Our compassionate God has created us for a greater and more important purpose than the material world and has paved the way for us to reach the highest levels of spirituality. Indeed, the condition for successfully reaching this valuable destination is persistence in the path of humanity and to refrain from deviating towards evils and impurities.
One of the best and most effective methods that keeps us on the path of goodness and protects us from slipping into dangerous abysses, is our prayer and sharing our needs and wants with God. A heart that is constantly mindful of the creator of all beauties remains pure and will not fall into the traps of ugliness. Since, dealing with light and sublime values, polishes the heart and fills it with hope and peace.
All prophets and leaders who had the mission to invite us towards goodness and to teach us the way to reach our purpose in life, dedicated their first and most important spiritual advice to prayer. And in this way, they kept the remembrance and the name of God alive in the hearts of their followers.
In the Sharia (religious law) of the last Prophet of God, prayer has a very high rank and is the most advised religious practice. The Quran considers prayer as a timed duty[1] that preserves the remembrance of God[2], distances individuals from ugliness[3] and removes the past evils committed by a person[4].
The God who has created mankind and knows him better than anyone else, warns us in his book to be careful of our negative traits, selfishness, and impatience[5] that can put us in painful and traumatic situations. Hence, the first solution that God mentions to prevent these hardships and challenges is praying[6].
Of course, any tool that is not used correctly will not give a desired result. Therefore, the Quran not only does not consider a prayer that is not accompanied by conditions such as the presence of the heart (mindfulness), sincerity, and respect for the rights of others to be fruitful[7], but also severely reprimands[8] such worshippers. Yet, God considers a prayer that is performed correctly to give us a guaranteed success, more than any other religious practice[9].
Next: Prayer, obligation or recommendation?
Islamic Library: Introduction to Islam
[1] . Quran 4: 103:
إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا
Verily prayer has been enjoined upon the believers at fixed times.
[2] . Quran 20: 14:
إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي
Verily I, I(alone), am Allah. There is no god but Me. So, worship Me, and establish prayer for My remembrance.
[3] . Quran 29: 45:
وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ
And establish the prayer, verily prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil, and certainly the remembrance of Allah is greater, and Allah knows what you do.
[4] . Quran 11: 114:
وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ذَٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّاكِرِينَ
And establish the prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of night; verily the good deeds remove evils deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful.
[5] . Quran 70: 19-21:
إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا * إِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ جَزُوعًا * وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ الْخَيْرُ مَنُوعًا
Verily man was created impatient and avaricious. Irritable when evil reaches him. And boasts towards others when good reaches him.
[6] . Quran 70: 22-23:
إِلَّا الْمُصَلِّينَ * الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ دَائِمُونَ
Except those who establish their ritual prayers. Those who remain steadfast in establishing their ritual prayers.
[7] . Quran 4: 43:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَقْرَبُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَارَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا مَا تَقُولُونَ
O’ you who have Faith! Do not approach prayer when you are intoxicated, until you know what you are saying.
[8] . Quran 107: 4-7:
فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ * الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ * الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ * وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَ
So woe to those praying ones, who are careless of their prayers. Those who want to be seen by others. And refuse to supply others of their needs and rights.
[9] . Quran 23: 1-2:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ * الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ
Certainly the believers are successful. Those who are humble in their prayers.