A Quranic Analysis of Prayer, part 4
A Quranic Analysis of Prayer, part 4
Recap: We may think that our prayer is not accepted, however, the verses we studied (40:60 and others) mentioned that all prayers are answered, whether we are aware of it or not. The fact of the matter is that we can never tell what is best for us, although we may think that we know what is best for us. We must realize that our Creator knows what is best for us. When we offer our supplication, our prayers are answered, but we do not know if they are accepted according to our expectations.
For example, you ask, “Please God, I really need this job, I think that it is the best for me. The Creator of the universe answers this prayer in three ways:
- He gives you exactly what you want.
- He gives you another job.
- He gives you nothing.
Most of us would get disappointed when we do not get what we expected and when we do not get anything. While I am praying, I should know who I am praying to. I must realize that the One I am praying to is the Creator of the universe. Since I am praying to Him, He will respond to my needs and requests. All my needs and desires are given by Him. All that I am doing is that I am sincerely acknowledging my Creator as the Giver of all my needs and the Provider of whatever I am endowed with. Once we understand that every prayer is responded to, we can then understand that we must not be disappointed when our prayers are not accepted according to our expectations.
In the Qur’an we find some examples teaching us how our prayers to God are responded to when we pray to God with what we think is the best. The Qur’an demonstrates that God responds to our sincere prayer by giving us what is best for us according to His absolute Knowledge:
إِذْ قَالَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُ عِمْرَٰنَ رَبِّ إِنِّى نَذَرْتُ لَكَ مَا فِى بَطْنِى مُحَرَّرًا فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنِّىٓ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهَا قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَضَعْتُهَآ أُنثَىٰ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا وَضَعَتْ وَلَيْسَ ٱلذَّكَرُ كَٱلْأُنثَىٰ وَإِنِّى سَمَّيْتُهَا مَرْيَمَ وَإِنِّىٓ أُعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ
“Remember, when the wife of ’Imrân said, “My Lord! I dedicate what is in my womb entirely to Your service, so accept it from me. You alone are truly the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”
“But when she had given birth to the child, she said: ‘O my Lord! Behold, I have given birth to a female’ -while God had been fully aware of what she would give birth to, and fully aware that no male child [she might have hoped for] could ever have been like this female- and I have named her Mary. And, verily, I seek Thy protection for her and her offspring against Satan, the accursed.’” (3: 35-36)
In the example of Jesus’ grandmother praying to God for a boy to be in His service in the Temple. We notice that she sincerely prayed to God and God responded to her prayer and gave her a girl. Although apparently her prayer is not accepted. As the verse explained, this girl was much better than what the mother prayed for.
God responded to her prayer by giving her a girl, Mary who is going to give birth to a prophet (Jesus), who will not only serve in the Temple but also will restore the Temple and purify it for a long time and be the leader of those who serve the Temple. We see that Mary’s mother’s prayer was accepted not in her child but in her grandson: Jesus, infinitely better than what she nominally prayed for.
We realize that God always responds to our prayers and accepts them as we sincerely prayed for, these sincere prayers may not be accepted as we thought what was best for us, but as God’s Absolute Knowledge knows what is the best for us and creates it according to His Knowledge.
Let’s see an example in our practical life. I may pray for a job that I thought would be the best option for me. I prepared everything necessary for it and while I was preparing myself and afterward I opened my hands and prayed to God to give me this particular job as I think that it is the best one for me. But I may see that I could not get the job but another job that I thought was not the best for me.
Of course, after thinking if I had done something wrong in my preparation for the job and if I need to do some more preparations, I must trust in God’s decision that His choice must be the best for me. We never know what is going to be created afterwards and where the best job is given to me. Most probably Mary’s mother had not seen that Mary gave birth to a prophet. But God knows what He is doing. She will see this particular result of her prayer in the next creation, if not in this creation.
Also, she will definitely feel that the result of her prayer in this world is realized: I am praying to the One who definitely hears my prayer and definitely responds in the best way and He is able to create it with His Infinite Power, infinite Mercy, infinite Wisdom, and infinite Knowledge. This feeling is priceless because only through this feeling can we human beings feel secure and comfortable in our lives by trusting in the Wisdom and Mercy of the Absolute Creator of the universe. The aim of the verse is primarily to teach us that every prayer is responded according to the Absolute Knowledge, Mercy, and Wisdom of God. But we may think that they have not been responded. Nevertheless, at the end, we may realize in this world that they are responded, directly or indirectly, where the result in either case is positive i.e. accepted.
