One day, a man asked the Prophet of Islam, “O Messenger of God! Is God near to us and can I supplicate with Him in quiet voice or is He far so that I have to call Him loudly?” The Prophet had not uttered a word when ayah 186 of surah Baqara was revealed to him, "When my servants ask you about Me, tell them that I am indeed near. I answer the supplicant's call when he calls Me."

These days the fasting people are engaged in calling God and appealing Him for the affairs of this world and the hereafter. They seek the divine forgiveness for their sins and transgressions.

Prayer is the symbol of servitude to God. This spirit of servitude and the sense of being a servant before the Creator is what the divine messengers, from the first to the last, concentrated their endeavours on. Prayer and supplication is the innate need of mankind. That’s why the human being, weary of the terrestrial world, seeks the ways of the heavens and tries to build a spiritual bond with the Creator through worshipping Him and prayer. The status of prayer is so high that God says in ayah 77 of surah Furqan, "Say, 'What store my Lord would set by you were it not for your supplication? But you impugned me, so that will continue to haunt you.'"

Thus, we can use this action for a better and more fruitful life. Today, most thinkers use this tool to attain calm and serenity and gain more energy. Dr. Wayne Daier, American writer, says, “I enjoy an incredible method of the divine light in prayer and feel that my entire being is spirit although I am aware of my body. And when I return to my body from this spiritual feeling and journeying in the ethereal world, I sense power as if my physique were full of energy.”

The renowned writer, Dale Carnegie, writes, “When I feel that I am very distressed I enter the first church whose door is open. I close my eyes and pray. And I feel that my nerves and body have been calmed down.”

Prayer has many impacts on the body and spirit. The most important impact of prayer is creation of the light of hope in the heart. A desperate human being looks like a dead creature. A sick person will be healed if he is hopeful of his health; but if he loses hope he will not get better soon. Just as the main cause of victory for the soldiers is the high morale and hope, desperate soldiers will lose even if they are equipped and armed with the most advanced weapons. When the individual puts his trust in God and prays to Him he will not lose hope in spite of many problems. Prayer and supplication gives new life to human being and he doesn’t lose hope in life.

Basically, prayer means appealing to the Source of Absolute Power and begging before the One who is beyond hardship and ease. God is the most Powerful, and the Wise Creator who administers the affairs of creation. He can create whatever he wishes in an instant. Speaking and being in communion with such a source of power and knowledge is very constructive for the individual. Creation of the light of Godwariness is one of the effects of prayer. Godwariness causes more proximity with God. When the individual raises his hands to the sky and calls God with his lofty names, these names will have effects on his spirit and heart.

It is narrated that God, the Exalted, told Prophet Jesus (AS), “O Jesus! When you call Me, pray for Me like a drowned person who has no helper. O Jesus! Make your heart humble before Me and remember Me very much in your solitude…. In your prayers, make your heart and soul prepared and call Me with sad moans.”

Imam Ali (AS) in his recommendations to Imam Hassan (AS) said, “From the divine treasures, ask for the things that nobody can grant except Him, like long life, health and ample sustenance. Never be disappointed of delay in fulfillment of the prayer, for, the divine giving is proportionate with the intention. Sometimes, the fulfillment of prayer is delayed to make the caller’s prize bigger and the reward of the hopeful more complete. And sometimes, you ask but it is not fulfilled because you will be granted better than what you asked for or in a specified time it will be given to you. Thus, let your requests be in a way that they maintain your beauty and repel hardship from you. Neither the property of the world is perpetual for you nor will you remain for the property of the world.”

It is noteworthy that prayer should be uttered from a pure and clean soul and heart as unclean and polluted hearts are not proper places for reception of the divine gifts.

It is narrated that the Israelites spent seven years in an intensive draught and famine so that they had to eat carrion and rubbish. There was no use in their prayers and requests for rain. Then, God revealed to their messenger that I will not fulfill their prayers no matter how much they pray and moan unless they restore the rights they have violated of the people. They did so and it rained on them.

Ramazan is the month in which the gates of the divine mercy are open and prayers are answered in this month. Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) said, “The gates of heavens are opened in the first eve of Ramazan and they will not be closed till the last eve of this month.”   

RM/MG