If God knows our future, If He has pre-destined our future before we were born, if He knows everything that'll happen in our life, what is the point in praying and asking God to do something for us?
Does it mean He might change His mind along the way?
Last edited by EllyDicious; 04-22-2010 at 09:25 PM.
If God knows our future, If He has pre-destined out future before we were born, if He knows everything that'll happen in our life, what is the point in praying and asking God to do something for us?
Firstly i will clarify something for you that God does know what will happen in future and remmember that he is not thinking like us,he knows who deserves paradise and who deserve hill
and he also put in your hand an ability to choose a way you cant just say ok god pre-destined everything why should i pray because prayer is a part of qadr which translated in English language
as pre-destined you only do the reasons which is the commandments of God in order ro get paradise can you say ok i will stop eating medicine or some healthy vitamines because i will die sooner or later you work with what is in your hand^^
Does it mean He might change His mind along the way? praise and glory be on him God is not a human that makes mistakes,we believe everything happened with reasons.
You make prayer sound like God is some magic genie in a lamp or santa claus for us to just pray and ask things of him expecting him to give us gifts. Prayer is so much more than that! Prayer is communication with God. It is an act of worship. It is a way to connect with HE who holds our every breath in his hand. There was, on another Islamic forum, a very good post once on prayer. It may have been posted here at one time also. Maybe if someone knows of some they can put the links here for you. I would, but I do not have time right now.
@omar - I think I understood the concept of predestination or 'kismet' [btw, we call it the same way in Albania].
The first video was more clear about this concept.
So God has the will and we have the choice and he knows the choices we make and the outcome. While we make the choice but don't know the outcome.
So as far as I understood, we are allowed to move in a circle [which is God's will] and inside the circle God testes our movements [choices]?
Author:Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-'Uthaimeen
Source:Sifat Salaat-in-Nabee
Translator:isma'eel alarcon
Produced by:al-manhaj.com
The Prayer: is the second pillar from the pillars of Islaam and the most important pillar of Islaam after the Shahaadah (testimony) of Faith.
The Prayer: is a link between the servant and his Lord. The Prophet (saws) said: "Indeed, when one of you prays, he speaks privately with his Lord." [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree] And Allaah says in the qudsee hadeeth: "I have divided the prayer between Myself and My servant into two parts, and My servant will have what he asks for.
So when the servant says: ‘Al-Hamdulillaahi Rabb-il-‘Alameen’, Allaah says: ‘My servant has praised Me.’
And when he says: ‘Ar-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem’, Allaah says: ‘My servant has extolled Me.’
And when he says: ‘Maaliki-yawm-id-Deen’, Allaah says: ‘My servant has honored Me.’
And when he says: ‘Iyyaaka Na’bdu wa Iyyaaka Nasta’een’, Allaah says: ‘This is between Me and My servant and My servant will have what he asks for.’
And when he says: ‘Ihdinaas-Siraat-al-Mustaqeem. Siraat-aladheena an’amta ‘alaihim. Ghairil-Maghdoobi ‘alaihim wa lad-Daalleen’, Allaah says: ‘This is for My servant and for My servant will be what he asks for.’" [Reported by Muslim]
The Prayer: is a garden of ‘ibaadaat (acts of worship), in which every splendid type of worship is found. There is the takbeer, by which the prayer is initiated, the standing in which the person praying recites the words of Allaah, the bowing in which he extols his Lord, the rising from the bowing position, which is filled with the praising of Allaah, the prostration in which he glorifies Allaah by His highness and in which he implores him through supplication, the sitting in which there is the tashahhud and (more) supplication and the closing with tasleem.
The Prayer: is a means of support and assistance in times of distress and grief. And it prevents one from evil and shameful deeds. Allaah says: "Seek assistance in patience and prayer." And He says: "Recite what has been revealed to you from the Book and establish the prayer. Verily, the prayer prevents one from evil and shameful deeds."
