All in Good Faith

Author(s): Jean Potter, Marcus Braybrooke
Publisher: World Congress of Faiths

Page 53

All in Good Faith
directives to his followers before his death, he emphasised the importance of safeguarding and promoting its observance. Prayer in Islam is a beautiful exercise in meditation through which a Muslim is able to forge a direct link with God. Thus it is not only an obligation, but also a gift and privilege. When a person neglects the worship of God he loses contact with Him and his sense of direction in life becomes faulty. He loses spiritual guidance that comes from submission and obedience to God and a person may become an easy prey for the evil influences of selfishness which confront every soul throughout every aspect of daily life. The spiritual vacuum created when prayer is neglected is soon filled with greed, prejudice, envy and other sins.
Where there is no prayer there can be no purification of the soul. It cleanses inner being, giving a fresh outlook on life and release from self-deception and conceit and an outer expression of an inner condition of belief and trust. The Holy Prophet once said: "What stands between a man and disbelief is the abandonment of his Prayer to God'. Prayer in Islam is truly an act of worship to God. Worship means serving and obeying God in all aspects of life. Worship means that whatever is done in the world, it should be in accordance with God's guidance. Whether we sleep, wake, eat, drink or work-in fact, whatever activity we do - we are worshipping God if these activities are done in love of and obedience to Him. Performing the prayer regularly serves as a repeated reminder to the Muslim during the day and night of his relationship with his Creator. No matter how faithful an individual may be, such reminders are essential, for man's involvement in his human concerns and activities is so engrossing that it is very easy to lose sight of one's relationship with God, his place in the total scheme of things, his responsibilities, and his ultimate goal. It is precisely for this reason that worship does not require giving up the day to day world and sitting in a corner chanting God's name. For Islam is not a mere matter of doctrinal faith; it is a way of life to be lived in practice. Islam means surrendering to God and fighting against evil. Its essential message is : always remain prepared to obey God at a moment's notice. The Prayer, five times a day tests again and again whether a Muslim is prepared for this noble cause. Those who claim to be Muslims are tested to see whether they can put their claim into practice. If they cannot, their faith is of little value to Islam. For only they find the prayer hard and unwelcome whose hearts are devoid of reverence to God and who are not ready to live in submission to God.
Regular observance of Prayer is an excellent training for punctuality, and obedience to God in other commandments. Prayer involves a Muslim in community life, serious study, strict discipline, and true faith in the Creator. Mere verbal adherence to the creed of Islam is not enough. Prayer is an accepted practical expression for making a statement of faith. Basically
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