Our relationship with God and spiritual growth is an internal matter that relies on entering the path of choice and one’s heart’s desire[1] – in which there is no compulsion[2]. Obligations are necessary where the rights of others are in question and where the implementation of rules and laws are needed to confront the greed of others. Yet when dealing with the heart, any pressure[3] will reverse the intended results.
It may seem that sometimes we have to accept coercion in personal matters or impose somethings on ourselves. For example, when we are sick, even if we reluctantly take a bitter medicine, it will benefit us, and we will be cured. From this, we may conclude the same for religion, that it is also good to bear the “bitterness of worship” and the “burden of compulsion” to cure our inner diseases and reach spiritual exaltation.
However, this perception is not correct, and one should not compare spiritual matters which depend on human will and passion[4] with concepts and processes of this material world. From the Quran’s point of view, even an ounce of dishonesty in intentions[5] and a slight feeling of displeasure in relation to God[6], will make our act of worship impersonal and destroy the experience. Not only is a prayer recited with bitterness nonbeneficial, but it will also harm our spirituality.
Instead of insisting on the necessity of prayer or determining a punishment for not praying, the Quran always talks about the benefits of remembering God[7]. By expressing His signs and blessings, God seeks to create a loving relationship[8]. This is so that His grace includes those who accept His generous invitation and those who with enthusiasm strive to increase their capacity to benefit more from His infinite mercy.
If we become a little familiar with the extensiveness of God’s mercy[9], we will realise that all that is mentioned about punishments are out of compassion and mercy, to take care of those he loves. God wants to warn us with a concrete description[10] of the terrible reality of distancing ourselves from the true purpose of life[11] so that we are not deprived nor neglect this important destination.
The commandment of protecting the prayers and remaining steadfast[12] is not a duty imposed on the servants from a position of power. God Who views the role of Himself and His messengers as removing the burden from our shoulders and[13] equipping us with light wings to fly[14], would not be pleased to put anyone into inconvenience[15]. Rather, because God knows that such lofty goals cannot be reached except with a permanent plan and routine[16], and hence God recommends constant adherence to prayer[17].
The difference between the prayer being classed as an obligation or recommendation should not be sought in terms described in Islamic jurisprudence such as “wajib” (obligatory) or “mustahab” (recommended). This is because no wise person hesitates or fails to fulfil the order a kind and loving God[18]. The main point is to avoid an outlook that introduces a tyrannical God, waiting to be obeyed and flattered, which creates a situation where the prayer is recited with boredom and reluctance[19].
Next: Prayer, from another angle
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Islamic Library: Introduction to Islam
[1]. Quran 13: 2:
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
Those who believe and their hearts are set at rest by the remembrance of Allah. Behold! By Allah’s remembrance the hearts are set at rest.
[2] . Quran 2: 256:
لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ
There is no compulsion in religion.
[3] . Quran 11: 28:
قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّي وَآتَانِي رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِهِ فَعُمِّيَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنُلْزِمُكُمُوهَا وَأَنتُمْ لَهَا كَارِهُونَ
He said: “O my people! In your opinion, if I be upon a clear proof from my Lord, and He has grant me mercy from His Presence, but it has been obscured for you; shall we compel you to accept it while you averse it?
[4] . Quran 17: 19:
وَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْآخِرَةَ وَسَعَىٰ لَهَا سَعْيَهَا وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَٰئِكَ كَانَ سَعْيُهُم مَّشْكُورًا
And whoever desires the hereafter whilst they are a believer and strives for it as he ought to strive, their efforts shall be thanked.
[5] . Quran 6: 88:
ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَلَوْ أَشْرَكُوا لَحَبِطَ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
Such is the guidance of Allah; He guides by it whom He pleases of His servants; and if they were to associate others with Him, certainly what they were doing would be vain for them.
[6] . Quran 47: 28:
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمُ اتَّبَعُوا مَا أَسْخَطَ اللَّهَ وَكَرِهُوا رِضْوَانَهُ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالَهُمْ
That is because they followed that which angered Allah and disliked that which pleased Him. So He made their deeds fruitless.
[7] . Quran 29: 45:
اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ
Recite that which has been revealed to you of the Book, 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.
[8] . Quran 8: 54:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَن يَرْتَدَّ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِي اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ
O’ you who have Faith whoever of you turns away from his religion, soon Allah will bring forward a people whom He loves and who love Him.
[9] . Quran 7: 156:
وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ
And my mercy embraces all things.
[10] . Quran 70: 15, 16:
كَلَّا إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ نَزّاعَةً لِلشَّوىٰ
By no means! It shall be flames of fire that extremely rips off the skin.
[11] . Quran 20: 100:
مَّنْ أَعْرَضَ عَنْهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَحْمِلُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وِزْرًا
Whoever turns away from it, verily he will bear on the day of judgement a heavy weight.
[12] . Quran 2: 238:
حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ
Guard your prayers, and especially the middle prayer and stand before Allah humbly.
[13] . Quran 7: 157:
وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ
And (this messenger) removes from them their heavy burdens and bondages that were upon them.
[14] . Quran 4: 28:
يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَن يُخَفِّفَ عَنكُمْ وَخُلِقَ الْإِنسَانُ ضَعِيفًا
Allah desires that He should make your burden light as man has been created weak.
[15] . Quran 2: 185:
يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ
Allah desires ease for you and He does not desire hardship for you.
[16] . Quran 70: 23:
الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ دَائِمُونَ
Those who remain steadfast in establishing their ritual prayers.
[17] . Quran 19: 31:
وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ وَأَوْصَانِي بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا
And he has made me blessed wherever I may be, and He has enjoined on me prayer and almsgiving so long as I live.
[18] . Quran 6: 54:
وَإِذَا جَاءَكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ أَنَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنكُمْ سُوءًا بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And then those who believe in Our Signs come to you, say: Peace be upon you. Your Lord has prescribed mercy upon Himself that whoever of you does evil in ignorance. And thereafter repents and amends (himself), then verily He is forgiving, Merciful.
[19] . Quran 9: 54:
وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَ
And they do not perform prayer but while they are sluggish (bored), and they do not spend but while they are averse and reluctant.