We can live life pretty well without prayer.
Even as a Christian, I can do just about everything without asking for God’s help. I have no urgency to pray. When there is a crisis – health problems, major decisions, a special need such as a job – then the need for prayer is apparent.
But prayer should not be about whether or not I need God’s help to determine whether or not I pray.
Prayer is about wanting a richer and more meaningful life.
I’ve learned that a life of greater depth and a more satisfying relationship with God can only be attained if I pray.
Without prayer, I can still enjoy my life. But I can only see life one dimensional, a little blurry, from a worldly point of view.
When I sit down with God in prayer, I sense a filling of my spirit, a thirst being quenched yet not completely satisfied. There continues a beckoning to a deeper communion.
Having a praying life allows me to see my life through a sharper lens. I understand circumstances better, I am more in tune to God’s will, and I have more motivation to live a better life.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:04 am
Hello again. I was moved by this blog, and felt the need to respond. I was a Christian for 35 years, then I converted to Islam in 2005. It is a beautiful religion and has brought me closer to God. Although God loves us to pray in tough / hard times, it is good to Pray to keep in touch with God. When I was Christian, I always felt an obligation to keep prayer open throughout my day. Instead of listening to the radio in the car, I would pray, etc.. I just wanted to share this, I hope you enjoy,
Prayer in Arabic is Salaat. Muslims are required to pray five daily prayers. The required prayers are called Fardh (required). Muslims also pray optional or extra prayers called Sunnah or Nafil. The five required daily prayers are:
1. Fajir (Dawn) (2 rukas)
2. Dhuhur (Noon) (4 rukas)
3. Aasir (Late Afternnon) (4 rukas)
4. Maghrib (Sunset) (3 rukas)
5. I’sha (Evening) (4 rukas)
Each prayer consists of bowing and prostrating. One set of bowing and prostrating is called a Ruka. Some prayers, such as the Funeral prayer has no bowing or prostrating (ruka).
The Quran does not specifically mention the times or the number of prayers or the manner in which we pray. This was shown to Muslims by the Prophet Mohammed. Prayer is mentioned throughout the Quran numerously. Very often when prayer is mentioned, Zakat, charity or alms giving, is also mention. Muslim scholars view prayer and Zakat as being very important because they are mentioned so often in the Quran.
Prayer is a means to make mankind remember that there is a supreme power that we must not ignore. By having the prayer spread throughout the day, one is always involved in remembering God. You start your day remembering God and you end your day remembering God. And in the short period of the day, you remember God three other times. The benefit here is, if a person is going to commit some kind of sin, he may think twice about it before committing it since he may already have finished his prayer or is soon to begin a prayer.
How many people would commit a crime if they knew the judge was watching them actually commit the crime. They would most certainly be convicted of the crime since the judge actually saw the individual commit it. There would not be any kind of defense against it.
If a person does not think about God, he may forget that God sees everything we do and think. He sees within our hearts and knows our desires. When a person prays, he prays directly to God. Part of the prayer is to recite a surah (chapter) from the Quran called the Fatiha. In this surah we recite that God is the Owner of the Day of Judgment. If Muslims truly believe this then they must think twice before they commit a sin. For how could one say that God is the Owner of the Day of Judgment and then go and knowingly cheat someone. How could someone purposely kill another human being knowing that he will pay for this sin in the hereafter?