In Islam, why do we pray?
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thatz kinda hard .... we all have problems concentrating..\nConcentration in Prayers  \n \n \nPrayer helps people to avoid profanity and sins and to uproot evil from their souls. Prayers must be performed with complete khushu (concentration) and recited with sincerity to Almighty Allah. However, if someone does not have khushu during their prayers, their prayers would not be invalidated although their reward would be reduced. Hence, Muslims should try to avoid any distractions as much as they can during their prayers and should focus their concentration. \n\nAlmighty Allah ordains Muslims to perform prayer and urges them to do this with complete concentration and true sincerity. In the Qur an, Allah Most High says: \n\nGuard Strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salat (i.e. the best prayer - Asr). And stand before Allah with obedience [and do not speak to others during the Salat (prayers)]. (Al-Baqarah 2:238). \n\nThe midmost prayer is usually described by scholars as the most praiseworthy of being performed with khushu .\n\nSuccessful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness. (Al-Mu minun 23:1-2). \n\nPrayer helps people to avoid profanity and sins and to uproot evil from their souls. Prayers must be performed with complete khushu (concentration) and recited with sincerity to Almighty Allah.   \n\nPrayer to be valid\n\nAlmighty Allah knows the nature and inmost thoughts of His creation, and thus He is aware that it is not always easy for people to concentrate their attention on something. Hence, He Most High considers that it is sufficient for a prayer to be valid that its conditions and obligatory acts are performed as they should be done for Allah s sake. One s face should be turned towards the direction of prayer and one should say humbly, Allah is the Greatest. Then Almighty Allah urges Muslims to resist the thoughts and distractions that divert them from experiencing the spiritual pleasure that they find when they concentrate with their heart and soul on their prayer. \n\nThe Prophet (peace be upon him) made it clear that the distractions that divert one from submitting oneself thoroughly to Almighty Allah during prayer are due to the Satan s insinuations that confuse one during prayer, and also due to one s lacking perseverance in resisting these insinuations. \n\nHe (peace be upon him) clearly described the imagery of the state of Satan on hearing the Adhan (call to prayer) and his role in distracting Muslims from their prayers as follows. Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him) quoted the Prophet (peace be upon him) as saying, \n\nWhen the Adhan is pronounced, Satan takes to his heels and passes wind with noise during his flight in order not to hear the Adhan. When the Adhan is completed he comes back and again takes to his heels when the Iqama (call to commence prayer) is called and after its completion he returns till he whispers into the heart of the person (to divert his attention from prayer) and makes him remember things which he does not recall to his mind before the prayer and that causes him to forget how many rak ahs he has prayed. If anyone of you has such a thing (forgetting the number of rak ahs he has prayed) he should perform two prostrations (of forgetfulness) while sitting.   \n\nMuslims role\n\nAccording to the above Hadith, the distracting thoughts that occur during prayer are satanic insinuations that Muslims should resist in their prayers as well as in their lives. The Hadith indicates also that it is out of Allah s mercy to people that He considers the difficulty of their situation on resisting distraction during prayer and thus still regards it as valid. \n\nHence, when Muslims stand before Almighty Allah in prayer, they should remember that Satan is present and ready to distract them from their prayers. In this case, Muslims should remember Almighty Allah and humbly contemplate the meanings of
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If they pray for you then good for them....\nIF it some how does something good for you well good for you....don't look a gift horse in the mouth.\n\nThe thing is prayers are cheap and have no proven effect....actions speak louder than words...I believe the world would be a better place if people spent there time doing good for people instead of all that praying....Good deeds have  results....Prayer ...Well the results of prayer are debatable
417030
