplications to be recited in Arabic. The practice of all Muslims following the prayers globally in exactly the same manner and reciting the Qur’an in Arabic is unique to Islam and reaffirms its strong message of equality and universal brotherhood.
A brief look at each of the five prayers will illustrate this point. The first prayer of the day is at dawn before sunrise comprising of two units. Beginning the day with remembrance of Allah and seeking His protection from all that is evil for the day and asking for His benevolence tunes the attitude in the right direction and does wonders to the heart and mind of the individual. The noon prayer of four raka’a comes at a time when the individual is in the middle of his daily activities. The welcome break from materialistic aspects of life gives him an opportunity to return to God and seek guidance for righteous life and prosperity. The physical activity breaks the monotony of chores he is involved in besides being an excellent form of exercise. In the afternoon or midway between noon and sunset, when the worldly involvements are at a peak, the third prayer of four units befalls the believer. Just when the mind and the body are stressed from the pressures of daily involvements, the believer is rewarded once again with spiritual as well as physical benefits of the prayer thus, an opportunity to resume reenergized. The fourth salat is offered in three units soon after the sunset when the day has folded successfully. It is time to express gratitude to Allah for a well ended day and seek his forgiveness for all sins. The four units of the night Salah are offered about an hour and half after sunset before the bed time. A look at the distribution of these prayers tells us how effectively remembrance of God is intermingled with the daily activities of man without having to stop one for the other. A few minutes of pause from the material world to go back at regular intervals in submission to Allah and to thank Him for all His bounties not only puts the believer in connection with God but also equips him better to go ahead with his worldly endeavors. Spiritual enlightenment and a sense of peace and tranquility relieve the worshiper from stress anxiety and negativity.
Congregational prayers
Although prayers like the noon prayer of Friday, Eid (festival) prayers of Ramadan and Day of Sacrifice and funeral prayers must only be offered in congregation, all Muslim men are strongly encouraged to perform the five obligatory prayers in congregation in a mosque in the vicinity. The Prophet (PBUH) indicated that “The prayer in congregation is twenty seven times superior to the prayer offered by person alone.” (Sahih Bukhari – Book 11; Hadith 618). The purpose of congregation is to unite the Muslims in a cohesive community locally and a well-structured society at large. All forms of discriminations, inequalities and prejudices are left behind when a Muslim enters the mosque for a prayer. By meeting several times a day in the mosque and learning to be responsive to each other's needs and problems, the Muslim neighborhood establishes a good model of social integration and compassion. This serves a bigger purpose of removing psychological complexes, anxiety, stress and apprehensions from their minds and reinforces a sense of security and inclusiveness in the individual. Such is the need of the modern day materialistic existence where physical and mental alienation is the biggest abomination and a major cause of social and psychological evils in the society.
The women; however, are to perform all the salat within the safety of their homes. They are so required to guard their modesty and to further ensure that the homemaker establishes a congenial atmosphere of piety within the confines of her home besides positively influencing the children into adopting the acts of worship in the correct format at appropriate ages.
Salah in practice
It is important to inspect the act of salat in close detail as each of the positions and moves hold significance to the worshiper (musalli) both from physiological and psychological points of view. Typically, a single Raka’a has three major movements. Firstly, after the silent expression of intention to perform the prayer the individual raises his hands to the level of his ears and utters ‘Allah is the Greatest’ and folds his hands above the navel. During this brief standing of a few minutes the opening chapter of the Holy Qur’an followed by any other verses from the holy book in Arabic is peacefully recited either silently or aloud depending upon the time of the prayer. Focusing on the recitation and contemplation over the meaning is known to soothe the believer's senses. In this serene atmosphere, the worshiper standing before Allah is supplicating for his guidance.
The second movement is that of bowing with hands rested on the knees and the back held straight for a few seconds enough to utter the supplication glorifying Allah for at least three times and the person rises back to erect posture. In these few seconds, the worshiper's back and head are held flat, perpendicular to the legs.
After more supplications praising Allah, the individual goes down on his knees and rests his hands and forehead on the ground in prostration known as Sajdah for the third and the most cherished position of all in salah. In this uniquely Islamic act that a human performs in front of Allah the Muslim is nearest to The Almighty. In a Hadith, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said “the nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state)” (Saheeh Bukhari). The psychological advantage of realizing that one is in a physical posture best liked by the Lord and that his supplications will be answered; besides the humility attained in the act of stooping to the lowest bodily position is incomparable. The sublime supremacy of sujood (in plural) is evident in the fact that this position has been referred to over 90 times in the Holy Qur’an. Arrogance and egoistic tendencies not only take a severe beating at this moment but also relieve stress and anxiety arising from worldly concerns. Few moments later he rises to sit on his legs and repeats the prostration.
This way, one unit of salat is completed. A typical prayer of a couple of raka’as will be completed with a position of sitting on the legs (Qaa’dah) for more supplications and salutation. This only takes a few minutes of the believer's time but the spiritual, psychological, physical and social gains are enormous; truly, a blessing from the Lord!
Health benefits of salah
The physical and physiological benefits of salah are multiple to say the least. Most of the body muscles and joints are exercised during Salah. In the most noteworthy movement of prostration besides the limb muscles, the back and perineum muscles as well are exercised repeatedly.[ 3 ] The neck muscles, in particular, are strengthened such that it is uncommon to find a person offering regular salah prostrating at least 34 times a day to suffer from cervical spondylosis or myalgias. Sajdah is the only position in which the head is in a position lower than the heart and therefore, receives increased blood supply. This surge in blood supply has a positive effect on memory, concentration, psyche and other cognitive abilities[ 3 , 12 ] During Sajdah dissipation of the electromagnetic energy accumulated from the atmosphere takes place by the grounding effect at regular intervals resulting in a calming feeling. A recent study investigating the alpha brain activity during Muslim prayers has reported increased amplitude in the parietal and occipital regions suggestive of parasympathetic elevation, thus indicating a state of relaxation.[ 11 ]
Khushu refers to a state of mind in salah when we stand in front of Allah and fully direct our minds and hearts towards Him. Anything less not only diminishes the rewards of our worship but a lost opportunity for our spiritual rejuvenation as well. In psychological terms, we can liken this state of mind to a single-minded immersion of oneself with a deep focus on the activity at hand and one that leads to maximum performance. We know that our state of mind, directly or indirectly, impacts almost everything that we do in life. Being in a good state of mind make us feel livelier and more productive, and life generally seems more fulfilling. That is the ultimate objective of prayers and of course, of any therapy as well.
Urban or rural, most Indian Muslims are, by and large, conservative in their outlook when it comes to mental health issues. Social stigmatization often leads to self-denial or underplay of seriousness of the complaint and the mainstream medical assistance is perhaps their last resort. Many Muslims are unwilling to abandon cultural traditions or spiritual and religious methods of treating psychological diseases and behavioral deviance. Only counselors who attempt to work within the religio-cultural framework find acceptance, yet are approached with suspicion. Traditionally, in India, socio-cultural practices transcend the religious barriers in close-knit neighborhoods and often find cross cultural reception in application of home remedies for a spectrum of minor issues. In this context, a review of such trust and confidence in the across-the-border therapeutic attempts may well be worthwhile in our pluralistic society.
Salah and yoga: Complement or contradiction?
A number of attempts have been made to relate salah to a popular ancient Hindu form of physical acts and meditation. Yoga has been known for its scientific basis as a healthy lifestyle practice for thousands of years.[ 13 ] Today, Yoga, regardless of its religious affiliation, has become one of the most popular fitness practices all over the world. In India, it has been consistently applied for centuries for its curative powers of movement. Albeit, several ‘asanas’ (physical postures) of Yoga may not be possible to follow in healthcare practices in the absence of the professional supervision for desirable advantage, Muslims have had the blessing of Salah that has since fourteen hundred years become an integral part of their daily activities with physical, psychological, social and spiritual benefits. Here, the authors would suggest that yoga be treated as a lifestyle, rather than just a group of ‘asanas’, which is completely related with health, happiness and longevity of individual. A careful and judicious combination of these two (i.e., salah and yoga) therefore, could possibly double the advantages in enhancing mental health.
Yoga: A completely healthy and spiritual lifestyle
The history of India overwhelmingly evidences that its civilization and culture were blessed with diversified and scientifically remarkable achievements in all spheres of life including health care, when other parts of the world were in their ‘infancy’ of development and maturation.[ 13 ] The globally accepted heritage of ‘Ayurveda’ and ‘Yogic practices’ is an unique contribution of the ancient Indian health care system to the rest of the world.
Patanjali is regarded as the ‘father of yoga’. It was also discovered and developed during the Vedic period. Yoga derives from the Sanskrit word ‘yuj’ which means ‘to yoke’, to join the Supreme power ultimately through simple, healthy, sacred and spiritual lifestyles. Thus, yoga implies union and integration of total human being from the inner most to the external nature or the Almighty. It is a path of self-discovery bringing about balance and harmony in life.[ 14 , 15 ] This is a science of strengthening human mind and elevating the level of consciousness to a maximum. At one hand, it helps the normal people in living a healthy and contented life, and on the other hand, it bestows relief, solace and tranquility of mind to the persons with mental distress. Hence, the meaning and eventual purpose of Yoga appear to be fundamentally very similar to the messages of other religions of the world including Islam and its prayer (in the context of this article), despite differences in their fundamental concepts of origin, as per the understanding of the authors. Therefore, a combination of the salah and Yoga could be an unique pair in relation to the mental healthcare in particular.