The Prayer: is the light of the believers in their hearts and in their place of gathering (on the Day of Judgement). The Prophet (saws) said: "The prayer is light." And he (saws) said: "Whoever guards it (his prayers), it will be a light, a proof and a (means of) salvation for him on the Day of Judgement." [Reported by Ahmad, Ibn Hibbaan and At-Tabaraanee]
The Prayer: is the joy and delight of the believers’ souls. The Prophet (saws) said: "My delight was placed in the prayer." [Reported by Ahmad and An-Nasaa’ee]
The Prayer: wipes away sins and expiates evil deeds. The Prophet (saws) said: "Do you think that if there was a river by the door of one of you and he bathed in it five times a day that there would remain any dirt on him?" They (the Companions) answered: "There would not remain any dirt on him." The Prophet (saws) said: "That is how it is with the five (daily) prayers, through them Allaah washes away the (minor) sins." [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim] And the Prophet (saws) said: "The five (daily) prayers and Jumu’ah (prayer) to Jumu’ah (prayer) are an expiation for what (sins) occur between them so long as one is not guilty of major sins." [Reported by Muslim]
The Prayer in Congregation: Ibn ‘Umar (raa) reported that the Prophet (saws) said: "Prayer in congregation is better than praying alone by twenty-seven degrees." [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim] Ibn Mas’ood (raa) said: "Whoever would be happy to meet Allaah tomorrow as a Muslim, then let him preserve (in establishing) these five prayers from the place where they are called from (i.e. masjids), for verily, Allaah has legislated for your Prophet the ways of guidance. And indeed these (five prayers in the masjid) are from the ways of guidance. And if you were to pray in your homes as this man who refrains (to pray in the masjid) prays in his home, then you would have abandoned the Sunnah of your Prophet. And if you were to abandon the Sunnah of your Prophet (saws) you would go astray. There is not a man that performs the ablution and does it well, then sets out to go to one of these masjids except that Allaah records a good deed for him for every step he takes and raises him up one level and erases one evil deed due to it. You have certainly seen us, and no one would refrain from the prayer (in the masjid) except the hypocrite whose hypocrisy was well known. And indeed a man would be brought supported by two men until he was made to stand in the row (for prayer)." [Reported by Muslim]
Al-Khushoo’ (Submissiveness) in the Prayer, which means that 1) the heart is present and attentive, and 2) preserving that condition - are both from the means of entering Paradise. Allaah says: "Successful indeed are the believers. Those who in their prayers are submissive. And those who turn away from vain talk. And those who pay their Zakaat. And those who protect their private parts - Except in front of their spouses or those (women) whom their right hands possess, for indeed they are not held to blame (in that). So whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors. And those who keep their trusts and covenants. And those who preserve their prayers. They are the inheritors - the ones who will inherit Al-Firdaus (highest level in Paradise), in which they will abide forever."
Being sincere to Allaah in the prayer and performing it according to the manner it is described in the Sunnah are the two fundamental conditions for its acceptance. The Prophet (saws) said: "Verily, actions are by intentions and every person will have what he intended." [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim] And he (saws) said: "Pray as you have seen me pray. {Reported by Al-Bukhaaree]
Written by Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-‘Uthaimeen
On 4-13/1406H
"The Human being is an enemy to what he is ignorant of"
The Benefit of the Worshipper's Standing Before His Lord
Author: Shaikh Alee Hasan al-Halabi (trans. by Abu Iyaad)
Source: From the Introduction to 'al-Khushoo fis-Salat' of Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali
The Prayer is a sanctified and holy moment (mauqif) for the worshipper in the presence of his Lord and Deity in truth. He fulfils (by its performance) his covenants, obligations and statements of confession which are contained within and are required by the testimony that: "There is nothing which has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammed is His Messenger" and by whose attestation one becomes a muslim.
These covenants, obligations and resolutions: among them are those of belief, those of speech and those of action; and the explanation of that is as follows:
Firstly: The Takbeer: This is a compulsory acknowledgement for the worshipper, both in belief and speech, that Allah is the greatest, greater than everything in His Essence, Attributes and in the rights (owed to Him). Among His rights are the obeying of His commands and refraining from His prohibitions in regard to beliefs, acts of worship, characteristics and manners; in all moments and situations. This acknowledgement penetrates into the various postures of the worshipper during his prayer, from the qiyaam to the rukoo', to the sujood, the verbal confessions he makes and after that into the submissiveness in action; so there does not remain any moment of heedlessness or innattentiveness and there does not remain in his heart that which pushes out the (awareness of the responsibility of fulfilling) the rights of Allah upon His servant; whether it is persons, property, money, family or progeny and among His rights are (His) Magnification, Love (for Him greater than for all else), Fear (of His displeasure and punishment), Hope (in His Mercy) and Obedience.
