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Sincere Prayers of the Believers
Harun Yahya
Prayer
shows a deep sense of appreciating one’s weak and helpless state
before one’s Creator. It is a clear indication of the fact that
the human being is a frail creature who can never satisfy his needs
or attain his goals alone, unless they have Allah’s blessing.
Prayer is the purest, most explicit and most honest way of
expressing one’s status as a servant before one’s Creator. In
the Qur’an it is stated that a basic attribute of the believer is
his “calling on Allah morning and evening”:
“And
keep your soul content with those who call on their Lord morning
and evening, seeking His pleasure; and let not your eyes pass
beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; nor obey
any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us,
one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all
bounds.” (Sura Al-Kahf, 28)
The
true meaning and content of prayer should be well grasped, since
what most people understand by prayer considerably differs from
what the Qur’an actually tells us about it. This is solely
because information about prayer is mostly gathered from sources
outside the Qur’an, such as tradition, parents, ancestors, etc.
That is why the Qur’anic standpoint and the morale it inculcates
should be well comprehended.
The
Qur’an explains the kind of prayer which is made “with
humility” While praying, man should deeply recognize his
weaknesses and frailty in the presence of His Creator and feel that
he is desperately in need of His guidance. His prayer will thus
surely meet the criteria set by Allah, as stated in the following
verse:
“Call
on your Lord with humility and in private: for Allah does not love
those who trespass beyond bounds.” (Sura Al-A`raf, 55)
While
praying, man should certainly know that Allah will respond to his
call. He should be aware that Allah is the Master of all,
Omnipotent and Omniscient; that He is All-Knowing and All-Seeing.
In an ardent expectation, a believer never becomes despondent and
patiently awaits for the response of Allah. Having a firm belief in
His justice, he avoids taking an anxious and desperate attitude.
The mind of a believer adhering to the guidance of the Qur’an
never harbors doubts about the answer Allah would give to his call.
Anyone who is beset by doubts would from the very beginning display
a contradictory attitude to the reasoning of the Qur’an. Beneath
the very essence of prayer, there lies a sincere approach and deep
faith in Allah, as the Prophet Salih said, “...my Lord is always
near, and ready to answer.” (Sura Hud, 61) The believer fully
trusts in Allah.
However
the fact that Allah answers his servants’ calls does not
necessarily mean that the suppliant will get whatever he wishes.
This is because sometimes an individual may ask for something which
is harmful for him. Such a call will certainly not be answered, and
Allah will grant something better to his servant.
An
example given by a famous Islamic scholar Said an-Nurasi,
illustrates this subject very well. A physician is called to see a
sick child. The child asks the physician for a particular medicine
he likes. However, the physician knows from experience that that
particular medicine is no cure. So, he provides a totally different
treatment and heals his young patient.
Allah
totally encompasses man and knows exactly he his needs. He always
responds to a sincere call, yet His answer might not be in accord
with the desires of the devotee. As the Qur’an puts it: “You
may dislike a thing which is good for you, and love a thing which
is bad for you. But Allah knows, and you do not know.” (Sura
Al-Baqarah, 216)
Like
the child in the aforementioned example, a man may not distinguish
good from evil. Hence it is quite possible that he may be asking
his Creator for something detrimental: “The prayer that man
should make for good, he makes for evil; for man is given to hasty
(deeds).” (Sura Al-Isra’, 11)
Accordingly,
man should primarily seek the Will and Mercy of Allah. He should
ask Him for an honorable and mature soul. Allah knows what is best
for man. The prayer of Solomon sets a good example for all
believers: “...O my Lord! So order me that I may be grateful for
Your favors, which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and
that I may do good works that will please You...” (Sura An-Naml,
19)
Furthermore,
believers are welcome to ask for anything praised in the Qur’an.
In a sincere and honest spirit, man should not restrain himself
from asking for anything he would like to have. Allah knows exactly
what His servants wants. As a matter of fact, He is the One placing
all the desires and wishes in his soul.