We must understand the reality of the universe where two kinds of orderly creation are taking place. The change we observe is happening in space along with the passage of time. For example, I am getting old, and that is a change taking place in space-time. Although I am continuously changing, I am not changing by myself, i.e. nothing within me is responsible for the change. If it was within my power, I would stay young and strong forever. The members of my body (hair, nails, heart, lungs, kidneys…) are changing, it means that something is continuously going on within me, yet at the present moment I do not feel such change.
Everything in existence is perfectly arranged. This change is also taking place within a perfect order. There is no discordance between the two orders of space and time. This change is taking place in such a harmonious way that the change in the next moment is taken care of by the Creator of the universe. When I do any act in creation, I must realize that I am praying to God. For example, if I am moving my hand to write something, all I am doing is requesting the Creator of the universe to create the next moment of writing for me. If I am a conscious person, then I know that I prayed to God, and I would acknowledge God for creating the result for me.
Let us take another example. John needs good health. From the moment he feels the need to be healthy, he acknowledges that health is only given to him by His Creator, God. With this acknowledgment, John is aware that His Creator knows what is best for his purpose of existence. He asks His Lord with this awareness to provide him with what is best to fulfill the purpose of his existence, which at that moment is good health.
We can understand that when we pray, we are praying to the One who knows better than us with His Absolute knowledge. He knows what I pray for and ask for. He arranges the next creation according to His Wisdom in such a way that it includes the answer to my supplication in it, even if I do not notice the change. The order in creation happens in space-time, orderly arranged by the One who creates the entire universe with His Absolute Power, Knowledge, Wisdom, and Mercy in both dimensions, space and time, including the response to my prayer in it. With the awareness of an Absolute Knowledge in our lives, we would understand that there are no expectations of extraordinary events to happen when we pray. Also, with such awareness and understanding that my Creator possesses Absolute Knowledge, Absolute Power, Absolute Will, Absolute Wisdom, we are in the know that we can only petition Him and supplicate to Him alone to provide us with what is best for us.
To consolidate our understanding of prayers, we must remember that when we pray, our prayers are answered, but we should not expect for something extraordinary to happen, rather, the opportunity presented to pray is a means for us to connect with our Creator and acknowledge Him as our Lord.
Most of us love to believe in something extraordinary to happen in what we may see as ordinary mundane creation. However, with the understanding and awareness of how creation is happening and how we experience it in space-time, we would know that the seemingly ordinary creation is indeed extraordinary because nothing in this universe can give existence to anything here, including giving existence to the next moment. Only an Absolute Knowledgeable One, the Creator of the universe can create and give existence to the universe like this. That is why the Quran speaks to the deniers/rejecters (enemies) of the Prophet (pbuh) with the message that “you do not need a miracle to accept the message of God, the existence of the universe is available as witness.” Otherwise, why would such verses be mentioned in the Quran? The events and acts of creation that are happening in creation are all extraordinary, there is nothing ordinary about them because it is brought into existence by something not of the content of this universe, the Source of existence of the universe.
For example, we do not need to see literal physical angels accompanying the Prophet, we do not need to witness some real estate or big garden given to the Prophet to believe in him as the messenger of God, like a celebrity or a powerful person in the mainstream culture to be followed and taken seriously for only his wealth and assets. The Quran encourages us to reflect upon creation, for in the existence of anything, we will find that every creation is a sign, a verse (“ayah” in Arabic), a witness to the Absoluteness of the Creator. The Quranic message is given to us to look at the universe as a creation of God, study His work where He is continuously creating the universe with no interruption at all. The orderly creation that we observe in space-time is as miraculous as our existence. What else are we expecting from the Creator of the universe, as if looking to challenge an authority to do something extraordinary for us to believe in?!
The gist of the matter is that the Quran must be read alongside with the universe, where the Creator is speaking to me through His acts in the universe and through His speech.