Mental health in yoga
According to yoga, the human personality is composed of ‘purusha’ (man) and ‘prakriti’ (nature). The ‘prakriti’ is comprised of ‘gunas’ or ‘vrittis’(mental trends or channels of psychological functions). These ‘gunas’ are ‘Sattva’ (true, pure, consciousness), ‘Rajas’ (erotic activity, dynamism) and ‘Tamas’ (the black, the low, dullness, inertia, and passiveness). Although ‘purusha’ is pure, at times it is contaminated by the ‘gunas’ of ‘rajas’ and ‘tamas’. Hence, abnormality begins from the point of contamination of ‘purusha’ by ‘rajas’ and ‘tamas’, and such contamination incepts at the time of birth when ‘purusha’ takes human form and essentially comes in contact with ‘rajas’ and ‘tamas’. However, ‘ sattva’ is pure and doesn’t cause abnormality. So, yoga aims at control of ‘vrittis’, since lack of control over ‘vrittis’ can lead our mind to abnormal channels.
In addition to the above mentioned ‘gunas’ there are three more but distinct constituents known as ‘Doshas’ of the human body. These ‘doshas’ are ‘Vata’ (wind), ‘Pitta’ (bile) and ‘Kapha’ (phlegm or mucus). An adequate balance between these ‘gunas’ and ‘doshas’ is necessary for origin, development and maintenance of normal and healthy personality and behavior.[ 13 ] On the contrary, lack of balance in this equilibrium of ‘gunas’ and ‘doshas’ is most likely to lead to disturbance in personality as well as physical and mental disorders, especially imbalance in the ‘gunas’ of ‘rajas’ and ‘tamas’, and ‘doshas’.
In addition to the above, the concept of ‘klesa’ (affliction) which constitutes the bedrock of all human misery and pain,[ 16 ] is sufficiently and purposefully addressed to in yoga. These ‘klesas’ are ‘avidya’ (ignorance), ‘asmita’ (egoism), ‘raga’ (worldly or materialistic attractions), ‘dvesa’ (repulsion or jealousy), and ‘abhinivesa’ (lust for life). Among all, the first is considered as the root of the remaining four ‘klesas’.[ 17 ] ‘ Avidya’ is not a lack of knowledge, rather a mistaken knowledge, lack of fundamental differentiation of ‘self’ from ‘non-self’.[ 18 ] “‘Asmita’ is pure consciousness (I-am-ness) but is attached to bodily characteristics and its ‘degenerative’ components, e.g. needs and desire, traits, character and other material possessions. Thus, ego is a degenerated form of real or true self with involvement into things, which are unreal to self (i.e., maya). When desire or temptation is supported by the ego (individual), it acquires great strength, which is likely to result into a strong drive and frustration leading to ‘dvesa’”.[ 13 ]
Yogic intervention in mental health
The techniques and practices of mental healthcare in Yoga are: (A) Somatogenic and (B) Psychogenic techniques. The former includes shodhan (purification) comprising six karmas (sacred acts) Dhouti (cleansing sense organs, scalp, stomach, anus; Bhasti (colon cleansing), Neti (nasal cleansing), Nauli (abdominal purification through massage and churning), Kapalbhati (a kind of Pranayam, tratak (purifying optic and cognitive facilities) and Swar-yoga (studying flow of breath through nostrils according to the position of celestial bodies). Similarly, the latter (i.e., psychogenic techniques) is known as ‘Astanga’ or ‘Eight Limbs of Yoga’ which are as follow:
- (a) Yama (a kind of ‘Don’ts’ behavior to be practiced in day-to-day life comprising Ahinsa (non-violence to self and others), Asatya-(don’t speak lie), Asteya (non-theft or not taking others’ belongings), Brahmacharya (abstinence from outward pleasure) and Aprigrah (Non-greediness or non-hoarding tendency).
- (b) Niyama is a kind of ‘Dos’ behavior to be practice in daily life comprising Shouch (Purity of body and of mind), Santosh (Contentment), Tapa (Penance), Swadhyay (Self-study or improvement), Ishwar Pranidhan (surrender or devoting to the Supreme Power).
- (c) Asanas and Mudras are various types of physical postures of yoga to catalyze the psychic energies. The ‘asanas’ are meant for individual's general and mental well-being and peace of mind. Besides, these ‘asanas’ are meant for arousing the dormant centers of the nervous system, called ‘Chakras’.[ 19 ] The ‘mudras’ are advanced and highly technical form of physical acts helping individuals in curing mental disorders.
- (d) Pranayam implies pause in breathing. It is a breathing act controlling the breath and vital forces of the body of which there are several kinds e.g., Anulom-Vilom, Kapalbhati, Bhramari etc.
- (e) Pratyahar signifies ‘withdrawal’ from all ‘indriya’ or worldly ‘senses’. It is a kind of sublimation through the psychic behavior for which high level of command over the previous stages is essential. The practice of ‘pratyahar’ controls these senses which are always alive and working to distract the individual toward undesirable behavior.
- (f) Dharna is steadiness of mind which needs discipline and preparation for practicing properly. It is seen when mind concentrates on a stable object. It aims at making the period of steadiness longer by ongoing practice and decreasing distraction of mind.
- (g) Dhyan is meditation or contemplation which comes after ‘dharna’. By the help of this mind has become sole/solitary unity while concentrating only on the ultimate object, i.e., Supreme authority.
- (h) Samadhi is a trance-like state of mind and body which is the highest stage in yoga, also known as ‘kaivalya’. There are neither ‘gunas’ nor ‘doshas’ in the individual at this stage and the person realizes full liberation from the worldly pleasure and affiliations, i.e., ‘Nirvana’ or ‘Moksha’.
Out of all above mentioned practices of Yoga, only some kind of ‘asanas’ and ‘samadhi’ are difficult or seem to be impossible for a common individual especially in certain pathological health conditions. However, the entire domain of yogic sciences and its practices are only concerned with quality of life to be achieved through healthy, contented and spiritual lifestyles, and not at all related to any sect or religion. Thus, it does not involve any essence of partiality with Hinduism or superiority over Islam or any other religion of the existing world. Indeed, the aim of the authors is not to explore superiority of one religious practice over the other, rather, to prompt and suggest to the concerned clinicians as well as the clients to perceive these viewpoints as supplementary combinations toward the best possible benefits in mental healthcare.
Moreover, a direct one on one comparison between Islamic salah and the yoga will not be in order as the basic religious tenets are at variance and may result in sending inflammatory signals. Therefore, setting aside the core religious sentiments and basic tenets, and having a closer look at these two forms of worship reveal a number of similarities in their physical execution and the accrued medical and psychological improvements in the life quality of the practitioner. Central to achieving the desired outcome in either of the practices is the fact that they are rendered in the correct form and for the minimum effective duration. Physical similarities between Salah and yoga are in the body movements that are repeated in a set pattern. Salah with its five major physical movements finds corresponding movements in yoga called ‘asanas’. When performed involving just the physical movement-hatha yoga and salah have been found to evoke comparable medical benefits in all major organ systems. While yoga has trainable ‘asanas’ (but not all ‘asanas’ rather some of them) than those found in salah, where the latter on the other hand, is more of a spiritual obligatory duty. As mentioned earlier, Islam is a prescription for a complete and balanced way of life, hence, Salah besides being an act of worship doubles as a holistic health tonic.
Besides, the concept of activation of the seven ‘chakras’ or energy fields in yogic movements has been anatomically related to the ganglia on the peripheral nervous system. The concept of specifically activating these nerve centers through Salah or yoga is like the chiropractic therapy. The major steps in salah have been associated with the nerve pathways or chakras in a broad sense. The standing position or Qiyaam is said to be similar to the mountain pose in yoga, which has a bearing on self-awareness. The folding of hands above the navel in this position are said to activate the solar plexus. The position of bowing or Ruku is equated with the forward bend position in yoga. The crowning glory of salah is the prostration or sujood. During this movement, the crown chakra related to the person's spirituality is stimulated. Bending movements during sujood also activate the base chakra and the sacral chakra toning up the lymphatic, skeletal and reproductive systems at large. Resting position between the prostrations or for completion of the salah is called Qaa’dah akin to the thunderbolt pose in yoga. Completion of the salah is done by salutation and turning of the head to the right and then to the left side of the body. This is said to activate the throat chakra. A true appreciation of such activation and the resultant physiological and psychological gains can only be possible when the movements are performed in consonance with careful and correct recitation of the Qur’an verses. Unification of mind and body is brought about by the intention of Salah and focus on the recitation whereby mental distractions and stress are relieved and the physical body yields itself to the positive entrainment through the movements.
