Why do we pray

Why do we pray? The rationale of pray= er

BS Foad, M.D 2010

We need Allah and we n= eed to pray to Him

Muslims are ordered to pray at certain times every day of their life. God gas no ne= ed for our prayers, therefore, prayer is for our own good. Prayer is supposed = to improve our character and behavior and make us better human beings.

“O people it is you who have need of Allah, but Allah is the One free of all wants, worthy of praise” Fatir 35: 15

Safeguard your prayers=

We safeguard our prayers by praying at the proper time and not delaying our prayers; praying with concentration, devotion and humility; praying in a qu= iet environment where we are not disturbed; not being preoccupied with other issues; and enjoying our prayers

“And establish r= egular prayers, for prayers have been ordained on the believers at

Stated times” An-Nesa’a= 4: 103

“And establish p= rayers and give charity” Al-Baqara 2: 43

Prayer teaches obedien= ce, devotion and humility

“Successful inde= ed are the believers, those who are humble and devoted in their prayers” Al-Mumenoun 23: 1 & 2

Prayer protects us fro= m sin and shameful deeds

“And establish r= egular prayer, for prayer protects from sin and shameful deeds; indeed the remembr= ance of Allah is greatest, and Allah knows well all that you do” Al-Ankabut 29: 45=

Learn from the QurR= 17;an that you recite in your prayers

“A book that we = sent to you, full of blessings, that they may consider its verses, and that peop= le of understanding may receive admonition” Sa’D 38: 29=

Prayer gives us peace = and security

“Man was created impatient, fretful when evil touches him, and niggardly when good reaches h= im: not so those devoted to their prayers..” Al-Ma’arij 70: 19-23

“Those who belie= ve and find peace and satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah. For without doubt = in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find peace and satisfaction” Ar-RaR= 17;d 13: 28 & 29

Prayer teaches patienc= e, discipline, commitment and understanding our priorities

To pray five times every day and to be punctual and not delay our prayers, and delay other activities instead, requires patience and commitment.

Prayer in congregation= allows Muslims to meet, know one another, help each other and work together: Frida= y, Night prayer in Ramadan & Eid prayers

The great reward for p= rayers

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) compared the daily prayers to a river where we can wash away our sins and earn God’s reward.

He also told us that each letter of the Qur’an that we recite earns us o= ne good deed. Good deeds atone for our bad deeds

The Qur’an opens our hearts so we are ready to receive God’s guidan= ce, His blessings and mercy, and is a cure for the ills in our hearts: “We send down of the Qur’an what is a cure and a mercy to those who belie= ve; to the unjust it causes nothing but loss after loss” Al-Israa 17: 82<= o:p>

There should be no separation between prayer and our every day activity:

How can a person be punctual in his prayers, yet he lies, cheats, beats his wife and is lazy at work? Any action that we do with good intention and is good = and useful is an act of worship to God: When we are honest and do our work to t= he best of our ability, then we are worshipping God, and our deed is no less valuable than our prayers. When we help those who need our help, we are also worshipping God, and our deed is no less than fasting.

Some people their pray= er is not accepted

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told us that some prayers are not accepted by Allah. When we pray absent-minded and not remembering Allah, we do not get the reward of o= ur prayers.