Allah
answers the sincere prayers of the believers. The past communities
destroyed by the Prophet’s prayers are examples to this;
“They
(prophets) sought victory and decision (there and then), and
frustration was the lot of every powerful obstinate
transgressor.” (Sura Abraham, 15)
The
worshipper who prays realizes that Allah is All-Knowing and
All-Seeing and expresses his respect for and fear of Him. He never
hesitates to admit his status as a servant before Him.
Since
prayer is an important worship, it is not only done to make a wish.
Every need or wish signals the time of this worship. Since man
constantly needs and demands things, he should also pray
consistently. there of course, are particular times for prayer:
regular night and Morning Prayer times are mentioned in the
Qur’an as the proper moments for prayer in the Qur’an.
Nevertheless,
man should consistently pray all day long since every course of
action proceeds under the control of Allah. Man should turn to Him
for guidance and help in all his deeds. The believers who pray to
Allah, and turn to Him under all circumstances are described in
Sura Al `Imran, as “men who celebrate the praises of Allah,
standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides...” (Sura Al
`Imran, 191).
The
verse below is a key to understanding the significance of prayer:
“Say
(to the Rejecters): ‘My Lord would not care for you were not for
your prayer. But you have indeed rejected Him, and soon will come
the inevitable (punishment)!’” (Sura Al-Furqan, 77)
How
Pagans Pray
In
the Qur’an, one point is repeatedly stressed: now and then pagans
also pray to Allah. However a great difference exists between the
prayer of pagans and that of the believers.
The
believers turn to Allah under all circumstances. Whether in times
of ease or difficulty, their attitude never changes; they keep
praying being conscious of their frailty before Allah.
Pagans,
on the other hand, keep themselves constantly distant from Allah.
Only hardship makes them feel their weakness before Allah and leads
them to turn to Him. Their prayer said in times of trouble, is
indeed a sincere one. Yet, sooner do things take a turn for the
better than they forget that they prayed for the mercy of Allah and
remain ungrateful:
We
find several references in the Qur’an to this pagan attitude.
Here are some examples:
“When
misfortune befell man, He cried to Us in all postures- lying down
on his side, or sitting, or standing. But when We relieved his
affliction, he went on his way, as if he had never cried to Us for
our help. Thus the deeds of transgressors seem fair in their
eyes!” (Sura Yunus, 12)
“When
evil befalls men, they cry out to their Lord, turning back to Him
in repentance: but when He gives them a taste of His Mercy, behold,
some of them pay part-worship to other gods besides their Lord.”
(Sura Ar-Rum, 33)
In
some of the verses, the example of a ship is given. In a sinking
ship, man understands the emergency of his situation and sincerely
prays, expressing his repentance and asking for salvation. This is
surely a time of desperation when a person comprehends that no
other soul can save him. It is then that he turns to Allah.
However, when Allah rescues him, he again assumes his former
attitude. This is certainly a great distortion of true piety:
“It
is He Who enables them to travel over land and sea. They board
their ships; they set sail, rejoicing in a favorable wind. Then
comes a raging tempest and the waves surge upon them from all
sides, and they think they are being overwhelmed. They cry out to
Allah, sincerely offering their allegiance to Him saying, “If you
deliver us from this, peril, we shall truly show our gratitude!”
But when He delivers them, behold! They transgress insolently in
the land in defiance of right! O mankind! Your insolence is against
your own souls. Take your enjoyment in this life: in the end, to Us
you shall return, and We shall show you the truth of all that you
have done.” (Sura Yunus, 22-23)
Believers
should constantly pray to Allah and put their trust in Him, knowing
that there is no one else to help or guard them. The believer
attains true gratification only when he asks for the help of Allah.
He feels the security of being cared for and guarded by his
Creator. This is the highest degree of happiness that one can ever
attain both in this world and the Hereafter. Thus, prayer is a
source of great satisfaction which will also continue in the
Hereafter. The Qur’an states that believers will keep praying
also in the Hereafter:
“Those
who believe, and do good works will be guided by their Lord because
of their faith: beneath them will flow rivers in gardens of bliss.
(This will be) their cry therein: “Glory be to You, O Allah!”
And “Peace” will be their greeting therein! And the close of
their invocation will be: “Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and
Sustainer of the worlds!” (Sura Yunus, 9-10)
Courtesy
www.harunyahya.com
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