In yoga, activation of all the seven energy levels at least once in a day is advocated to realize the true potential of the practice. Since salah is procedurally less complex than yoga and is practiced ritually five times in a day without requiring any formal training it is a boon to the Muslims that they get to tune the energy chakras effortlessly integrating the practice with their daily routine. Nonetheless, combining several aspects of Yoga with salah could be able to catalyze the many more folds of advantages of activating energy chakras.
The way forward
Present day psychotherapists in the predominantly urban setup find themselves confounded with issues arising from clients with intense religious sentiments and intervention in such cases is nothing short of a challenge. The technique used in therapy, therefore, should be based on accepting and acknowledging that many religious, spiritual, and ethnic clients believe that God is the central part of understanding themselves, their core values, and being part of the solution for their worldly problems. The overwhelmingly western ‘secular’ counseling paradigms do not always find acceptance among Muslim patients due to the apprehension of potential or imminent contradiction between the therapy and the Islamic principles. If professional counselors, operating in predominantly Muslim areas, are equipped with a reasonable proficiency in the religious prescriptions, their chances of success in building a better rapport with their clients and thereby rendering effective services will considerably improve. Recently, countries like Malaysia[ 20 ] and Indonesia[ 21 ] have looked at yoga suspiciously as infringing into Islamic monotheistic principles since yoga is mainly a practice of the polytheistic Hindu religion. Issuance of Fatwa – the Islamic religious Rulings against the practice of yoga by members of the Muslim community in South-East Asia at large has reemphasized the need for carefully approaching the matter of employing heterogeneous cross cultural techniques in therapy. Such confrontations and lack of basic understanding of the finer sensibilities of these religions compounded with the under preparedness of a therapist would only aid in escalating the conflict in patient's mind. The way forward for the psychotherapists operating in multi religious and multicultural setups, therefore, is to integrate the positive and possible aspects of the Yoga, mainstream western counseling with the spiritual aspects of Islam to develop a combined psycho-spiritual methodology. Multiple methods of intervention drawn from diverse sources may well be incorporated in such practice, such as the use of hatha yoga or power yoga with adequate patient education on the neutrality of these techniques to enhance its efficacy.
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Conflict of Interest: None declared
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The Importance of Prayer
Description: prayer is a unique training and developmental program which, if well and devotedly performed, can achieve for a muslim many valuable spiritual, physical, and ethical gains..
- By Jamaal al-Din Zarabozo
- Published on 23 Nov 2009
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The importance of the prayer in Islam cannot be understated. It is the first pillar of Islam that the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, mentioned after mentioning the Testimony of Faith, by which one becomes a Muslim. It was made obligatory upon all the prophets and for all peoples. God has declared its obligatory status under majestic circumstances. For example, when God spoke directly to Moses, He said,
“And I have chosen you, so listen to that which is inspired to you. Verily, I am God! There is none worthy of worship but I, so worship Me and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance.” (Quran 20:13-14)
Similarly, the prayers were made obligatory upon the Prophet Muhammad during his ascension to heaven. Furthermore, when God praises the believers, such as in the beginning of the chapter entitled ‘al-Muminoon’ (the Believers), one of the first descriptions He states is their adherence to the prayers.
Once a man asked the Prophet about the most virtuous deed. The Prophet stated that the most virtuous deed is the prayer. The man asked again and again and for the first three times, the Prophet answered, “The prayer,” then on the fourth occasion he stated, “Jihad in the way of God.” [1]
The importance of prayer is demonstrated in many of the Prophet’s statements. For example, the Prophet said,
“The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is incomplete, then the rest of his deeds will be incomplete.” [2]
The importance of the prayers lies in the fact that no matter what actions one performs in his life, the most important aspect is one’s relationship to God, that is, one’s faith ( imaan ), God-consciousness ( taqwa ), sincerity ( ikhlas ) and worship of God ( ibaadah ). This relationship with God is both demonstrated and put into practice, as well as improved and increased, by the prayer. Therefore, if the prayers are sound and proper, the rest of the deeds will be sound and proper; and if the prayers are not sound and proper, then the rest of the deeds will not be sound and proper, as the Prophet himself stated.
In reality, the prayer is performed properly – with true remembrance of God and turning to Him for forgiveness – it will have a lasting effect on the person. After he finishes the prayer, his heart will be filled with the remembrance of God. He will be fearful as well as hopeful of God. After that experience, he will not want to move from that lofty position to one wherein he disobeys God. God has mentioned this aspect of the prayer when He has said,
“Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds” (Quran 29:45)
Nadwi has described this effect in the following eloquent way,
Its aim is to generate within the subliminal self of man such spiritual power, light of faith and awareness of God as can enable him to strive successfully against all kinds of evils and temptations and remain steadfast at times of trial and adversity and protect himself against the weakness of the flesh and the mischief of immoderate appetites. [3]
The overall affect that the properly performed prayers should have upon humans is described in other verses in the Quran:
“Verily, man was created impatient, irritable when evil touches him and ungenerous when good touches him. Except for those devoted to prayer those who remain constant in their prayers…” (Quran 70:19-23)
As for the Hereafter, God’s forgiveness and pleasure is closely related to the prayers. The Messenger of God said,
“God has obligated five prayers. Whoever excellently performs their ablutions, prays them in their proper times, completes their bows, prostrations and khushu [4] , has a promise from God that He will forgive him. And whoever does not do that has no promise from God. He may either forgive him or punish him.”
The prayers are a type of purification for a human being. He turns and meets with his Lord five times a day. As alluded to above, this repeated standing in front of God should keep the person from doing sinful acts during the day. Furthermore, it should also be a time of remorse and repentance, such that he earnestly asks God for forgiveness for those sins that he committed. In addition, the prayer in itself is a good deed that wipes away some of the evil deeds that he performed. These points can be noted in the following hadith of the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him:
“If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it five times a day, do you think he would have any filth left on him?” The people said, “No filth would remain on him whatsoever.” The Prophet then said, “That is like the five daily prayers: God wipes away the sins by them.” ( Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim )
In another hadith, the Prophet said,
“The five daily prayers and the Friday Prayer until the Friday prayer are expiation for what is between them.” ( Saheeh Muslim )
[1] This is form a hadith recorded by Ahmad and ibn Hibban. According to al-Albani, the hadith is hasan. Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani, Sahih al-Targheeb wa al-Tarheeb (Beirut: al-Maktab al-Islami, 1982), vol. 1, p. 150
[2] Recorded by al-Tabarani. According to al-Albani, it is Sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami, vol.1, p. 503.
[3] Nadwi, p. 24
[4] Khushu` in the prayer is where the person’s heart is attuned to the prayer. This feeling in the heart is then reflected on the body. The person remains still and calm. His gaze is also lowered. Even his voice is affected by this feeling in the heart. For more details on this concept (as well as the difference between it and khudhu`), see Muhammad al-Shaayi, al-Furooq al-Laughawiyyah wa Atharahaa fi Tafseer al-Quran al-Kareem (Riyadh: Maktabah al-Ubaikaan, 1993), pp. 249-254.
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Learn Namaz benefits
learn namaz and there benefits. An act that is obligatory for every Muslim man or women and the most important key factor of our life (Salat). The holy scriptures also emphasize 500 times the importance of the Salah.
Allah subah-u-tallah says in Qur’an in Surah-e-Luqman “29.46” “Surely Prayer restrains one from indecency”.
Some of the physical and Spiritual benefits of Salah I wanted to share with you:
Salahs (Namaz) Spiritual benefits
2) Forgetting fear when in prayers knowing that you are in the Comfort of Allah all mighty
3) Purifying our sole from our sins
4) Being protected from Satan (devil) when performing the prayers
5) Routine & daily maintenance of faith and
6) Building a great relationship with Allah all mighty, the Creator.
Some of the worldly benefits of Salah (learn Namaz)
1) It teaches us equality between each other while offering prayers no matter if a person is poor or rich, black or White, low or high they stand shoulder to shoulder with each other.
2) It also teaches us the way of unity when Muslim offer prayers they all have the same Nea they all do Sajdah together and kneel together before the one and only Allah all mighty.
3) When Muslim offer salah in Jama’ah they get to know each other, Mutual love and brotherhood develops.
We as Muslims should have no doubt in our hearts and mind about Namaz and its regular need should be established. It is important for us as parents or a community member, to offer prayers regularly for our further generation to follow. Through it we can establish the importance of regular prayers in our children’s heart. If you want to learn Quran or learn namaz (salah) or even if you want to know the way to read Quran with Tajweed also you can register for free trials and please share this to as many people as you could to spread the word of Islam and guidance of Allah all mighty
If you want to learn Namaz with audio please click blow links and follow the steps
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As the Muslim prayer is under attack again, with Noida police banning religious congregations at parks in Sector 58, ThePrint brings you a lowdown on namaz and its importance.
New Delhi: The Muslim prayer, namaz , is under scrutiny once again after the Noida police caused a furore by issuing an order that directed multinational companies in the city’s Sector-58 region to ensure that their Muslim employees do not offer Friday prayers in a community park.
The notice also warns the companies that they will be held liable for any violation by their employees. This follows an earlier row, in May this year, when Hindutva groups in Haryana’s Gurgaon stopped Muslims from offering Friday prayers in several open spaces.