We discussed previously how the different sorts of supplications (stages of supplications) are demonstrating our neediness:
- innate ability (the way everything is created in need of being given existence)
- innate need (the acts the animate beings perform as a result of how they are created to fulfill their needs)
- exigency (the actions we take as a result of urgent existential needs)
“The fourth sort of supplication is the most well-known; it is:
- Our supplication. This too is of two sorts:
4A- one is active and by disposition, and the other;
4B- verbal and with the heart.
(An example of 4A) Having recourse to cause is an active prayer. To gather together causes is not in order to create the effect, but through the expression of disposition to take up an acceptable position in order to seek the effort from Almighty God (to create). To cultivate a field is to knock at the door of the source of mercy. Since this sort of active supplication is directed towards the Absolutely Generous One’s Name and Attributes, it is accepted in the great majority of cases.
(An example of 4B) To offer supplication with the tongue and the heart. It is to seek certain wishes which the hand cannot reach.
The most important aspect, the most beautiful aim the sweetest result of this is this: “The one who offers the supplications knows that there is Someone who hears the wishes of this heart, whose hands can reach all things, who can bring about each of his desires, who takes pity on his impotence, and answers his poverty.”
4A- What is active prayer? For example, if you want to learn a subject, you must take notes in class, that is active prayer. You are praying to remember the important points while you are taking notes. You are writing to learn, asking the result to be created next moment. You know that you cannot create the result of understanding/learning. Rather, through writing which is a means given to express oneself, one is praying as an obedience to the orderly creation of learning. The result of what you have learned thus far is created by the Lord of the universe. Being aware of this reality where I know that I am consciously offering this prayer asking the Creator of the next moment to help me learn is a crucial matter.
Let us take another example. You want to grow a tomato plant. From the previous creation, you learned that the orderly creation of tomatoes is achieved by following a certain specific order, which is sowing the seed, watering it, and taking care of the plant. This specific order is always the same. When you sow the seed, you are following the order, and asking its Creator who taught you how to achieve the results. While following the steps to attain tomato plant, you must bear in mind that you are not creating the tomatoes, rather you are asking the Creator to create the tomato plant for you. Similarly, while you are writing to learn, you must be aware that you are not going to create the learning and remembrance of what is taught.
We are always asking the Creator to create the next moment for us; hence, we are always in need of supplication to our Creator. If you realize that the universe is continuously created and given existence the next moment, by an Absolute Being called God, then you would feel satisfied to know that you are just petitioning for the next moment to be created. In the above example, by following the principles in creation, we are praying for the tomatoes to be given existence. However, we need to understand that it is not guaranteed that a fruit bearing plant will be created. The results achieved are provided according to Absolute Knowledge, Absolute Wisdom, Absolute Justice, and Absolute Mercy.
In its existence, everything is exclaiming that my Creator is the Absolute Being. We should act with this consciousness that we are always in prayer mode while following the order. The following of the order is a prayer in and of itself. Therefore, people who choose not to consciously believe in a Creator of the universe, know that they are following an order to get the desired result. However, they attribute this following of the order, and the creation of the results to luck, chance or nature. We must all have heard languages such as: “If I am lucky, then I will get tomatoes, for example.” “If chance is on my side, then I will get tomatoes from mother-nature.” The consciousness of an Absolute Knowledgeable Source makes the difference between believers and non-believer’s attitude.
The believer in God puts his/her trust in the Absolute Being and is aware that this Absolute Beings knows him/her. With such awareness, we can all be sure that the Owner of our being wouldn’t want to harm us in our existence because He created us and gave us the sense of all our needs to be fulfilled, and the desire to get the expected results. Don’t you think that your Creator knows that you are presenting your needs to Him?!
- He may or may not give you what you desire according to His Absolute Knowledge, knowing what is best for you! If we keep this in mind, we can turn our life into prayer.
The creation of the next moment is nothing but mercy for us, where the Creator of the universe is giving us another opportunity until we die to acknowledge Him as the One providing everything for us. Can anyone guarantee their existence the next moment? No! The Name Al-Haleem refers to how our Creator is not quick to punish but gives us many opportunities to acknowledge Him as the Provider (Al-Razzaq). We must always be thankful for being given existence the next moment. The scholars of the Quran all concur that we can never thank and acknowledge God enough, the way He deserves to be acknowledged.