Prayer is many things, but most importantly, it is communication with the Almighty. This means it is conversation, not a monologue. When I pray, I try to spend more time listening than talking ... I figure God knows more than I do, so He should have the bulk of the time to do the talking :)\n\nFor my part, there are the short "HELP! ! ! " kind of prayers when I'm in a bind; the pouring out my heart to God, kind of prayers; the lifting up a brother or sister who is in a bind kind; the deep and travailing intercession for others; prayers of blessing for my friends (and enemies); praying for protection, wisdom, direction, etc.\nIn short, even though the form of the prayer changes with the circumstance, the Object of the prayer (God) remains a constant, so any prayer that is prayed in veiw of God's glory being manifested in the greatest possible way, is assured of a positive answer.\nI do try to pray for things VERY specifically (God, please bless Tom by giving him a job that will let him spend more time with his kids, and still pay the bills), as opposed to general prayers like "God, please bless Tom." In this way, I can know with greater certainty that God has answered the prayer (He may very well answer both, but If I have only prayed a general prayer, I won't know if it's really God answering or just 'the way things turned out').\n\nIn my experience the best prayers start with listening to God, finding out what is on God's heart, and then praying for that to happen.\n\nEdit: I wanted to add that prayer does not have to be done in any set or formal way (although formal prayers are not wrong), or use a bunch of high-sounding words that lack personal meaning but sound 'religious'.\n\nAlso, I think God likes us to be 'dirt honest' with Him (It's not like we are really hiding anything from Him anyway). Sometimes my prayers are more like yelling at God, and sometimes I get downright demanding (like a child who still has some 'growing up' to do), but I know that God is big enough not to be threatened by my anger, frustration, disillusionment, disapointment, etc, and even when these emotion are directed at Him, he is patient with me, and (I think) is actually just as pleased in those times as much as the ones we usually refer to as a "good prayer time".
137434
Some people just enjoy praying so politely say Amen!\n\n(You are so FUNNY!)
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sufi muslims live their life like a prayer - everything they do they consider to be prayer like (such cooking dinner is a prayer)\n\nWhirling Dirvish is also in a way a prayer.... they spin with one hand facing earth one hand facing heaven
888075
Pray with and for others.
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Interesting question. I know that some faiths recommend assistance in a person's approach to God via prayer by using special words and through intercession with a "Holy Spirit".   Sometimes using the a well-known poem, or pre-lude to prayer, or mantra, or words learned as a child, will enable a person to prepare themselves for communication with God.  The words spoken aloud or mentally chanted help to clear the mind and bring focus to the person's thoughts.  \n\nPeople communicate with God not only in prayer, but also in praise and to give thanks.  When was the last time you thanked God?  Did you need to use a prelude prayer or intercession with the Holy Spirit to give your thanks?  Or, did you just say, "Thank you, Lord, for what you have done for me!"  Have you ever mindlessly said the words, "Thank God!", when something truly miraculous and wonderful has happened to you?  Did you really mean to be so abrupt with God?  Were your thanks, prayers and praises heartfelt and were you fully congnizant not only of the words, but also of the meanings?  \n\nNearly every Muslim I know always includes the words "Prase be to Allah" whenever they say or do something - they acknowlege God out loud and in writing regularly and often.  This is also true of my friends who are devout Christians who also regularly remember to mention their belief in God and Jesus out loud.  Other friends who have other beliefs are prone to keep their beliefs to themselves - they find their faith to be more private.\n\nEach person has to communicate with God in their own way according to their own faith.  If the words in the prayer you shared with us have meaning and value to you and help you communicate with God, then I believe you should use them.  I hope this has helped answer your question.
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It is always a priviledge to be able to sit down and have a nice meal with family or alone, and I love to thank Our Lord, for the many blessings, and my prayer is something like this, Father, I thank you for our blessings that You have bestowed upon us this day, I thank you for this food that it will nourish our bodies, so that we may be better able to serve you, we thank you and ask your soverign protection upon all of our troops all over the world and may they be comforted in You Lord. In Jesus Name we pray.\nI feel we are speaking directly to the Lord so each time we pray our words may convey other prayer requests, but mainly we just want to Thank Him for His Love.