What is the namaz ?
Salaah or namaz is an obligatory prayer performed by a practising Muslim five times a day. The namaz is performed early in the morning, afternoon, evening, near sunset and late evening. Each namaz lasts for between five to 10 minutes, and so cumulatively the prayers take up around 30 minutes in a day.
Muslims face towards the city of Mecca and specifically to the Ka’abah while offering namaz and this direction is called the qibla.
The namaz is one of the five obligatory pillars of Islam, with the other four being faith in the oneness of God, performing charity, fasting in the Islamic month of Ramzan and undertaking a pilgrimage to Haj (Mecca) once in a lifetime.
“Through namaz , a Muslim is standing before the sight of Allah and in attendance, submitting to Allah’s will,” noted historian Rana Safvi told ThePrint. “Islam is all about submission to Allah’s will and namaz is a way when a Muslim considers herself closest to the lord.”
According to the Quran, namaz can be performed at any clean place except bathrooms and graves. The primary purpose of the mosque is to serve as a place where Muslims can come together for prayer, as praying together holds great importance in Islam.
Women can’t offer namaz in a Mosque is a myth, Islam allows both men and women to offer namaz at the same place. However, the condition is that women should pray in separate safs or lines formed during praying.
“The biggest example of women praying in a mosque is when they go for Haj which is one of our five pillars. Men and Women pray in Masjid Nabuwi, the mosque of Prophet Mohammad,” said Mohammad Irfan, a Delhi-based Maulvi. “There is no segregation between them in Masjid Nabuwi while in other masjids across the world, women pray in separate enclosures.”
Also read: Politics over namaz inside historic Taj mosque likely to survive beyond 2019
Why are Friday congregational prayers important?
Besides the fact that the Quran specifically mentions about the namaz in a “congregational form”, the Friday namaz in the afternoon is a part of the Sunnah or the way of Prophet Mohammad’s life. It is the longest namaz , which alone takes around 30 minutes.
Friday is considered an auspicious day of the week and even those Muslims who are otherwise not regular with namaz try to attend prayers in mosques or participate in any open congregation.
Religious scholars say that “congregation” became an important part of Muslim prayers because in medieval times a lot of emphasis was laid on brotherhood.
“This was a religion that stood against slavery and racism. The core message of Islam is universal brotherhood,” Safvi said. “By standing in a congregation, the differences of status, class and rank disappear. Congregational prayers are a way of strengthening the brotherhood.”
“ Ek hi saf mein khare ho gaye Mahmood-o-Ayaz, no koi banda raha aur na koi banda nawaz (Mahmood the king and slave Ayaz, in a line, as equals, stood arrayed, The lord was no more lord to slave while both prayed to the one master),” Safvi refers to Pakistani poet and scholar Allama Iqbal’s poem Shikwa to buttress her point.
The congregational prayer
Congregational prayers are also held on the two Eid festivals during the year. And it is not just these two occasions when Muslims are seen hugging each other. Safvi said after every Friday prayer, Muslims greet each other “ Jummah Mubarak ”.
In a digital age when people are socially becoming isolated, some Muslims say coming together through namaz gives them a chance to check on each other’s well-being.
Abdul Rashid, who performs the namaz regularly, said the congregations help in building strong social bonds.
“If we notice someone is absent from the mosque, we check with him whether he is fine the next day,” said Rashid, a businessman in Delhi. “Coming together is a way to help the society you are living in. Friday sermons are also about discussing the social problems.”
The Supreme Court observation made in the 1994 Ismail Faruqui case that a mosque is not an essential part of Islam and that namaz can be offered anywhere, even in open areas, leave another question mark on where Muslims should pray.
Safvi argues that the solution to the worries of those stopping namaz outdoors is to “build enough mosques”.
“Most of the historical mosques are under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) so one cannot pray there. Those praying in open areas are mainly workers or labourers,” she said. “If praying outside a problem, the solution is to build enough mosques for Muslims to pray.”
Also read: A naked Jain monk spoke in Haryana assembly, but a Muslim can’t offer namaz in public?
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It’s very readable and concise article. However I shall like to give some suggestions. Congregational prayers were always practiced by the Prophet himself. During Makkah priod these prayers were offered in seclusion due to prosecution of Muslims. After coming to Madina, Prophet and his companions offered it openly. Juma or Friday afternoon prayers are always in congregational from from the Prophet time. It is fallacy to call it of medieval origin. However other five-times prayers may also be read individually, but not the Juma Namaaz.
This is amazing as I am a Muslim I like it tooooooooooo muchhhhhhh
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Essay on Importance of Prayer in Our Daily Life
Students are often asked to write an essay on Importance of Prayer in Our Daily Life in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.
Let’s take a look…
100 Words Essay on Importance of Prayer in Our Daily Life
Introduction.
Prayer is a powerful tool in our daily life. It provides mental peace, guidance, and a sense of connection with the divine.
Peace of Mind
Prayer helps us find inner peace. It allows us to express our fears, hopes, and issues, giving us relief from stress.
Through prayer, we seek divine guidance. It helps us make better decisions and leads us on the right path.
Connection with the Divine
Prayer strengthens our relationship with the divine. It makes us feel loved, protected, and cared for, enhancing our overall wellbeing.
Prayer is essential in our daily life. It gives us peace, guidance, and a deep spiritual connection.
250 Words Essay on Importance of Prayer in Our Daily Life
Prayer, a universal phenomenon across cultures, is an integral part of human life. It’s a spiritual practice that transcends religious boundaries, offering solace, hope, and a sense of connectedness. For many, it’s an essential daily ritual, akin to eating or sleeping.
The Psychological Benefits of Prayer
Prayer is a form of meditation, providing a moment of solitude in our busy lives. It allows us to introspect, reflect on our actions, and gain clarity. This introspection can lead to enhanced self-awareness and emotional stability. The act of prayer also helps reduce stress and anxiety, fostering mental well-being.
Prayer and Personal Growth
Prayer is not just a plea for help or an expression of gratitude; it’s a medium for personal growth. It encourages humility, patience, and resilience. It helps us to accept our shortcomings, seek forgiveness, and strive for betterment. Thus, it aids in character development and moral fortitude.
Prayer and Social Connection
Prayer often brings people together, fostering a sense of community. It can serve as a bridge, connecting individuals with diverse backgrounds and beliefs. This social aspect of prayer can nurture empathy and tolerance, promoting social cohesion and harmony.
In essence, the importance of prayer in our daily life is multifaceted. It offers psychological benefits, aids personal growth, and fosters social connections. Regardless of our religious beliefs, the act of prayer can provide a sense of peace and purpose, making it a valuable practice in our daily routine.
500 Words Essay on Importance of Prayer in Our Daily Life
Introduction: the role of prayer in our lives.
Prayer, across various religions and spiritual practices, is a fundamental part of human life. It serves as a conduit between the individual and the divine, providing a platform for expressing gratitude, seeking guidance, or requesting assistance. Prayer is not merely a religious ritual; it is a tool for self-reflection, introspection, and personal growth.
Modern psychology recognizes the potential of prayer as a coping mechanism. In the face of adversity, prayer can provide a sense of control and stability. It offers a way to articulate emotions and thoughts that may otherwise remain suppressed, contributing to mental health and emotional well-being. The act of praying can also foster a sense of hope, a crucial element in combating feelings of despair and helplessness.
Prayer as a Source of Moral Compass
Prayer often involves meditating on moral and ethical principles, reinforcing one’s commitment to these values. It serves as a moral compass, guiding individuals to make decisions that align with their beliefs and principles. This moral grounding can contribute to a more empathetic, compassionate society, promoting harmonious coexistence.
Prayer, particularly communal prayer, can foster a sense of belonging and unity. It can bridge the gap between diverse groups, creating a shared sense of purpose and identity. This social aspect of prayer can mitigate feelings of isolation and loneliness, promoting overall well-being.
Prayer also serves as a tool for personal growth and self-improvement. It encourages introspection and self-reflection, allowing individuals to assess their actions, acknowledge their mistakes, and seek improvement. It fosters humility and gratitude, essential virtues for personal development and growth.
Conclusion: The Indispensable Role of Prayer
In conclusion, the importance of prayer in our daily life extends beyond religious observance. It is a tool for psychological well-being, a source of moral guidance, a platform for social connection, and a catalyst for personal growth. Regardless of one’s religious or spiritual beliefs, prayer can provide a sense of peace, purpose, and direction in life.
That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.
If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:
- Essay on My Neighbour
- Essay on Importance of Yoga in Daily Life
- Essay on Science in Our Daily Life
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Prayers Resources to Improve Your Prayer Life
The Importance of Prayer in Our Lives
Have you ever asked yourself, “is prayer important?” For any follower of Christ, you would say yes, right?!
But do we know the REAL reasons why prayer is so important and so VITAL to us as believers?
The importance of prayer in our lives is a crucial element to growing stronger in your faith and being obedient to God.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our full disclosure for more information.
Why is Prayer is Important
Prayer is such a vital part of our lives if we know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It is our way that we can speak to God, come before Him with boldness, and listen to Him speak as well!