Secondly: The Rukoo': This is an obligation in action. The worshipper bends his back and (bows) his head during it out of obedience, lowliness and humility to his Deity. So by this he fulfils his covenants of being constant in his obedience, carrying out the orders of his Deity, refraining from His prohibitions, ruling by His Sharee'ah in happiness, adversity and every other situation. The worshipper returns (to fulfil) these covenants and obligations every time he performs the rukoo' both in the obligatory prayers or the supererogatory. Whoever bends his back in the prayer in obedience to Allah and after that rebels from some of His commands or shows boldness towards some of His prohibitions due to the calling of his desire or whim, then he has contradicted his fulfilment of this obligation to the extent of the evil of his action.
Thirdly: The Tasbeeh: This is the statement which the worshipper makes during his rukoo' "How free from every imperfection is my Lord, the Mighty" (Subhaana-rabbiyal-adheem) and in his sujood "How free from every imperfection is my Lord, the Highest" (Subhaan-rabbiyal-a'laa). This is an obligation in speech by which the worshipper declares his Deity free from every defect and shortcoming in His attributes, actions and His rights (over the creation). Among His rights are the declaration of His mightiness in every situation, the placing of obedience to Him before obedience to ones soul or parents, leaders and others besides them. Whoever declares Allah to be free from all imperfections during his rukoo' and sujood and then shows boldness towards His disobedience when he departed from the prayer, he has reduced/diminished his glorification of his Deity to the extent of his disobedience to Him.
Fourthly: The Sujood:This is the extremity in, or the end result of humility; when the worshipper places his noble limbs upon the dust or the earth. The sujood is a covenant in action. It is an obligation due to the absolute obedience owed to the Deity in truth in all situations. There is no exception in this absolute obedience for moments of desire or moments of the whims of the soul (this absolute obedience incorporates all moments and situations). Whoever covers his face with dust (due to the performance of sujood) out of extreme humility, then departs from his prayer and returns to the obedience of the soul in disobedience to Allah, obedience to the creation in disobedience to Allah and the following of whims in disobedience to Allah, then he has been false to himself to the extent of his disobedience (or sin). But whoever does that, then he must repent hastily as the Messenger of Allah has said: "All the progeny of Aadam (constantly) errs and the best of those who constantly err are those who (constantly) repent"[1]
Fifthly: Folding of the hands during the Qiyaam: This is a manifestation from among the manifestations of humility and defeat in front of the Deity in Truth. Among its implications are subservience to the divine commandments in that one does not move except when commanded and one is not at ease or quiescence except when commanded. Whoever sought this position of worship for a few moments and after that lets loose the reigns of his soul then he wanders/trespasses (while ignorant of Allah's rulings) into the greatest of matters (i.e. sins) and he has fallen into a type of deception.
Sixthly: Khushoo': This is a position of total and extreme submissiveness and humility in front of the Deity in Truth and the quiescence/tranquillity of the heart and the limbs. One does not move except where commanded and is not at ease except where commanded. It is an obligation in action due to the necessity of obedience and the abandonment of disobedience to the Deity in Truth. Whoever discharges this obligation during the prayer then contradicts it (behaves otherwise) upon departing from the prayer he has caused diminution/annulment of (his Khushoo') to the extent of his disobedience.
Seventhly: Whatever is repeated in every raka' from among the obligations and covenants in speech such as the repetition of his praises, requesting of guidance to the straight path, the path of those who have blessings bestowed upon them, not of those upon whom is anger and they are the Jews and whoever is like them, nor of those who are astray and they are the Christians and whoever resembles them, and the likes of what is said in the tashahhud and the meanings of the various verses and supplications that are repeated in the prayer: in summary, every movement, every moment of ease, every statement and every action during the prayer, be it an obligation, covenant, resolution or confession from the worshipper in front of his Master and Deity in Truth, which he repeats in every raka', whether it is in the obligatory or supererogatory, makes free his heart, tongue, limbs and feelings from associating partners with Allah. He is a muslim, in submission to Him. He gives for His sake, takes for his sake, acts for His sake, abandons for His sake. He loves for his sake and hates for His sake. The proof for this truth is the saying of Allah (Azzawajall)
{And establish the prayer. Verily the prayer prevents the obscene and evil deeds}[2]
and the saying of the Messenger (sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam}:
"The example of the five prayers is as the example of an abundant flowing river by the side of the door of one of you. He washes every day from it five times."[3]
Therefore know - brother/sister reader - the position and importance of your prayer and establish as it should be truly established and gain happiness from it as Allah desires for you. I ask Allah that he assists us all and has mercy upon us, verily He is the All Hearer, the Responder.
