The Transformative Power of Prayer: Inner Peace and Moral Strength through Surah Al-Ankabut, Verse 45

Introduction

On the 28th of Rajab, we celebrate a significant event in the history of Islam – the establishment of the first prayer. To honour this occasion, we’ll delve into a profound verse from the Quran that underscores the importance of prayer, its impact on moral conduct, and its vital role in enhancing our spiritual awareness:

اُتْلُ مَآ أُوْحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَآءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ (سوره العنکبوت، آیه ۴۵)

“Recite what is revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer restrains one from indecency and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.”

In an age where moral challenges and distractions abound, this verse offers profound guidance. Prayer, as underscored in the Qur’an, is not merely a ritual; it is a shield against immorality and wrongdoings. For individuals navigating the complexities of modern life, particularly Muslims living in non-Muslim societies, the act of Salah becomes a source of spiritual grounding, moral clarity, and divine connection. Its emphasis on remembrance (“وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ”) underscores the priority of aligning our lives with divine consciousness, helping us navigate societal challenges while remaining true to our values.

Some of the educational messages of this verse for the different groups of the Muslim communities are outlined here.

Messages of the Ayah for Teenagers and Young Adults:

• Embrace Prayer with Heartfelt Devotion:

Take your prayers seriously and perform them with heartfelt devotion and punctuality. Beware of daily distractions and materialistic influences that might lead you astray from prayer and remembrance of Allah SWT. God places tremendous importance on prayer.

Practical Challenge: Create a daily schedule, install a prayer application on your device, and set reminders for prayer times to ensure you don’t miss any prayers.

• Prayer as a Shield Against Immorality:

Ensure that your prayers keep you away from immorality and wrongdoings. Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “Anyone who wishes to know if their prayers have been accepted or rejected, should see if their prayers have kept them away from indecency and wrongdoings”. Then he mentioned: «فبقدر ما منعته قبلت منه»  “To the extent that it restrains, it is accepted.”

Practical Challenge: Reflect on your actions at the end of each day to evaluate whether your prayers have guided you away from negative behaviours.

Messages of the Ayah for Parents:

• Nurture Your Children with Quran and Prayer:

Place the Quran and prayer at the core of your children’s upbringing. Do not outsource the religious and moral education of your children; start within your home and from an early age. The best sources for nurturing are – as per this exalted Quranic verse – the Quran and prayer.

Practical Challenge: Set aside a specific time each day for family prayer and Quran recitation.

• Developing God-Consciousness at Home:

Develop God-consciousness within yourself, your family, and your children. This verse states: وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ “And Allah knows that which you do.” Cultivate the awareness that we are always in God’s presence, and He knows us better than we know ourselves. Instil this belief in your children from a young age.

Practical Challenge: Encourage family members to keep a gratitude journal where they write down at least one thing they are thankful to Allah for every day. This habit can help them recognize and appreciate Allah’s presence in their daily lives by reflecting on the blessings they receive.

Messages of the Ayah for Imams and Religious Leaders:

• Inner and Outer Dimensions of Worship:

Remind your followers that every act of worship has an outer and inner dimension. Worship that is only outwardly performed without inner sincerity not only lacks impact but can sometimes be detrimental. The outer aspect involves the actions and words performed, while the inner aspect involves understanding the meaning and logic behind the worship and acting accordingly.

Practical Challenge: Organise a workshop to teach the deeper meanings and inner dimensions of prayer.

• Attaining Mindfulness in Prayer:

The phrase “وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ” (the remembrance of Allah is greater) can imply that during prayer, we should detach ourselves from all other thoughts and solely focus on the remembrance of Allah SWT, for His remembrance is above all other remembrances. Only in this state can one achieve mindfulness and self-awareness during prayer, which in turn lays the foundation for reaping the benefits of prayer.

Practical Challenge: Lead a congregational prayer focused on achieving mindfulness and self-awareness during prayer.