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Maybe you need to pray for faith.\n\nPrayer is the elevation of the mind and heart to God:\n+ In praise of his glory\n+ In petition for some desired good\n+ In thanksgiving for a good received\n+ In intercession for others before God\n\nThrough prayer the Christian experiences a communion with God through Christ in the Church.\n\n"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." (St. Thérèse of Lisieux)\n\n"Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God." (St. John Damascene) \n\nBut when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or "out of the depths" of a humble and contrite heart? (Psalm 130:1) \n\nHe who humbles himself will be exalted; humility is the foundation of prayer. Only when we humbly acknowledge that "we do not know how to pray as we ought," are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer. "Man is a beggar before God."\n\nWith love in Christ.
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Prayer is basically individuals communicating with God.  If individuals who don't believe in God are forced to "pray", I think it actually denigrates prayer, implying that it doesn't matter what you believe or who you "pray" to.  It would probably harden the hearts of those individuals against God, being forced into a religious practice they don't believe in.  Let those who believe, pray.  But let them do it in private, or with a group of other believers, and not turn it into a public display of piety - that's not what God wants.
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If a person really had faith, he wouldn't bother praying. Praying indicates a person believes his God is really stupid.
631087
prayer is most DEFINITELY a huge need in life. i thank God for it. it's about praising Him as much as putting out  a "wish list" ....as they say it's praising Him, adoring Him, thanking Him as well as asking Him for His help in things.
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Hello\n\nThank you for being open minded.\n\nI am a Muslim. I hope that I've understood your question so I can answer you properly.\n\nIn Islam there is no Justifier. meaning that when we do bad things, we do not go to confess to someone, but we talk and pray directly to God (it is just between me and him)there is no intermediate, and his the Most Merciful, so he forgives us, when we truly regret doing bad things/or sins.\nI think that you say in Christianity that Jesus blood wipes out all your bad deeds after confession.\nwell, we do not have this, we just have to pray to God to forgive us and to keep on doing Good things.BUT no one else has to bear another person's guilt.\n\nI hope you got what I want to say.\n\nAnd Sorry, in case I didn't get your answer right.
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I taught my son to pray for others just as he prays for himself...actually more than he prays for his own needs..but to pray for the needs of others..and to be an answer to prayer if given the opportunity to help another person ..to always be watchful to those in need you may be the answer to someone elses prayer
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Worship: God. Ask to pray for us: The Pope, Mother Theresa, Mary, Saints. Why? Well, we worship God, and God alone (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit/Ghost) because of the 1st Commandment (You shall have no other gods besides Me). We "pray" to the others simply to ask them to pray for us. For example, Mary is Christ's mother, as such, she is honored by him (as God He follows the 4th - or 5th for non-Catholics - Commandment of honoring your father and mother). when we pray to her, we honor her also and ask her to pray for us to her son.
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Wonderful question sister!\n\nI fit my life into God's laws, or atleast try my best to.  It makes life easy, content and happy :)\n\nMay Allah guide us all.  Ameen.
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Right\nSalat (prayer) is of the most important of the pillars of the deen (religion) and establishing salat like Allah ta'aala and thus His Messenger SAW (peace be upon him) want us to is the best way to get close to the Lord of the Heavens and Earth. This includes establishing salat in jama'ah (congregation). \n\na blind man said, "Oh Messenger of Allah, I do not have someone to guide me to the Mosque," and thus asked the Messenger SAW to grant him special permission not to attend congregational prayers. As he was leaving, the Messenger called him and said "Do you hear the call? ", he said "yes". He SAW said, "Then answer." Authentic versions narrated by Ahmed and others came as: narrated by Ibn Maktoom that he said: "Oh Messenger of Allah, I am blind, live far away, and have a guide that does not suit me, so can't you give me consent to pray at home?" He said "Do you hear the call?" Ibn Maktoom replied "Yes". The Prophet SAW then said "I cannot find an excuse for you."