What Prayer means to me?
What Prayer means to me?
Five
times a day I
retreat from
life, pause and
renew my
intention for
living. It's not
just kids and
work, fun and
problems.
There's more,
much more
.....
Lying just beneath the surface of our everyday thoughts. If we dare to peer within, we'll find it, the home of peace; of truth ; an acute awareness of what is wrong and right, of what is worthwhile and what is wasted.
I stand still and concentrate on the spot on the carpet where my forehead will soon rest, casting aside all worries, fears and hopes, and focusing on the only One Who can help, Who can forgive, Who is Well-Aware of everything. Quietly, so only myself can hear, I recite the verses of Qu'ran that remind us, in every prayer, of the One Who showers Mercy of those who deserve it and those who don't. The One to whom, all Judgment lies and Whom we are all to return to, at an appointed time. I remember that no one can help me, no one can waylay my fears, no one can turn the tide of events, except the One to Whom all help is sought.
When anger strikes my heart, I recite the verses that remind us of mercy, tolerance and forgiveness; raising the consciousness to see through the empty words that people speak, to the meaning that may have been intended. So I forgive.
When
worries cloud my
mind and I'm
busy planning
what I should
do, I recite
those verses
telling of good
deeds and trust
in the Lord of
all. The best of
planners, the
Subduer of evil
and the Exalter
of Whom He
pleases. So, I
try my best, ask
for help and
leave the rest
to Allah
s.w.t.
When I
feel sad and
lost, I recite
the verses
promising
victory to those
who strive to
uphold piety,
that place of
rest and peace
that lies not so
far ahead and
the Source of
all Peace Whose
help is always
near. So, I wipe
away my tears
and keep on
trying, never
giving
up.
My prayer, is a way of life. It comes five times a day but the rest of the time is in preparation for the next, awareness of the passing time, remembering my duty to my Creator and my responsibility to my own soul. So whatever I'm doing, I stop and put it aside, wash and stand in prayer, trying to look within, at the faults that follow me around in my life, of the evil my hands have sent forth, and seek guidance, forgiveness and escape from the evil consequences of what I may have done.
I think of the marvels of the universe, how infinitely beautiful and amazing as they are. The wonders of my own self, the physical human body and the wonders it contains. The depth and breadth of the mind, that few of us can compass and then I look to the trivial pleasures of life, the transient nature of our existence and I feel an urge to do more, to try harder, to be better than I was the day before.
And so I
bow before my
Creator,
acknowledging
the fact that
only He deserves
my sincerity, my
obedience and my
love. All else
in life, is
secondary to the
fact that if He
hadn't chosen to
create me, I
would never have
existed. Here I
am! Here's my
duty. Worship is
not only prayer
and fasting but
the way we live,
the way we
speak, the way
we treat people
and the way we
solve problems.
Knowing that we
weren't only
Created and left
to discern truth
for ourselves, I
adhere to the
guidance given
to me, to steady
me on the path
that leads to
success in this
life and the
next.
I
continue in my
prayer, whether
well or ill,
tired or
wakeful, sad or
hopeful, I
continue,
knowing that
success doesn't
lie in the
amount of money,
weapons or
strength one
thinks one has,
but in ones
morality.
By: Velma Cook