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While this blogger isn't Muslim and mixes how she was raised and her new beliefs together, I found the post to be very valid. I was raised Catholic until I was 11 and accepted Islam first when I was 20, then really accepted it when I was 26. I remember prayer when I was a child - I prayed for specific outcomes and was crushed when God didn't deliver on them. I could relate to the blogger in that way.
However, since I've been learning how to pray, I see the real meaning behind prayer. Although the blogger and I share different religious backgrounds now, I see this in Islamic prayer as well. "The moment I let go of my fixed approach to a situation or person and I allow that maybe, just maybe there's another way to resolve the situation, I feel relief. Maybe, just maybe, there's a new thought or idea that could shed a peaceful light on the day. That's what prayer does for me. It creates a little crack in my closed-up-tighter-than-a-drum-mind and that crack allows another idea —a better idea—to enter." This sums up my experiences so far and has made me stronger... especially given circumstances and being a survivor.
What do you think? I'd like to hear more about peoples' experiences with prayer, especially those who have been practicing their life time (or longer than a year).
There is no point in asking for something through prayer but doing nothing else to deserve it. Prayers merely pave the path but walking on that path towards your goal is done by yourself. This is why in the Islamic prayer one asks to be shown the straight path. Allah can only guide you but you have to try to change your condition yourself. Àllah won't help you unless you try to change it yourself first. Anyone who tries, deserves what he strives for, and Allah knows what one really deserves by his/her efforts.
Human being will get nothing but what s/he strives for (53:39)
There is no point in asking for something through prayer but doing nothing else to deserve it. Prayers merely pave the path but walking on that path towards your goal is done by yourself. This is why in the Islamic prayer one asks to be shown the straight path. Allah can only guide you but you have to try to change your condition yourself. Àllah won't help you unless you try to change it yourself first. Anyone who tries, deserves what he strives for, and Allah knows what one really deserves by his/her efforts.
Human being will get nothing but what s/he strives for (53:39)
I really feel that way too. It's a great feeling that sometimes it's hard to put in words. The gifts of Allah are so beautiful; life is so beautiful.
I really feel that way too. It's a great feeling that sometimes it's hard to put in words. The gifts of Allah are so beautiful; life is so beautiful.
Exactly the point!
Life (our existence) is the greatest favour/gift from Allah besides many other favours. We should never be ungrateful but always be content and grateful. Life is not a bed of roses at all times. There are always ups and downs in it. Just as there is day light after a dark night, and spring after a winter, there is relief after difficulties. In patience, humbleness., content, gratefulness lies our peace and true happiness.
Yes. I am grateful Allah gave me a second chance at life. I was saved the night I could have died. For that, I truly am grateful. With that, my outlook on prayer has changed from when I was a small girl. Have times been tough since then? Yes, of course... but you're right, life isn't a bed of roses and we learn from the tough times too.
It is correct those who wish for some positive outcome are vulnerable to be disappointed if there is no positive results to their prayers.
However we need to understand religious followers has a spiritual and psychological profile [analogy] from kindergarten to PhD.
Those at the kindergarten levels will need pray with an expectation of a positive outcome while those at the PhD levels do to pray for anything at all, but rather they "pray" in the form of meditation on God consciousness. Those in between will pray with a variety of approaches and expectations.
I believe those who are in a certain stages of religiosity [kindergarten and grade school] and have the proclivities to pray for positive outcome for oneself or others should continue to do so.
Many who pray to cure their cancer, other diseases and sufferings has been very successful because of the high level of innocent conviction and hope they have and it really works.
If it did not work, all they have to do is to give some acceptable excuses and thus continue to pray in future without any loss in confidence.
I believe prayers [all sorts] do work for those who believe it will work for them.
Basically I do not believe it is god that answers the prayers.
The fact is most of the effective work done by humans are controlled by their subconscious mind at 95% while the conscious mind only does 5% of the work.
Thus when a person pray [one with such inclination] that person surrender [supposedly to God] to the subconscious mind to heal or activated the mind and body to do whatever is necessary.
If any one is interested here is how beliefs work in the subconscious mind by Dr. Bruce Lipton.
The Biology of Beliefs.
It is correct those who wish for some positive outcome are vulnerable to be disappointed if there is no positive results to their prayers.
However we need to understand religious followers has a spiritual and psychological profile [analogy] from kindergarten to PhD.
Those at the kindergarten levels will need pray with an expectation of a positive outcome while those at the PhD levels do to pray for anything at all, but rather they "pray" in the form of meditation on God consciousness. Those in between will pray with a variety of approaches and expectations.
I believe those who are in a certain stages of religiosity [kindergarten and grade school] and have the proclivities to pray for positive outcome for oneself or others should continue to do so.
Many who pray to cure their cancer, other diseases and sufferings has been very successful because of the high level of innocent conviction and hope they have and it really works.
If it did not work, all they have to do is to give some acceptable excuses and thus continue to pray in future without any loss in confidence.
I believe prayers [all sorts] do work for those who believe it will work for them.
Basically I do not believe it is god that answers the prayers.
The fact is most of the effective work done by humans are controlled by their subconscious mind at 95% while the conscious mind only does 5% of the work.
Thus when a person pray [one with such inclination] that person surrender [supposedly to God] to the subconscious mind to heal or activated the mind and body to do whatever is necessary.
If any one is interested here is how beliefs work in the subconscious mind by Dr. Bruce Lipton.
The Biology of Beliefs.
That's an interesting way to look at it - almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Prayer gives the person strength to do what they are asking for. I like that. The prayers and meditation probably calms too,especially if the person is general anxious.
I'll watch that video at a later time when I'm feeling better. I'm interested.
If you notice Salat is both action and word--they work together. You do not do salat by staying still
The OP is not referring to Salat which the obligatory ritualistic prayers.
The OP refers to one who turned to God with the expectation of a positive outcome [moral] in various circumstances or is a desperate circumstances. As you mentioned somewhere these are duʿāʾ (Arabic: دُعَاء ) in Islam.
As I mentioned prayers to God for a positive outcome is confined to what is possible within one mind and body, e.g. to cure sickness, equanimity to deal with problems, wishes of rewards for one efforts, and the likes.
It will not work if one pray for money to drop from the sky, for rain during a severe drought, a circle to be a square, to levitate and fly by oneself and the likes. Whilst this will not work, nevertheless the 'hope' enable some degree of calmness and away from stress for the individual.
The OP is not referring to Salat which the obligatory ritualistic prayers.
The OP refers to one who turned to God with the expectation of a positive outcome [moral] in various circumstances or is a desperate circumstances. As you mentioned somewhere these are duʿāʾ (Arabic: دُعَاء ) in Islam.
As I mentioned prayers to God for a positive outcome is confined to what is possible within one mind and body, e.g. to cure sickness, equanimity to deal with problems, wishes of rewards for one efforts, and the likes.
It will not work if one pray for money to drop from the sky, for rain during a severe drought, a circle to be a square, to levitate and fly by oneself and the likes. Whilst this will not work, nevertheless the 'hope' enable some degree of calmness and away from stress for the individual.
I believe Jess is aware of what salat is and that we personalize them in our preparation through wudu and stating our desired benefits (Intentions) as part of our preparation.
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