We may not always PHYSICALLY hear Him speaking to us, but He uses prayer as a way to communicate with us and open that channel between us and Him.
There are different types of prayer, and even ways to pray. We can pray out loud, prayers can be thoughts, reading scripture as prayer, and singing prayers to Him through praise songs.
Prayer isn’t just a one-way type of thing, as in it’s just something we do and don’t expect anything to happen. When we pray, we are praying WITH expectation that God will move His mighty hand!
It is definitely important to remember that we are BELIEVERS, meaning we don’t pray just to say words. We pray because we believe there is an almighty God who HEARS us and that Jesus intercedes on our behalf.
It’s also important to pray because Jesus did! Let’s look more into that…
The Importance of Prayer in the Bible
It can be easy to sit here and say, yes it’s important to pray and you should do it , but that would just be me telling you to do so. Why listen to me, right??
In fact, anything that we study or learn about God, we must bring it back to scripture and make sure it aligns with what He tells us.
So I definitely believe it’s super important to look at what the Bible says about prayer – how to pray, when to pray, and even how NOT to pray!
Praying loud enough for others to hear and trying to make it sound good or “showy” – this is not true prayer and may as well be considered white noise. That’s what the Pharisees did, and we know that’s not how we want to be!
But rather, we want to be like Jesus! Prayer is important because JESUS did it, and we are called to be imitators of Him.
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35 NIV
If Jesus did it, then so should we! And he evens shows us how to pray in Matthew 6, a great model to practice ourselves and teach our children too.
Let’s look at some more examples of just how powerful prayer was in the Bible…
Scriptures on the Importance of Prayer
There are SO many references to the importance of prayer in Scripture.
Here are some more specific scriptures you can look up about how important prayer is, including why and how we pray, straight from the Bible.
Feel free to bookmark this page to refer to when you are struggling with prayer and need some encouragement!
“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matthew 6:9-14 NIV
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35
And here are a few more prayer scriptures to meditate on:
- 1 John 5:14-16
- 1 Chronicles 16:11
- Philippians 4:6
- Colossians 4:2
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- Ephesians 6:18
- Romans 12:12
I would encourage you to take one or two of these scriptures to read each day, let them fill you and remind you just how important it is to keep a healthy prayer life, and in communication with God!
Are you looking for some tools and tips to boost your prayer life? If so, be sure to visit our Prayer Resources Library where you’ll find everything you need to become a powerful prayer warrior!
The Importance of Prayer
Now that we have seen some powerful examples of prayer in the Bible, and even Jesus himself praying, we can truly get a sense of how important it is to our Christian life.
Prayer can also look different at different times in life and circumstances! It’s not a one size fits all type of thing, where you need to have all quiet and no distractions.
For example, there were times when my daughter was a baby that I would pray over her in whispers as I was rocking her to sleep.
Sometimes I would pray with my thoughts as I was looking at her playing or doing something, and sometimes out loud with her which would open up great opportunities for teaching her how to pray .
However, there are times when we need to get away and be completely alone with God, just like we talked about Jesus doing. But God always wants to hear our prayers, no matter what circumstance we are in or who is around!
Here are even more reasons why prayer is so important…(be sure to share this importance of prayer quotes to encourage others in their prayer life!)
Prayer is Important Because it Holds Power
First and foremost, pray is important because it holds such power.
Christians, we must believe in the power of prayer and what it can do! God still performs miracles to this day!!
We have seen the sick healed, the lost found, and so many other miraculous things! God has not changed, and neither has the power of prayer.
Prayer is Important Because it is How God Communicates With Us
Prayer opens the door between us and God.
A daily prayer of gratitude is how we can come before Him, thank Him, praise Him, ask of Him, and one way that He chooses to answer His people.
When we are in communication with God, we know what He wants us to do and how to live out our daily lives.
Constant communication with him through prayer and listening helps us be less confused, worried, and, fearful.
Prayer is Important Because it is an Act of Obedience
Not only is prayer important because of its power and how we communicate with God, but it’s also an act of obedience for believers.
Just like we already talked about, Jesus prayed to stay in communication with the Father. In fact, the Bible tells us Jesus did NOTHING apart from what The Father told him to do. How did he find out what to do?
We are called to obey Him and His command for us to be more like Jesus every single day. It’s an act of obedience and shows that we love Him and trust Him!
It’s not a chore to do or something on a list to make sure we check off every day. It’s real communication with Him because we went to be obedient followers of Christ!
Prayer is Important Because it Protects Your Mind
Prayer is so important because it protects our minds from evil thoughts.
When we are praying and meditating on scripture, any thought that comes into our brain that isn’t from God or in HIS mind about us, are not thoughts we want in there.
Satan doesn’t always tempt us with this huge, big, GREAT sin that we would obviously say no to. Rather, he looks for small little compromises to put in front of us.
This movie isn’t THAT bad. This song only has a few cruse words. A little gossip is okay, this one time .
See how easily it can creep up?? We must be on guard and pray that God protects our minds, and not give Satan a foothold.
Prayer is Important Because it Opens Your Eyes
This kind of goes back to our first point on the power of prayer, because prayer is the only thing that can truly open our eyes.
When we pray and ask God to reveal things to us, He reveals those things according to His will and His purposes. Prayer is the avenue that allows this to happen!
It also goes the same way when praying for unbelievers – we can’t save anybody ourselves.
But, we can pray for God to open their eyes and let the truth be revealed to them! Whether that is through us planting the seed, watering it, or seeing them finally come to salvation, we pray regardless because it’s powerful.
There are so many biblical reasons WHY prayer is important, what the Bible says about it, and even tons of prayer scriptures to encourage you in doing it.
I hope this helps you understand just how important prayer is, and that you will fuel that desire to pray continually without ceasing. Be encouraged and pray continually!
Be sure to download and share our free importance of prayer quotes with others!
Mindy blogs over at Mindy Jones Blog where she writes about Christian motherhood, encouraging moms to raise godly kids with practical tips, resources, and authenticity.
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ESSAY ON IMPORTANCE OF NAMAZ IN LIFE
Namaz is the key to success. It is not only a saying but a truth of this universe. Without Namaz there is neither present life nor eternal. With Namaz Allah (S.W.T) gives peace to our hearts. A person who is habitual of offering five times Namaz a day cannot live in peace without offering it. When a person is habitual of offering five times namaz it becomes a part of his life and he cannot be in peace without Namaz then.
Namaz is one of the five obligatory pillars of Islam. Namaz is a religious duty which one has to offer at any cost five times a day. There are relaxations in the styles of offering of Namaz if someone is sick or physically challenged etc, but to skip Namaz is not an option in Islam.
Before Namaz ablution (wuzu) is compulsory in a way that is defined in Islam. Muslims have to offer five times Namaz which are Fajar, Zohar, Asar, Magrib and Isha. Fajar is before sunrise, Zohar in the afternoon, Asar in the evening, Magrib near sunset and Isha late evening.
There are more kinds of Namaz which are on two Eid Festivals, Namaz-e-Janaza on funeral of a Muslim, Namaz-e-Jumma in the afternoon of each Friday in place of Zohar.
OTHER ESSAYS
By Namaz we come closer to Allah (S.W.T) and have an opportunity to directly pray to Him and pray with more focus and spiritual feeling.
Offering Namaz as one unit in a mosque behind Imam gives a message to the whole world. When we offer Namaz, we stand in a firm row, shoulder to shoulder, no priority to anyone on the other. Poor and rich stand in one row and offer Namaz behind Imam. It gives a message to the whole world that Muslim community is united.
Without Namaz a Muslim is incomplete and cannot find peace in his life. And to be successful in this world and eternal life Namaz is the key to success.
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Home > Bible Verses > The Importance of Prayer: 10 Reasons Why We Pray
Bible Verses
The Importance of Prayer: 10 Reasons Why We Pray
Modified: January 9, 2024
Written by: Cherin
What is prayer? Why is it important? Find out the importance of prayer and how it can help us to grow in spirit and character.
- Christian prayer
- how to pray to God
- importance of prayer
- power of prayer
- prayer for faith
- prayer for strength and hope
- prayer to god
- praying to God
- what is prayer
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The importance of prayer is often overlooked. Most of us just pray for God to help us, or to bless us. And most of the time because of our busy lives, prayer is like an afterthought. But why is prayer important? In fact, what is prayer? In this article, we look at the definition of prayer and 10 reasons why we pray. Then, we can understand the power of prayer that God has so lovingly bestowed upon us.
What is Prayer?
Christian prayer is our way of communicating with God. Just like how a child talks and listens to their father, prayer is how we as Christians and children of God converse with Him. And everyone’s conversation with God is different. That is why prayer is the most intimate form of communication that directly connects us to God on a personal level.
Praying to God is simple – all you really have to do is speak to Him with a genuine heart. And the Bible also makes it clear that prayer is really that straightforward. If we call upon the name of the Lord and come to Him in prayer, God listens to us. (Jeremiah 29:12). Prayer is freely given to us by God, which is why we need to understand the importance of prayer. I like a quote by Hudson Taylor that captures the true importance of prayer – “When you work, you work. But when you pray, God works.”.
