thankyou for your vulnerability. I so strongly admire that you never wish to waste a moment of time when you pray.
If you don't mind, I would love to ask you a few more questions.
What is it that you feel in your spirit when you feel the need to pray? what is it that compels you to pray?
It's a mixutre of emotions; Awe, love, gratitude, remorse, fear, guilt and contentment.
Awe: He is Allah!
Love because:
Once a woman was searching for her child and when she found him, she took hold of him, pressed him against her chest and gave him her breast to nurse him. Allah's Messenger Muhammad(saw) saw her and asked his companions: "Do you think this woman would ever afford to throw her child in the fire? They said: "By Allah, so far as it is in her power, she would never throw her child in the fire. Thereupon Prophet Muhammad said: 'Allah is more Merciful to his believing servants than this woman is to her child.'
(Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Book 73, Number 28)
Gratitude for His guidance.
Remorse because Allah Most High says in the Qur'an:
"And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me."
I grow remorseful thinking of what little time I give in fulfilling my purpose.
Fear of being punished for not doing what little He commands us to do for which I have no excuse.
Guilt - For things I have said or done knowingly and Unknowingly which may have be worthy of punishment.
True and Sincere repentance (when one makes the intention to never do it again) is so loved by Allah Most High that due it a man can be saved from the doorsteps of Hell:
Anas bin Malik Al-Ansari (MayAllah be pleased with him) the servant of the Messenger of Allah narrated: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "Verily, Allah is more delighted with the repentance of His slave than a person who lost his camel in a desert land and then finds it (unexpectedly)".
Is it common for you to pray throughout the day, or do you only pray during the five set prayer times?
There is no restrictions on how much you want to pray; I mentioned Tahajuud (Prayer during the night; the night vigil) as being used to attain closeness with Allah Most High. Fasting is also a great form of worship as it helps instill God-consciousness.
But It's most important to integrate God-consciousness through our day; for example when we interact with others, Eat, sleep, Go outside etc (see
http://www.islamawareness.net/Dua/Fortress/) . Dhikr(Remembrance of Allah Most High) is something we should incorperate into our daily lives and not just left for when we pray Salah. It's also important to strike a balance. Below is an important Hadith which is regarding striking the Balance.
Narrated Abu Juhaifa:
The Prophet made a bond of brotherhood between Salman and Abu Ad-Darda.' Salman paid a visit to Abu Ad-Darda' and found Um Ad-Darda' dressed in shabby clothes and asked her why she was in that state. She replied, "Your brother Abu Ad-Darda' is not interested in (the luxuries of) this world." In the meantime Abu Ad-Darda' came and prepared a meal for Salman. Salman requested Abu Ad-Darda' to eat (with him), but Abu Ad-Darda' said, "I am fasting." Salman said, "I am not going to eat unless you eat." So, Abu Ad-Darda' ate(with Salman). When it was night and (a part of the night passed), Abu Ad-Darda' got up (to offer the night prayer), but Salman told him to sleep and Abu Ad-Darda' slept. After sometime Abu Ad-Darda' again got up but Salman told him to sleep. When it was the last hours of the night, Salman told him to get up then, and both of them offered the prayer. Salman told Abu Ad-Darda', "Your Lord has a right on you, your soul has a right on you, and your family has a right on you; so you should give the rights of all those who has a right on you." Abu Ad-Darda' came to the Prophet and narrated the whole story. The Prophet said, "Salman has spoken the truth."[9]
Angels worship God continiously yet Allah Most High ordered them to prostrate before our Father Adam(AS). Angels do not need to maintain ties of Kinship nor are there poor or needy amongst them to help and these are things Allah Most High loves. I also mentioned Repentance before which Angels do not need to do.
It's also important to know if someone sleeps because they need the energy to pray then that sleep itself is considered an act of worship by Allah Most High so intentions are important; if the person slept not intending to pray it wouldn't be an act of worship.
contentment I think is self explanatory
Can you explain a little bit more about how you feel the mercy of God come down on you when you pray?
hmmm...when the emotions get to a point where the flowing of tears feels imminent and it's hard to hold back. This can be due to many things including the verses of the Qur'an you read and ponder upon when praying.
Although i'm far from perfecting my prayer. When the prayer is perfected a person can pray in a state of "Khushoo"; serenity felt during prayer.
I must also say the cognitions of the Body is not greater then the Cognitions of the Soul which it wraps. The Soul takes flight during sleep and can recieve visions of Glad tidings from Allah Most High which enforces their belief. So the feelings may transcend those in prayer.
Allah Most High says in the Qur'an:
33.47. And (so) give the believers the glad tidings that, surely, for them is a great bounty from God (in addition to what they may have merited by their faith and good deeds).
Scholars of Islam have said the Glad tidings mentioned above can also come in dreams or visions from Allah Most High.
more regarding prayer: Meaning of Salah
http://www.islamicstudies.info/ibnkathir/ibnkathir.php?sid=33&tid=41852
Do you encounter God throughout the day, or do you feel his presence when you are in prayer?
What does being in the presence of God feel like?
Thankyou for humouring me; I know I have many questions
I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
It's important to note that God is Omnicient (aware of everything; that which will occur and that which did not but could have); not omnipresent (everywhere). Basically Gods not in my pocket
However a believer see's signs of Him everywhere and it acts as a reminder; His creation points to His existence. To say He is everywhere would be to limit Him as there is a limit to our vision and what we see. Time and Space does not contain Allah Most High; He is beyond this; He has no Modal. That which is Limitless cannot be grasped by that which has limits.
But we know Allah Most High isn't present here but at the same time He is aware of us more then we are of ourselves and closer to us then the vein which keeps us concious:
"And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein" 50:16
So in a way Allah Most High is always present and we feel the contentment that comes whith this prescence only when our Hearts are devoted to His submition.
that is a very interesting and inspiring way of looking at prayer; perpetually looking forward to the next time you can enter into a time of prayer, and into the presence of God. Do you feel that when you enter into a time of prayer, that you are also entering into the presence of God? can entering into God's presence only be done through prayer, or are there other ways to encounter the Living God? Also, in your time of prayer,
do you only pray to God, or do you pray to other prophets also?
Thankyou for your willingness to answer my many questions!
thank you four your response! I do have a few more questions for you if that's alright
What do you hope to feel when you pray?
How do you align your heart and mind when entering into prayer?
Are your prayers structured? And if so, do you also pray less structured prayers of your own, sharing your heart with God?
Can one meet with God outside of prayer, living in continual community with God?
We Worship Allah Most High only. During our Prayer to Allah Most High we also send Durood (Peace and Blessings on Mohammad(SAW) and his Family). After completing the Salah we pray (make Dua) for others including ourselves.
The previous questions I haven't answered because I feel it's been answered by me in my response above.