FOOTNOTES
1. Reported by [At-Tirmidhi] no. 2501 and [Ibn Majah] no. 4251 and [Ad- Daarimee] 2/303 and [Ahmad] 3/198 with a hasan sanad from Anas bin Malik.
2. Surah Ankabut 29:45
3. Reported by [Muslim] no. 667 from Jaabir.
"The Human being is an enemy to what he is ignorant of"
The Muslim's prayers are one of the many types of worship in Islaam. They are an outward expression of a Muslim's belief in Allaah. The prayer is also a practical sign of obedience to the command of Allaah. As such it is something that is performed on a daily basis[1] so that a Muslim is never unmindful of the One who created him and provided for him with all that he can see and observe on this earth - all of which has been subjected to him, for his use and benefit. Allaah said:
And He has subjected to you [for your use and benefit] all that is in the Heavens and the Earth. It is all as a favour and kindness from Him. Verily in this are signs for a people who think deeply. [Jaathiyah 45:13]
Since human-kind have been created to fulfil a purpose - which is to worship Allaah - there must be a way to express this worship - otherwise it would be meaningless - and this is why the Muslim's prayer consists of physical actions: a number of different postures. So a Muslim stands, bows and prostrates. And this is a sign of humility, gratefulness and obedience.
When a Muslim faces the qiblah (the direction of prayer) he also knows that he must turn his heart away from all other things to Allaah, the One True God. When a Muslim stands in front of Allaah, having folded his hands and arms, it is a sign of humility and defeat in front of Allaah, the One True God. In this posture a Muslim also brings to mind the Day of Judgement where he will have to stand and account for his deeds. When a Muslim bends his back and bows to Allaah, it is a sign of lowering oneself in obedience to Allaah. It is a sign of acknowledging one's own shortcomings and weaknesses in front of the all-Powerful God who is Most-Perfect. While in this position a Muslim says: "How perfect is my Lord, the Most Great". Then when a Muslim prostrates, placing his or her noble limbs upon the earth, it is an extreme sign and the end result of humility. Whilst in this position a Muslim says: "How perfect is my Lord, the Most High". In this posture a Muslim returns his limbs to their place of origin: the dust from which they were created.
The prayer is a constant reminder therefore, for all of humanity - for the black or the white, for the rich or the poor, for the powerful or the powerless, for the employer or the employee - of Allaah, the One True God, that He is their Creator and Lord, that they have no privilege or benefit - whether it be on account of wealth, power or status - except that it has come from Allaah and so they have no reason to become proud or arrogant over one another. Also, that they recognise their great dependence upon Him for all their needs.
The five daily prayers have enormous benefits, both for the individual and also for the society at large. Since a Muslim has to perform ablution[2] for the prayers it ensures physical cleanliness for the duration of the whole day. In Islaam great importance is given to cleanliness. The Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: "Cleanliness is one-half of faith".
Then by the performance of prayer, at stated times and in congregation (praying collectively in the mosque, where all the Muslims stand shoulder to shoulder, feet to feet in straight rows) a Muslim learns to be punctual, to develop and have a sense of duty, to have self-discipline, self-control, patience, efficiency, and to build his character. It might seem that repeating something five times a day is a bit repetitive and can get quite tiresome. But this is far from the truth. This is because the prayer does not consist of mere actions. Rather a Muslim is actually speaking to Allaah throughout the whole prayer, while he is standing, bowing or prostrating: speaking to the One who created him and fashioned him from a mere sperm drop to a fully grown human being who possesses sight, hearing and understanding.
Say: He is the One who initiated the process of your creation and then gave you the faculties of hearing, seeing and understanding. Little thanks is it that you give [Mulk 67:23]
So this reminds him of his lowly origins. At the same time, while standing in front of his Lord, a Muslim feels the emotions of love, hope and fear. And every time a Muslim performs the prayer his faith and belief in the One True God is increased and strengthened due to these feelings, which are a result of the words and actions of the prayer.