Read more : How To Pray With A Heart That Desires God
10 Reasons To Know The Importance of Prayer
1. praying to god helps us to grow closer to god.
If I can sum up the importance of prayer into one big reason, it would be this: prayers help us grow closer to God. When we pray, we are welcoming God to be in every part of our lives. The more you spend time talking and listening to God through prayer, the more we draw closer to Him and know more of Him. And thus, God naturally draws close to us too.
If God is close to us, what else do we have to fear? What else do we have to achieve? Nothing! Just like Paul, we can live fearlessly and courageously because we know that our mighty God is for and with us.
Psalm 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
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2. Prayer Helps Us To Align Ourselves with God’s Will
When we pray, we are also aligning ourselves with God’s will. We are asking Him to lead us and help us in our journey through life. Prayer is a way for us to surrender our lives to God and trust that He will lead us down the path He has planned for us. When we take the time to pray, we are opening up a dialogue with our Creator. We are able to hear from Him and understand His heart for us.
Additionally, through prayer, we are able to discern the will of God for our lives. As we spend time talking to God and listening for His guidance, He will begin to reveal His plans for our lives. And as we surrender our plans to Him, He will begin to work in ways that we never could have imagined because His plans and ways are higher than ours. That is the importance of prayer.
Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
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3. Prayer Shows You That Your Life is Not About You
Not only will praying help us to align to God’s will, but it also helps us come to terms with reality – life is indeed not about us after all. It has and always been about God and fulfilling His will on earth as it is in heaven. Prayer helps us to acknowledge that God is the center of the universe and in control.
Prayer is important because it also helps us to realize that others’ needs can also come before ours, especially when we pray for others. When we do so, we are putting others at the forefront of our minds. In a world that propagates self-centeredness, the importance of prayer cannot be slighted. It helps us to be humble and compassionate toward others.
John 17:15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
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Read more : Know The Power Of Prayer
4. Prayer Gives Us Strength and Hope
It can be easy to feel like we are alone when things are tough, but God is always with us. When we pray, we are reminded that He is in control and will help us through whatever situation we are facing. Prayer for strength can help us get through anything life throws our way because God is always there for us. He will always give us the strength and hope we need to get through anything. So don’t be afraid to pray, because God is always listening and ready to help.
If you’re feeling lost or scared, take a few minutes to pray and ask God for strength and hope. Take some time to also pray the Armor of God prayer daily to help us overcome our battles.
Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
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5. Praying Gives Us Wisdom and Guidance
Sometimes we pray to seek God’s wisdom and guidance, especially during times we need to make an important decision. When the going gets rough and we don’t know what to do, it’s important to remember that we can always seek guidance from God. Prayer is the perfect way to welcome God to help us. When we pray for wisdom, we are asking God to help us understand what we should do in a certain situation. And when we pray for guidance , we are asking God to show us the path that we should take.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
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6. Prayers Will Increase Our Faith
Another importance of prayer is that it puts our faith into action. We are acknowledging that God is real and that He is in control. That even though we have not received the answers yet, we are already believing that it has been done because God has already answered it. When we make time to talk to God, it helps us keep our focus on Him and His promises instead of our circumstances.
But bear in mind that prayer is not just about us asking God for things. It’s also about us listening to what He has to say. We can learn so much about His will for our lives when we take the time to be still and listen to Him. When we hear from God, it gives us the courage to step out in faith and obey His commands. So if you are looking for ways to increase your faith, start with prayer. It is one of the best things that you can do.
1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith might not rest on human wisdom but on God’s power .
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7. Prayers Bring Peace and Comfort
The importance of prayer is also evident when trouble comes. In this fast-paced life, we are constantly bombarded with stress and anxiety from work, school, and other responsibilities. Sometimes, it can all feel too overwhelming and we just need a break. That is why we need prayers for peace for the kind of comfort only God can provide.
Whenever we pray, we are reminded that we are not alone in this world and that God is always with us. He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:16). So even when everything else seems to be falling apart, we can find hope and peace in Him through prayer.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God , which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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Read more : Pray for One Another: The Biblical Truth
8. To Seek God’s Forgiveness and Resist Temptation
When we are guilt-ridden because of sin, prayer is the most powerful tool we can use to seek the Lord’s forgiveness as we come to Him in repentance. Prayer allows us to pour our hearts to God, confessing our sins and asking for His forgiveness. When we are sincere in our prayer, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
In addition, prayer is essential and is a crucial tool that helps us resist temptation. When we are feeling weak and tempted to sin, we can pray for God’s strength to help us overcome. Additionally, prayer gives us the opportunity to ask God for wisdom on how to avoid future temptations.
Psalm 86:5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good , abounding in love to all who call to you.
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9. To Give Thanks and Praise
We pray not only to ask things from God but also to give Him thanks and praise for who He is and all that He has done in our lives. Essentially, prayer helps us to count our blessings. Prayer allows us to remember all of the good things that God has done in our lives, no matter how big or small. We are also able to reflect on His abounding grace and mercy.
Our gratitude through our prayers is also an act of honoring Him. It is an acknowledgment that everything we have and all the battles that we have won are because of God who loves us so. That is why prayer is important for us to exalt God and show our love for Him.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights .
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10. To Experience God’s Miracles
Prayer also gives us an opportunity to experience God’s miracle. It allows us to tap into His infinite power that is much greater than ourselves. When we do that, amazing things can happen. When we pray, we are putting our trust in God and asking him to intervene in our lives. Sometimes, we may not even know the things to pray for. But that’s okay! God knows what we need and he is always ready to answer our prayers. We only need to look around us.
There are countless examples of people who have experienced amazing miracles as a result of prayer. Whether it’s healing from a serious illness, overcoming addiction, or finding a job when you’re unemployed, God can work wonders in your life if you let Him. This is the importance of prayer.
Job 5:9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
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How To Pray to God
When you pray, you are talking to God. It is a conversation between you and Him. There is no wrong way to pray. Like how Max Lucado puts it, “our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.”
If you aren’t too sure how to pray, here are the 15 most powerful prayers in the Bible that you can follow too. But, the one prayer that I always pray is the Lord’s Prayer by Jesus Christ himself:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Read more : Prayer of Repentance in the Bible: Its Significance and Meaning
7 Steps We Can Learn From The Lord’s Prayer
1. Declaration of God’s identity. Declare and acknowledge God’s rightful place as the Father of us.
2. Prayer of Adoration. Praise God for who He is and all that He has done for us.
3. Prayer of Surrender and Faith. Acknowledge that it is God’s Will and He is in control of our lives. This is one of the greatest forms of submission.
4. Prayer of Petition. Ask in God’s name for the things that we need such as strength, guidance, and wisdom to overcome whatever circumstance we might be facing.
5. Prayer of Confession and Forgiveness. We should always confess our sins so that we can receive forgiveness from God.
6. Prayer of Healing and Deliverance. Ask God for protection and help in overcoming our sins, to deliver us from Satan’s temptations so that we may achieve healing.
7. Glorify God’s name. When we glorify God’s name, we are bringing Him honor and He takes delight in that.
And if you don’t know how to get started, just say a simple prayer like this:
“Father, I praise You for the magnificent, loving, and merciful God that You are. I thank You for Your Son, Jesus. I confess that I have sinned against You and ask for Your forgiveness. Please help me to forgive others as You have forgiven me. I pray that Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Please meet my daily needs and help me share the gospel with others. Protect me from evil and give me the strength to overcome temptation. All the glory, honor, and praises are Yours alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Short Prayer Quotes
“True prayer is a way of life, not just for use in cases of emergency. Make it a habit, and when the need arises you will be in practice.” – Billy Graham
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“Prayer lays hold of God’s plan and becomes the link between his will and its accomplishment on earth. Amazing things happen, and we are given the privilege of being the channels of the Holy Spirit’s prayer.” – Elisabeth Elliot
Image by Lachlan Gowen on Unsplash
“The reality is, my prayers don’t change God. But, I am convinced prayer changes me. Praying boldly boots me out of that stale place of religious habit into authentic connection with God Himself.” – Lysa TerKeurst
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“True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that – it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” – Charles Spurgeon
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“Prayer is simply talking to God like a friend and should be the easiest thing we do each day.” – Joyce Meyer
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Importance of Prayer
There are many religions in our world. Each religion follows different rules and traditions. One of the common things they all do is pray. Prayer helps to keep people connected with God. For some people, it is actually like a ray of hope. It makes them feel as if someone of supreme power is present to help them.
Prayers can be of different types. You can pray in a church, temple or even at your own home. No matter where you pray, the ultimate aim of everyone is to talk to God about their sorrows and happiness.
Do you know the importance of prayer? If not, this article will help you understand the significance of praying.
- Gives Confidence – Prayer helps a lot of people to stay confident. Through praying, they feel as if someone is out there to protect them from all the miseries and sorrow. This will give them a hope to live and move ahead in their lives with more confidence .
- Gives a Sense of Morality – Ethics is very important to be a responsible individual. It prevents people from doing immoral things. Prayer steers everyone in the right path. People who pray will have a better understanding of what is right and wrong.
