Chapter - PRAYER SERVICE: Prayer in Islam
"Surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil; and certainly the remembrance of Allah is the greatest (force) and Allah knows what you do" (Holy Qur'an 29:45)
Surely the best way to strive to be upright in a sinful world is to pray continuously to the One True God, whose proper name is Allah, for guidance.
As we are generally sinful and easily yield to temptations, it is only fitting to keep up prayer.
Allah, the One True God, has blessed us with the universe. A sun to shine and brighten up the heavens, giving light for us to see; warmth enabling us to live, and causing vegetation to grow and all life to exist. We reside on the planet through His will, so why should we not pray and continuously thank him for this privilege?
He it is who created the atmosphere for us to breathe. He it is who created all good vegetation for us to eat, plus the fowl and other animals which we partake of daily. He it is who created the beautiful atmosphere in which we live, and which we, with our own hands, mutilate and destroy for lack of proper guidance.
We cannot improve upon the nature in which Allah (God) has created all beautiful things, yet we try. We cannot substitute the original beauty with artificial creations, yet we try. So let us realize the power of Allah, that without Him we cannot exist, and make obeisance to Allah through our prayers to Him.
Prayer is obligatory in Islam (the true religion). "And remember Allah's favor upon you and the covenant which He made with you, when you said, "We hear and we obey," and fear Allah. Surely Allah knows well what is in our minds.
"O ye who believe! Be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bearing witness in equity; and let not a people's enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice," says the Holy Qur'an. Be always just; that is nearer righteousness. And fear Allah. Surely Allah is aware of what you do.
Allah has promised those who believe and do good deeds that they shall have forgiveness and a great reward (Holy Qur'an 8:10).
We owe our very lives to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. Why should we not thank Him? Our every good thought we owe to Allah, the beneficent, the merciful. Surely as often as we sin, we turn to Him in prayer. He is most merciful and grants us pardon and oftentimes we drift back again to some other flaw. For this we must turn to Him again, asking to be forgiven. Surely Allah knows what is in our hearts, and what is more, he is oft-forgiving.
He it is who is the All perfect One, who knows our imperfection and pardons most through His messenger. Remember: And the best way for remembrance of Allah (God) is through prayer.
The five prayers of the day are spiritual refreshments and he who cleanses himself in and out leaves no filthiness. It would be an insult to invite His Lord's holy spirit into a house the outside of which was filthy.
Why should we not pray five times a day to our Maker since we feed our bodies three times a day? What is so important that would keep us away from prayer to the Originator of the heavens and the earth?
Let us give praises to our God and submit ourselves to the Lord of the worlds and learn how to pray the right prayers in the right manner. Let us serve the One True God, whose proper name is Allah, in the right state.
"My Lord, make me to keep up prayer, and my offspring too. Our Lord, accept the prayer. Our Lord, grant Thy protection to me and to my parents and to the faithful on the day when the reckoning will be taken." (The prayer of the Muslims will get you an answer!)