How do you pray

[MotherMarysStylist]

I wondered how exactly different people went about praying. I know some do it the old school way, eyes closed hands together.

As we approach Lent, I thought it would be interesting to see others approaches. How you converse with God etc, whether it be formal or informal.

@Great news. Muslims don't always pray that way. A lot of Muslims I know (also from Muslim family, definitely not Muslim) never pray like that. Prostrating yourself is a cultural thing/a matter of personal passions. As for Jesus, the whole point of Jesus was that he didn't agree that you should do things the way that they have always been done or because others do them that way. His message was simple, refined and short (unlike some other prophets we know). It boils down to two things: 1. Love thy God and 2. Love thy neighbor. Thode were the founding principles of the Christian faith, the rest was all semantics. That's why the Christian reformation was so successful. There is scope within the point of Christ and Christianity to pray however you want. There is no best way to pray according to Jesus beyond praying earnestly and graciously with hands that serve the lord, eyes that behold only god in all things and, a heart devoted to god.

I am usually in the bathroom getting my glass of water on my way to bed. I am always very grateful for our lovely clean water and think how lucky we are, hence my thanks to God. But my prayer often ends up covering other things as well.

Im with God all day through the day praying and asking for advice. Also I try to set a time in the day to be still and pray. Recently haven’t been able to find the time for stillness. But I do say quick prayers throughout the day. I also pray in tongues. But very rarely.

I live opposite a beautiful church.

I look out of my window and enjoy the beautiful architecture that was built in HIS name and say my prayers.

I know this sounds silly but can God hear what we are thinking all of the time? I believe the soul/source/life force/god/essence is in every one of us, and that's what we truly are but we can get disconnected from it. The physical body has a habit of taking over.

Vitalogy how could that possibly be the case - unless he / she has a team working under him / her

Edd, have you read the Jackie Pullinger books? They are interesting. Some churches are more culturally open to it than others. In my Church, it is not used in open services. Only occasionally when praying for someone in a small group, or in private prayer.

Actually, for the 'is God listening all the t8me' question..
I think prayer is much more for us than it is for God. He doesn't need us to tell him what's what. It's more about us expressing things to him and coming to a better understanding as a result. It's about building an openness to hearing from beyond yourself, about building a relationship ship with God which is beyond your usual experience. I'm not articulating it very well, sorry.

@Jason118 I don't believe it's a he or she but the source being in everyone and everything. All of it being connected by the same thing.
I'm not sure if it was this thread or another thread in this forum but I think you were say about spirituality but not religion being a good thing. What does spirituality mean to you?

For me spirituality is more about human behaviour and how that makes me feel. If people are tolerant, reasonable and kind, that gives me a warm feeling about humanity. To define spirituality as something that exists solely inside you in my point of view is selfish; why should it be all about the individual. Life is created by evolution over millions of years and we share that background with the planet. Believing in man created deities as a way of rationalising things is just absurd, and yes I mean all of them. It's about us, the human population and how we interact with the planet - that's spirituality in my book

To define spirituality as something that exists solely inside you in my point of view is selfish; why should it be all about the individual I didn't say that at all Jason118 in fact I said the opposite.

If people are tolerant, reasonable and kind, that gives me a warm feeling about humanity.* I agree, lets not forget about love .

I try and take a few minutes a day to pray, that way I find I can listen a bit better to what God has to say. I’ve got quite good at meditating and emptying my mind of my own agenda and clutter.

What does he have to say?

Prostrating yourself is a cultural thing/a matter of personal passions
It's not though, it's what Muhammad saws taught as the obligatory salat and how he prayed himself, which is why Muslims who don't perform the 5 salat regularly are often referred to as cultural Muslims instead of practicing.
The general consensus among scholars is that a person who denies the obligatory nature of the prescribed prayer is not actually a Muslim.

It is though - just because Mohammed did something, doesn't mean other people don't get a choice

It's complete nonsense to say the prescribed salat is cultural, it's entirely religious and is the most important religious practice that we have, performed by Muslims of all cultures, in virtually the same way, in the same language. People can do and believe whatever they like Jason118 but as I said, according to Islam, if you believe the 5 daily prayers are not an obligation, you are denying one of the most important tenets of the faith.

I also pray in lots of different ways. I love Brother Lawrence's 'Practice of the Presence of God's which is all about praying in the everyday mundane stuff, praying through the work we do with our hands etc, a bit like mindfulness. It's a lovely way to live and I should do it more often because it's a great release of anxiety.