- Brings Peace in Life – Prayer is one of the best methods to bring peace in a person’s life. Rather than quarrelling with others, people will realize the importance of harmony to have a healthy and fruitful life. In short, prayer helps to carve out a better character in a person.
- Helps in Healing – Different people have different types of problems and worries in their lives. Regardless if you are physically or mentally troubled, prayer helps to heal your body and mind. It encourages people to stay optimistic in life.
- Imparts Wisdom – People who pray tend to be more mature and wise compared to those who do not pray. They will also understand the true meaning of life.
- Helps to Forgive – People always find it hard to forgive those who have hurt them. It is not always possible to forget and move ahead in our lives. Prayer makes people more forgiving. It evokes a realization in people that there is no use in carrying forward the revenge and bitterness towards other people in your life. It helps people to come out of their sorrows and forgive those who were partly or wholly responsible for them.
- Becomes Responsible – Praying is one of the most important factors which makes a person responsible. We all get distracted at times. Praying helps everyone to stay on track and perform their tasks properly. Also, different religions have different types of holy books. All these books have stories with morals and advice which make people realize the importance of doing their jobs and other tasks at the right time. Hence, people will become more responsible and refrain from postponing their tasks.
- Boosts Energy – Knowing that there will be someone to help us in all points of time is definitely an energy booster. It helps people to lead their life happier and peacefully. Prayer, to be precise gives more energy to people. It will also help people to become successful in their life.
- Creates Empathy – It is important to understand the emotions and feeling of other people. If not, we may unknowingly create a bitterness or enmity with others. Praying makes people more patient. Hence, they will take proper time to understand what others are going through. Empathizing with people will help to create a better bond between them which indeed brings peace to our lives.
- Reduces Stress and Anxiety – One of the major factors which harms our health is stress. Prayer encourages people to eliminate this stress and concentrate on our deeds. It tries to make people understand that there is no point in being overly anxious over your past actions. Hence, prayer helps people to stay healthy.
- Reduce Disappointment – We all would have felt disappointed at some point in our life. Due to this disappointment, some people hesitate to try again or move ahead with their tasks. Praying helps most of the people to come out of this despair. It makes people realize the importance of hard work. Hence, people who pray will have more patience to try again and succeed in their life.
Also read: Importance of Atheism
From a broader perspective, we can say that prayer not only helps to stay connected with God but it also promotes health and prosperity. Praying helps to heal people rapidly from all the mishaps that have happened in people’s lives.
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Why Is Prayer Important?
Scriptures tell us several reasons to pray. Let's take a look at why it's important to pray and the benefits of prayer that you can begin to experience today.
Prayer is important because it makes us more like Jesus and because it reveals to us the heart and mind of God.
When we look at the spiritual powerhouses of the past, we know that prayer was immensely important to them. C.S Lewis stated: “I pray because I can’t help myself. ... I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God. It changes me.” And Martin Luther: “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer
How do ordinary people live up to that, and why should we? Ordinary people can’t be expected to drop everything to pray, right? Actually, ordinary people can’t afford not to pray. Prayer is a gift given to us—and an activity expected of us—by the Lord. The Bible often says, “ when you pray,” not “ if you pray,” because prayer seems to be assumed of God’s followers.
Let's take a look at what Scripture says about prayer:
- "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people ." ( Ephesians 6:18 )
- "Pray continually." ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17 )
- "Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray." ( James 5:13 )
- "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." ( Romans 12:12 )
- "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." ( Philippians 4:6 )
- "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." ( James 4:8 )
Praying because we’re “supposed to” isn’t always enough to motivate us, but the truth is that prayer is much more than a rule.
The Importance of Prayer
1. prayer makes us more like jesus..
If we look at the life of Jesus, we see that he prayed—with others ( Luke 9:28 ), for others ( Matthew 19:13-14 ), and on his own ( Luke 5:16 , Luke 6:12 ). It was a fundamental part of how he approached each day and every decision, retreating faithfully to spend time with his Father.
Clearly prayer was important to Jesus—it was his lifeline and his connection to the Heavenly Father. It equipped him for the battles he was about to face. It kept alive the intimate relationship that sustained him. And it revealed to him God’s desires and direction.
If the goal of a Christian is to become more like Jesus, that process should include imitating his actions and living out his words. As we pray, we will become more like Jesus, and we will find that prayer changes us.
2. Prayer shows us the heart of God.
When Jesus prayed for his disciples in John 17 , he prayed for those who would believe in him, “ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you ” ( John 17:21 ).
Prayer helps us become one with the Father and have the kind of relationship Jesus had with him. The Bible is filled with stories illustrating God’s desire to have an intimate relationship with his people, and any close relationship involves communication. When two people have no contact with each other, their relationship will never advance. And since prayer is, quite simply, a conversation with God, it is how we get to know him.
When we come into his presence, all pretense is gone—there is no longer anything to hide because he sees all and knows all. Prayer humbles us because as we spend time with him, we realize how powerful and able and good God is and how much we need him. And yet, God accepts us as we are—not because he wants us to stay that way, but because he knows that the relationship comes first.
As we grow to love him, we will want to become more like him. When we find forgiveness through prayer, God softens our heart and allows us to forgive others. When we experience God’s compassion and mercy, we will share that with others. When we understand that God’s grace is freely given, we recognize that no one is any more or less deserving of God’s love than we are, and it transforms our hearts and our actions, helping us reveal God’s generous love to others.
3. Prayer reveals the wisdom of God.
The best part about prayer is that it’s a conversation that goes both directions. Yes, we will talk to God , but when we spend time with him and are willing to receive, we will also hear from him. James 1:5 says, “ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you .”
Jesus prayed all night before selecting the 12 apostles ( Luke 6:12-16 ), and he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane to try to ascertain God’s will regarding what God was asking him to do. His time in prayer helped align his will with that of the Father, just as our time with God will do for us. After getting in touch with the heart of God and realizing how much he loves us, we will learn to trust him and value his insight and guidance.
As we spend time talking to God, he aligns our will with his, changing the way we experience a situation and respond to a problem.
Sometimes we miss his answers (because we’re not listening or we’re expecting a different answer so we don’t recognize it when it comes), and other times the answer comes through reading the Bible or talking to others, but God will answer. His wisdom far exceeds our own because he sees farther and loves deeper and has his sights set on an eternity with those he loves, not just gratification in the immediate moment. There is no one else who can see and know what he does, and he delights to share his wisdom with us in prayer.
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Five Benefits of Prayer
In her article, What are Some Benefits of Prayer? , Danielle Bernock outlines several of the benefits of having a prayer life. Let's take a look at five.
1. Prayer changes our focus. It’s easy to get caught up in the circumstances going on around us, good or bad. Praying directs our focus away from here on earth to God in heaven.
2. Prayer brings us closer to God. Because prayer is communicating with God, it helps us build our relationship with him. It’s one of the many ways we can get to know him better.
3. Prayer ushers us into God’s presence. In the Old Testament, people needed the priests or prophets to talk to God for them. But when Jesus died, the veil in the temple was torn in two, opening the way for us to talk to God ourselves.
4 . Prayer helps calm us. The world is full of things that bring anxiety into our lives and prayer can restore our peace.
5. Prayer brings about change. The familiar phrase prayer changes things is true. Sometimes the things that change are circumstances, while other times we are the thing that prayer changes.
Kelly O’Dell Stanley is the author of Praying Upside Down and Designed to Pray . A graphic designer who writes (or is it a writer who designs?), she’s also a redhead who’s pretty good at controlling her temper, a believer in doing everything to excess, and a professional wrestler of doubt and faith. She offers free monthly prayer prompt calendars at kellyostanley.com and calls small-town Indiana her home.
A Daily Prayer
God, thank you for being a loving father who wants to hear from us and for the gift of prayer that allows us to come into your presence. Help me open my eyes to the ways I can spend more of my day with you. I want to know you better and seek your goodness in my life. Thank you for the strength you provide when we are weak. In Jesus name, Amen
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Wavebreakmedia
This article is part of Christianity.com's prayer answers including famous, topical prayers and information about the power of prayer. Find more related articles in the collection of prayers below:
The Serenity Prayer , The Lord's Prayer , Morning Prayers , Prayers for Healing , Thanksgiving Prayers , Advent Prayers , Christmas Prayers , Prayers for Peace , Prayers for Protection , Prayers for Strength , Praying in the Spirit .
