The practicability of prayer:

 

Enjoining five prayers to be performed everyday does not disrupt life requirements, for each prayer does not take but a short while so that the individual can do his work without any negative effects on any aspect of life. Besides, the limited capability of man is taken into consideration in this respect, and Allah (SWT) has not enjoined on him what he is unable to do.

 

The benefits man obtains from prayer:

 

1.     Prayer is a practical poof of the truthfulness of one’s belief. It is the source of providing for and uplifting faith, and meanwhile it is the product of faith itself.

2.     Prayer elevates the moral aspect of man, for it admonishes the one who performs it against shameful and evil deeds. Allah (SW) says: “for prayer restrains (one) from shameful and unjust deeds.” (XXIX: 45)

3.     Praying in the mosque strengthens the ties of the society and increases the intimacy and love among its members, for they meet five times a day in the purest and most sacred places to worship Allah, with no differences of status among them save that of piety.

4.     Prayer is physical exercise, and wudu’ (ablution) is immunity against diseases, for “it cleans the naked parts of the human body that are more liable to be contaminated by germs. Bacteriologists have proved that tremendous numbers of microbes settle on each square centimeter of natural skin. In uncovered areas the number amounts to 1-5 million microbes in a square centimeter. These microbes increase continuously, and to get rid of them we should wash the skin repeatedly, which can be done through the ablution that Allah (SWT) orders us to perform and that His Noble Messenger urges us to observe.[1] Prayer is regular exercise that a Muslim practices obligatorily. If we observe the single rak’ah (bowing) we find it divided into a fixed number of very flexible and cooperative movements that result in the utmost activation of the lateral venous pump. Since the obligatory rak’ahs incumbent on every Muslim are seventeen in a single day, he has to perform 119 obligatory smooth movements each day and night. All these purposeful movements contribute to the activation of the lateral venous pump. Add to this the other numerous spiritual and social advantages of the prayer.[2]

 

 

Islamic Prayer

Jewish Prayer

Christian Prayer

The goal of prayer is to worship Allah alone, for it is the purpose for which man has been created. “All that was asked of them was to worship Allah, devoting the religion absolutely to Him alone.” (LCVIII: 5)

The main goal of prayer is the mundane interest and the desire for urgent safety.[3]

The goal is to communicate with Christ and not with Allah, though Christ himself and his Disciples used to pray to Allah.[4]

Prayer is enjoined as one of the obligatory pillars of Islam, and is to be performed at fixed times. “For such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times.” (IV: 103)

It is not enjoined obligatorily.

It is not enjoined obligatorily and has no fixed stated times although Christ advocated performing prayer at all times.[5]

Muslims perform prayers as the Messenger (peace be upon him) performed them without adding to or cutting off anything thereof. 

Their present prayer is not like that of Moses (peace be upon him) and it includes no bowing or prostration.

Their prayer is not the same as that Christ and his Disciples used to perform. The prayer of Christ was prostration: “fell on his face, and prayed.”[6] And it included bowing.[7] 

Their prayer includes the recitation of the Qur’an and the Glorification of Allah (SWT).

Their prayer is accompanied by singing. They innovated singing in their prayer when the Persians had prevented them from praying because it was just supplication for the destruction of nations.

In their prayer they chant poetic passages with the priest.

 

They address Allah in the prayer with what is inappropriate to His Greatness. “how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?”[8]

In the prayer they recite invocations formulated for them by the saints and not by Allah or Christ. They pray in the direction of the east though Jesus (peace be upon him) prayed in the direction of Jerusalem. Some Christian sects pray facing any direction according to the place where they pray.

There is no intermediary between the servant and his Lord in prayer.

 

Their prayer should be presented in the name of Christ and not the name of Allah.[9] Physical purification from impurity or after relieving nature or urinating is not required as a prerequisite for praying.

[1] Researches in Infection and Preventive Medicine, World Higher Council on Scientific Signs in Qur’an and Sunnah, p. 8.

[2] ‘Alwan, Tawfiq, Mu’jizat al-Salat fi al-Wiqayah min Marad Dawali al-Saqain, pp. 162-163. (adapted)

[3] Exodus: 12:31-32

[4] Acts: 5:21, Matthew: 14:23

[5] Luke: 18:1

[6] Matthew: 26:39

[7] Mark: 14:35

[8] Psalms: 8:36

[9] John: 16