Prayer is a gift. Everyday as Muslims we are given five opportunities to submit our hearts to Allah. The Muslim prayer is a powerful activity that involves the mind, body, heart and spirit of the seeker. The very act of prayer brings all these elements into play. As Muslims we begin with our ablution. This cleansing prepares us to seek Allah with reverence and pure intention. We come before Allah striped of our earthly cares, possessions and concerns. Then with the act of prayer we kneel before Allah with sincerity and humbleness.
Ablution is a process which is cleansing on both material and spiritual plains. The cleansing allows the Muslim to prepare to submit to Allah with pure intentions. During the cleansing the seeker is to first concentrate on the intention of the prayer. First each hand is rung three times beginning with the right and then the left. Even this action carries with it great significance as the Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, instructed that a man's steps lead with his right leg.
The five daily prayers are a pillar of Islam and therefore essential to the overall faith of the follower. Prayer keeps the Muslim centered and allows the faith to become rooted at the core of the follower. The Muslim knows the importance of remembering Allah with these five daily prayers.
In our Islamic life we understand that it is not necessary to know why there are five prayers each day that are obligatory for us. We simply attend to these prayers as Prophet Mohammed (puh) has taught us by his example. Yet, we do know how extremely beneficial these prayers are and how necessary they become in the scheme of our lives on this earth. Everyday we are beset with all the concerns of this worldly existence. As long as we remain on this earth we will be faced with many challenges. Without our prayers that serve to remind us that we will surely return to Allah, we face the risk of becoming defined by the imprints of this world.
Prayer assists us in staying peaceful and grounded. It also allows us a moment to shut ourselves off from all the distractions around us and focus only on Allah and the state of our soul. Do the cares of our life on this earth seem ever important- and yet we know this is but a temporary visit for us. This may be the most difficult lesson to grasp and prayer helps us to understand and accept this with grace and contentment.
- Written by: J. Kabir |