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نماز پر مضمون
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ارکانِ اسلام
ارکان رکن کی جمع ہے جس کے معنی “ستون” کے ہیں۔ رکن کسی ایسی چیز کو کہتے ہیں جس پر کسی عمارت کے قائم رہنے کا دارومدار ہو۔ یہاں ارکانِ اسلام سے مراد دین کے وہ بنیادی اصول و اعمال ہیں جن پر اسلام کی پوری عمارت قائم ہے۔ رَسُولَ اللہِ صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم کا ارشاد گرامی ہے : “اسلام کی عمارت پانچ ستونوں پر اٹھائی گئی ہے۔ (۱) اس بات کی شہادت کہ اللہ کے سوا کوئی معبود نہیں اور یہ کہ حضرت محمد صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم اللہ کے بندے اور اس کے (آخری) رسول ہیں۔ اور نماز قائم کرنا۔ اور زکوٰۃ دینا۔ اور حج کرنا۔ اور رمضان کے روزے رکھنا۔” (بخاری – مسلم)
نماز اسلام کا دوسرا رُکن ہے۔ اسلام ایک مکمل اور جامع نظام حیات ہے۔ وہ اپنے پیروکاروں کو چند اعتقادات ہی دے دینے پر اکتفا نہیں کرتا بلکہ ان کی پوری زندگی کو ان اعتقادات کے سانچے میں ڈھالنے کے لیے عبادات کا ایک نظام مقرر کرتا ہے۔ نماز دینِ اسلام کا اہم جُز ہے۔ ارشادِ ربانی ہے : “قائم رکھو نماز اور مت ہو شرک کرنے والوں میں.” (سورۃ الروم : ۳۱)
نماز کی تاکید
اللہ پاک نے قرآنِ کریم میں بارہا نماز پڑھنے کی تاکید ہے۔ اسی طرح ہمارے نبی ﷺ نے بھی نماز پڑھنے کی تاکید کی ہے۔ رَسُولَ اللہِ صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم نے ارشاد فرمایا : “دین کی اصل بنیاد خدا اور رسول کے سامنے سر تسلیم خم کردینا ہے اور اس عمارت کا ستون نماز ہے۔” قرآن مجید میں نماز کے لیے “صلوٰۃ” کا لفظ استعمال کیا گیا ہے جس کے لغوی معنی دعا کے ہیں لیکن شریعت کے مطابق نماز اس خاص طریقے سے عبادت کرنے کا نام ہے جو ہمارے نبی نے ہمیں بتایا ہے۔ نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم نے ارشاد فرمایا : “(قیامت کے روز) سب سے پہلے نماز کے متعلق سوال کیا جائے گا.” اور مسلمانوں کو تاکید کی کہ وہ نماز ادا کریں اور اللہ کے حضور پوچھے جانے والے سوالات کی تیاری کریں۔
اللہ تعالیٰ کا عذاب
نماز کی اہمیت کا اندازہ ہمیں مندرجہ ذیل قرآنی آیت سے ہوتا ہے۔ “(وہ بولے) ہم نہ تھے نماز پڑھتے۔” (سورۃ المدثر : ۴۳) اس آیت کا مفہوم یہ کہ جب فرشتے عذاب پانے والے لوگوں سے عذاب کی وجہ دریافت کریں گے تو وہ کہیں گے کہ ہم دنیا میں نماز نہیں پڑھا کرتے تھے۔ یعنی جو شخص اس دنیا میں نماز کو چھوڑے گا وہ آخرت میں اللہ کے عذاب کا شکار ہوگا۔
نماز کی اہمیت و فوائد
نماز پڑھتے وقت انسان اپنے رب سے چپکے چپکے بات کرتا ہے۔ اللہ پاک یوں تو ہر وقت ہر انسان کی جانب متوجہ ہے لیکن نماز کے وقت وہ اپنے بندے کی ہر بات کو سنتا ہے۔ ہمارے نبی صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم کا ارشادِ گرامی ہے : “جب تم میں سے کوئی نماز پڑھتا ہے تو گویا اپنے رب سے چپکے چپکے بات چیت کرتا ہے۔” (بخاری)
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18 Sep 2014 Importance of Salah (Prayer) According to the Holy Quran Salah is the major form of worship that a Muslim offers five times a day regularly. It is an obligation upon a Muslim and a Muslim is to offer no excuse when it comes to offering Salah.
Discover the facts, benefits and meaning of salah and prayer in Islam, one of the most important pillars of the Islamic faith. Learn more today.
"… And invoke (Allah's blessings) upon them ." [Quran 9: 103] Salah is the second pillar of Islam, after the Testimony of Faith by which one becomes Muslim. It is also the head of the physical acts of worship that was brought by all of Allah's Messengers.
Sheikh Ahmad Kutty 28 January, 2024 Salah is the most important pillar of Islam, second only to declaring the oneness of God. It is the first duty ordained upon every messenger from Adam to Muhammad. Allah told Prophet Musa (peace be upon him), " Truly I am God, there is no god but I.
According to the Islamic Shari'ah, Salah means a combination of specific sayings and actions that begin with the takbir and conclude with the taslim. It was named so because it includes prayer, which means supplication. The specific obligation of Salah is assigned five times for each day and night. It is considered to be a fundamental and ...
Though all have their place and importance, it is the formal, obligatory daily prayer, known as Salat, that forms the bulk of the prayers for the average Muslim. Salat is the second of the five pillars of Islam. The pillars of Islam are those basic actions and deeds that are all Muslims are obliged to fulfil.
Salah (Salat, Namaz) is the essential prayer to ALLAH by Muslims in supplication to Allah (S.W.T.). The term is usually used to allude to the five daily supplications to ALLAH, which are necessary for all mature Muslims. In addition, Salah is Islam's most significant demonstration of love (Ibadah, Ibadat).
Salah - The formal prayer. The five mandatory salat are spread over various parts of the day in such a way that the devotee is not only in contact with the Creator frequently and receives peace and blessings as his reward but also experiences physical well-being that has now been scientifically confirmed.[3,7,12] Importance of Salah can be appreciated from the following Hadith-The Messenger ...
Description: Prayer is a unique training and developmental program which, if well and devotedly performed, can achieve for a Muslim many valuable spiritual, physical, and ethical gains. The importance of the prayer in Islam cannot be understated. It is the first pillar of Islam that the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him ...
Salah (Arabic: صَلَاة or صَلَوٰة, romanized: ṣalāh, Arabic pronunciation:; pl. صَلَوَات or صَلَوَٰت, ṣalawāt, [sˤa.la.waːt]), also known as namaz (Persian: نَمَاز, romanized: namāz), is a form of worship performed by Muslims.Facing the direction of prayer, it is performed standing, bowing, and sitting in various stages, during which phrases from the ...
Salahs (Namaz) Spiritual benefits 1) To be and feel joy in the presence of Allah all mighty 2) Forgetting fear when in prayers knowing that you are in the Comfort of Allah all mighty 3) Purifying our sole from our sins 4) Being protected from Satan (devil) when performing the prayers 5) Routine & daily maintenance of faith and
Namaz noida police Quran As the Muslim prayer is under attack again, with Noida police banning religious congregations at parks in Sector 58, ThePrint brings you a lowdown on namaz and its importance.
Introduction Prayer, a universal phenomenon across cultures, is an integral part of human life. It's a spiritual practice that transcends religious boundaries, offering solace, hope, and a sense of connectedness. For many, it's an essential daily ritual, akin to eating or sleeping. The Psychological Benefits of Prayer
Here are twelve reasons, rooted in truth, why prayer is absolutely important! 12 Reasons Why Prayer Is Important 1. Prayer is important because it's a form of service. Defined as the action of helping or doing work for someone, a system supplying a public need, or to perform routine maintenance or repair work on. That's exactly why prayer ...
1. Prayer can help us focus on what is important. 2. Prayer can help us to stay hopeful in dark times. 3. Prayer can help us feel connected to God on a deeper level. 4. Prayer can help us deal with difficult emotions and situations. 5. Prayer can help us find comfort and peace. 6. Prayer can help us develop a stronger relationship with God. 7.
Prayer is a much more meaningful part of religion. We all need to pray, God himself demands us to pray. Prayer is defined as an act of God, a god or another object of worship, such as in devotion, confession, praise, or thanksgiving. When most people pray, they just say the same prayer, like the Lord's prayer for example.
Praying Have you ever asked yourself, "is prayer important?" For any follower of Christ, you would say yes, right?! But do we know the REAL reasons why prayer is so important and so VITAL to us as believers? The importance of prayer in our lives is a crucial element to growing stronger in your faith and being obedient to God.
Answers If we read the Bible and are obedient to Scripture, why is it important to pray? From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham Every person whose life has ever counted for God has been a person of prayer. We are called to follow Christ's example, and His whole life was saturated with prayer.
by Jawwad Jalal - April 04, 2022 0 ESSAY ON IMPORTANCE OF NAMAZ IN LIFE Namaz is the key to success. It is not only a saying but a truth of this universe. Without Namaz there is neither present life nor eternal. With Namaz Allah (S.W.T) gives peace to our hearts.
(Jeremiah 29:12). Prayer is freely given to us by God, which is why we need to understand the importance of prayer. I like a quote by Hudson Taylor that captures the true importance of prayer - "When you work, you work. But when you pray, God works.". Read more: How To Pray With A Heart That Desires God 10 Reasons To Know The Importance of Prayer
Prayer, to be precise gives more energy to people. It will also help people to become successful in their life. Creates Empathy - It is important to understand the emotions and feeling of other people. If not, we may unknowingly create a bitterness or enmity with others. Praying makes people more patient.
4. Prayer helps calm us. The world is full of things that bring anxiety into our lives and prayer can restore our peace. 5. Prayer brings about change. The familiar phrase prayer changes things is true. Sometimes the things that change are circumstances, while other times we are the thing that prayer changes.
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