4B- What is verbal prayer? Let’s take a simple example; you are in a tech exhibition, where you see several phones on display, and a particular phone catches your attention. Since all the phones are on display, the exhibitor tells you to fill in an order form to request the phone that you are interested in buying. Similarly, the Creator of the universe expects for us to verbally communicate with Him about what it is that we would like to achieve by following His order of creation which acts as the order form. However, as we discussed above, we must be utmost aware that our Creator knows what is best for us. If His mercy requires that I should not get harmed from what I am requesting, then He arranges the creation accordingly for me. His Absolute Knowledge knows what is better for us and it may be another phone for example for us to use or no phones at all. Regardless, our responsibility is to always do our part and fill in the request form knowing that He knows what is best for us. In this world, that is our relationship with the Creator, where He is teaching us how the universe functions under His Absolute Will and Command. When we are praying, actively and verbally, we are just presenting our needs to our Creator as the All-Knowledgeable One, who decides and creates what is in our best interest. We just need to acknowledge Him as our Merciful Creator, whether we get what we asked for or not.
If we do not get what we expected, then we must know that the One that we petitioned to must know our state of being. As a conscious being, I must be aware that my Creator knows that there is someone who hears the wishes of my hearts, who knows that I am presenting my needs to Him. With such awareness, there will be no room for falling into chance, luck or mother-nature to be the source of my satisfaction; dumb matter cannot hear my thoughts.
The essence of prayer is not to get the results, rather it is a satisfaction that when I pray, I am asking the One who can make my sincere wishes come true (if they are good for me). With this understanding, we all would know that we have a Guarantor and Protector to our life (“walee” in Arabic), who takes care of our needs.
When we present our supplications to the Creator of the universe, we must be aware that He is the One who has promised us what we need in our existential journey until now. We are not traveling alone on this existential endeavor. Just knowing that I am the product of the One who is the Creator of the universe, makes me realize that there is someone who hears the wishes of my hearts and whose hands can reach all things.
The main problem of loneliness is thinking that I do not have a protector to my existence. Loneliness leads to depression, and destruction of family structure, as a result of which, everyone becomes lonely in a worldly sense as well. If someone is aware that whatever s/he needs will be taken care of by the Creator of the universe, and the next moment of existence is recognized by Him, then his feeling of loneliness dissolves.
Isn’t it hard to get out of loneliness and be satisfied in our existence? No. It needs consciousness that I am with my Creator. If you understand that the existence of everything is realized with the existence of the meaningful side of creation, then you feel that everything is being displayed for you, where a conscious Creator is communicating with your spirit through creating everything meaningfully.
What does it mean to be communicating with the spirit? Let us take an example to comprehend this. When I see a tree, my physical eyes see the body of the tree. That is, my body is communicating with the body of the tree, while my feelings are communicating with the beauty and various qualities of the tree such as shade, color, smell… The angelic side of my eyes, which is the ability of my consciousness to decipher the meanings in the existence of every being, is communicating with the angelic side of creation. If we were to communicate with creation in such a way, we would never feel lonely, as everything in creation such as the birds and insects will become our friends.
When we communicate with creation, we are speaking to the One who is the Owner of the universe and is creating the universe. It is as if every moment we are receiving invitations from our Creator, and we are expressing our needs to Him only. What a beautiful state of being to die in?!
Most Islamic scholars mention that those who are aware and conscious of their Creator, when they are together and taken to Paradise, they will find that the door is always open, whereas Hell is always closed and the unbelievers force its door to enter. This means that denying the Creator is not easy, and the door to Paradise is easy to get into, because the whole universe is welcoming and declaring “Assalamualaikum! May all of God’s blessings and peace be with you eternally!” (See the Qur’an for a meaningful description of these scenes, 39: 71-72)
Finally, we cannot guarantee anything in our existence for we are always needy. We must be ashamed of being needy in front of other beings, such as asking unconscious dumb matter’s help to make our life easy. However, neediness in front of our Creator is what our reality is. We are created only to ask the One who creates the universe for us. In conclusion, we must express our poverty, neediness, and impotence to the Creator of the universe only.
Tags: Quranic Analysis of Prayers Series
