(b) WHAT IS THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER?

Man is man because of his soul; minus soul, man is a beast. Beast is nourished by food, but the soul is nourished by spiritual food. That is done through prayer. Hence man has twofold duties: (1) To nourish the body with food, and (2) to nourish the soul with prayer. Unless this is done, man himself represents a beast.
Prayer is not necessary because God requires it , but because man needs it himself for the purpose of perfection. If no prayer were offered the soul of man would suffer and not God. The soul of man would suffer just as the body suffers without food, resulting into death by starvation. Similarly it results with “ the soul” if spiritual food is denied to it.
There is a constant clash between the flesh and the soul in human being. If the soul is not made strong, the flesh will super-impose itself to lead the “soul” to destruction. If “the soul” is made strong by prayer, it will prevail over “the flesh” and progress on its onward march of spiritual attainment, ultimately reaching the “Blessed Companionship.” The Holy Quran, therefore, lays significant stress upon prayer by referring to it 85 times. It says: “O men, serve your Lord who created you.” (2:21Q). “And seek assistance through patience and prayer, and surely it is a hard thing except for the believing ones”(2:45Q). “Prayer is a consolation to them” (20:130Q).
Man is weak and in constant need of prayer. When everything fails to cure a person he naturally turns towards his Creator for succor and relief. This is the natural mode of mind. When he finds himself in his last breath, either in the fathom of sea or in the mouth of a tiger, his mind naturally calls: “ O God! Help Me!” Even an atheist cannot help but remember God at such a dangerous moment.




		What is the necessity of prayer? Man is man because of his soul; minus soul, man is a beast. Beast is nourished by food, but the soul is nourished by spiritual food. That is done through prayer. Hence man has twofold duties: (1) To nourish the body with food, and (2) to nourish the soul with prayer. Unless this is done, man himself represents a beast. Prayer is not necessary because God requires it , but because man needs it himself for the purpose of perfection. If no prayer were offered the soul of man would suffer and not God. The soul of man would suffer just as the body suffers without food, resulting into death by starvation. Similarly it results with “ the soul” if spiritual food is denied to it. There is a constant clash between the flesh and the soul in human being. If the soul is not made strong, the flesh will super-impose itself to lead the “soul” to destruction. If “the soul” is made strong by prayer, it will prevail over “the flesh” and progress on its onward march of spiritual attainment, ultimately reaching the “Blessed Companionship.” The Holy Quran, therefore, lays significant stress upon prayer by referring to it 85 times. It says: “O men, serve your Lord who created you.” (2:21Q). “And seek assistance through patience and prayer, and surely it is a hard thing except for the believing ones”(2:45Q). “Prayer is a consolation to them” (20:130Q). Man is weak and in constant need of prayer. When everything fails to cure a person he naturally turns towards his Creator for succor and relief. This is the natural mode of mind. When he finds himself in his last breath, either in the fathom of sea or in the mouth of a tiger, his mind naturally calls: “ O God! Help Me!” Even an atheist cannot help but remember God at such a dangerous moment.

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