I also love journalling and praying in poetry and prose, I find that particularly helpful as someone who expresses creativity through writing. Also great to look back at answered prayer. :)

Pray on the go, and sometimes in tongues like pickle which is so wonderful when o just don't know what to say. It's like the Bible's description of 'groans too deep for words' - like I am saying what I need to, without knowing, somehow. It can be profoundly beautiful.

I like to sit and be in stillness when I can, taking time to listen. I don't do it enough.

I think we're physical beings so using our body in prayer is a good thing. I like the way Muslim people pray, it seems both honouring to God and humble somehow. I like to open hands sometimes or kneel. Sometimes I even lie flat.

There are as many ways as there are people in this great diverse creation :)

I definitely feel led to pray physically, sometimes- to rock, or pace or kneel...

I love the idea of journalling Madhairday I'm going to try that.

Sorry everyone if my posts have come across as aggressive in such a nice inspiring thread.

About your prayer position

That's really interesting NewYearNiki although I think you just meant to be offensive. I personally don't pray in that position but I think many Christians do. I'm Muslim and Islam means submission, being a servant of Allah swt is a good thing to me and something commonly referenced in my religion. Our minds are free, we choose to try our best to serve God.

@Eggsonhead
The Muslims that you may know, who do not pray by prostrating as a Muslim is required to are indeed can be classed as 'cultural Muslim' or not Muslim at all according to the covenant that one enters with God by professing the declaration of faith (Ash-hadu anna laa ilaaha illalaah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadur ar-Rasool Allah.) (Translation: I bear witness that there is absolutely no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah.) Which repeated in every prayer calls and within the ritual prayers.

And this is what God says about him in the Qur'an.

Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much. Quran (Surah Al-Ahzab, Verse 21)

So, one cannot be a true Muslim without following and emulating him in all matters.

And when Jesus (peace be upon him) returns he will be following the way of Prophet Muhammad.

And I did not create the Jinn and Mankind except to worship Me. 51:56

So as a Muslim if you don't pray properly, what happens?

So as a Muslim if you don't pray properly, what happens?

There is a big difference between not praying (salaah) correctly and not praying the 5 daily prayers.

If someone does not know how to pray or makes a mistake then they are excused but must try their utmost to learn and correct it.

Whereas, deliberately not praying the 5 obligatory prayers takes one out of the fold of Islam according to the scholars based on the following.

The authentic says of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “The difference between us and them is salaah. Whoever neglects it is a kaafir (have disbelieved) .” (Reported by Imaam Ahmad and the authors of Sunan with a saheeh isnaad); and: “(Nothing stands) between a man and kufr (disbelief) and shirk (associating partners), except prayer: (whoever neglects it becomes a kaafir (have disbelieved) and a mushrik (polytheists).” (Reported by Imaam Muslim in his Saheeh, with other similar ahaadeeth).

And the Qur'an says about prostrating (praying):-

7:206 Surely those who are with your Lord are not too proud to serve Him, and they glorify Him and prostrate themselves before Him.

17:109 And they fall down on their faces, weeping, and it adds to their humility.

19:58 These are they on whom Allah bestowed favours, from among the prophets, of the seed of Adam, and of those whom We carried with Noah, and of the seed of Abraham and Israel, and of those whom We guided and chose. When the messages of the Beneficent were recited to them, they fell down in submission, weeping.

22:77 O you who believe, bow down and prostrate yourselves and serve your Lord, and do good that you may succeed.

32:15 Only they believe in Our messages who, when they are reminded of them, fall down prostrate and celebrate the praise of their Lord, and they are not proud.

38:24 He said: Surely he has wronged you in demanding your ewe (to add) to his own ewes. And surely many partners wrong one another save those who believe and do good, and very few are they! And David knew that We had tried him, so he asked his Lord for protection, and he fell down bowing and turned (to God).

41:38 But if they are proud, yet those with your Lord glorify Him night and day, and they tire not.

53:62 So bow down in prostration before Allah and serve (Him).

84:21 And, when the Quran is recited to them, they adore (Him) not?.

96:19 Nay! Obey him not, but prostrate thyself, and draw nigh (to Allah).

So as you can see its a commandment of God to bow down prostrate to Him alone as an act of worship, not according to how we want pray to Him but, according to God's wishes.

The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination." 2:285