The prayer not only helps in building individual character but also assists in building the whole structure of community organisation and social discipline. Daily prayer keeps this organisation alive and working and prevents it from becoming ineffective. This is why performing prayer in congregation is obligatory. Such regular meetings of individual Muslims, helps to form a 'community centre'. When Muslims assemble in the mosque, they have all come for one objective. These feelings unite them, despite the differences in their race, language, colour or nationality. A strong sense of brotherhood is created and kept alive by the institution of the five daily prayers.
Some of the other benefits of the five daily prayers that are performed in congregation include: mutual help and co-operation, equality and brotherhood, tolerance, unity, respect for the rights of others, love and affection, and unity. The prayer also prevents a Muslim from doing unjust and shameful deeds as Allaah said:
Verily, prayer prevents from shameful and unjust deeds. [Ankaboot 29:45]
There are also many instances and circumstances in which the prayer is performed collectively, besides the five daily prayers. There is the weekly Friday prayer which is considered as a minor form of a day of celebration. Muslims bathe and dress well for this occasion and everyone is encouraged to attend this prayer since a small sermon is given before prayer, and which serves as a reminder for the Muslims.
Then there are the two Eed[3] prayers. The two days of Eed are days of celebration and joy. An additional prayer is held on these two days in the early morning and all Muslims are strongly encouraged to attend, along with their families. This is a time when all Muslims meet each other, give greetings to each other and also visit each other.
Muslims also perform collective prayer on the occasion of an eclipse, both for lunar and solar eclipses. An eclipse is one of most striking signs of Allaah, the One True God. It is quite a fearful and awe-inspiring event and thus Muslims perform prayer while this phenomenon takes place. Muslims do not believe that an eclipse is an omen or anything superstitious as thought by many in both past and present times. Rather, it is one of the clear signs of Allaah's power and so it is a time when Muslims perform prayer to acknowledge this fact.
Another occasion of collective prayer is when there has been a prolonged absence of rain. So Muslims come out into the open and perform the pray for rain. Here they beseech and invoke Allaah, the One Who sends the winds and the rains, that He blesses them and sends upon them, rain. This is at a time when their livelihood may be at stake and so in mutual concern for themselves and each other, they embark together to perform this prayer. Again this instils the notion of brotherhood and mutual care and consideration amongst the people.
Death is an inevitable reality and for this occasion there is the funeral prayer. Attending the deceased Muslim's funeral and performing the prayer over him is one of the many rights that a Muslim has over another Muslim. All the Muslims come and take part in this prayer out of a sense of respect and responsibility and after it, assist in the burial. This make them remind themselves that they too, will be placed into the earth, ready to be raised again to be held accountable for their deeds. Thus, helping them to not lose track of their goal in life and become too heavily immersed the pursuits of life.
So it can be seen how the prayer in Islaam is linked to every sphere of the life of a Muslim and also to the life of Muslim community. When one knows that human-kind has been created to worship Allaah - the One True God - then it is understandable that the prayer should play a vital role in daily life, in helping Muslims to fulfil their duty to their Creator and Lord, in helping them to create love and affection between themselves, and in helping them to seek assistance for their daily individual and collective needs as well as constantly reminding them of what is yet to come - the Hereafter.
FOOTNOTES
1 The five daily prayers are performed at dawn, immediately after mid-day, late afternoon, sunset and at night (a couple of hours after sunset).
2 This consists of washing the hands, the face, the mouth, the nose, the arms and elbows, wiping over ones head, and washing the feet and ankles.
3 A day of celebration is known as Eed. Muslim have two 'Eeds' in their calendar. One is called 'Eed ul-Fitr' and marks the end of the month of fasting, Ramadaan. The other, known as 'Eed ul-Adhaa' commemorates the end of the rituals of pilgrimage which were performed originally by the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) in Makkah.
and much more hope this helps
"The Human being is an enemy to what he is ignorant of"
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Prayer is so much more than that! Prayer is communication with God. It is an act of worship. It is a way to connect with HE who holds our every breath in his hand. There was, on another Islamic forum, a very good post once on prayer. It may have been posted here at one time also. Maybe if someone knows of some they can put the links here for you. I would, but I do not have time right now.
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