Prayer

“Pray to Me, (and) I will answer you.” (Mu’min, 40:60).

“Prayer is the nourishment of the spirit, and the spirit should be continuously supported by that nourishment.

Prayer is like a magic spell which grants the will a pair of wings. Nobody can understand the secret of this power except those who are constant in the practice of prayer and supplication.”¹⁾

“To make supplication and prayer is to transcend the limits of the realm of apparent causes by making known one’s reliance on the power of the Benevolent One, Exalted is He, while showing one’s human weakness.

The most dangerous virus that attacks prayer is to attribute creative effect to worldly causes. The spirit infected with this virus needs additional treatment.”²⁾

“We use prayer to turn to the Eternally Merciful God, present ourselves to Him, and ask Him to meet all of our needs. We entreat Him humbly and submissively, fully aware of our status as weak, poor, and needy servants who are not self-subsistent. Thus prayer is a necessity arising from our belief, trust, and full confidence in the Lord, as well as our understanding of Divine Unity.”³⁾

“The body of prayer is words, and its spirit is purity of intentions and sublime considerations.”⁴⁾

“Prayer transcends worldly causes. A sincere prayer reflects the sincerity of the heart. Just as it is necessary not to fail to observe the means in the works done, it is essential to expect the result from God, not from worldly causes.”⁵⁾

“The main thing in prayer is to believe and trust in its acceptance. One should open his heart, aside from opening his hands.”⁶⁾

“Know O friend that the prayers of those in great difficulty and under severe hardship produce great results. They cause the mightiest and greatest thing to be subjected to the weakest and smallest one. For example, a roaring sea may subside in answer to the prayer of a broken-hearted infant on a piece of wood floating on its surface. This means that the One Who answers prayers has absolute authority over all things and is Lord of creation.”⁷⁾

“Know, O friend that prayer or supplication contain the meanings of belief in One God and worship. Those who pray should be convinced that the One to Whom they pray hears, knows, and can fulfill their desires and needs. This requires believing that the One prayed to knows and has power over all things.”⁸⁾

“Know, O one who claims that his or her prayers are not answered. Prayer (calling to God, supplication) is a type of worship, and the fruit of worship is given in the Hereafter. The worldly results expected from worship are the occasions for it. ‘Pray to Me, (and) I will answer you.’ Sunset is the occasion for the Evening Prayer, and a solar eclipse (not its ending) is the reason for the eclipse prayer. Drought is the occasion for the prayer of asking God for rain, which was not ordered so that rain would come.”⁹⁾

“If a calamity is not lifted despite many prayers, do not say that your prayer has not been accepted. Rather, say that the time for prayer has not yet ended. If God removes the calamity because of His endless Grace and Munificence, this is light upon light, profit upon profit, and marks the end of the special occasion for prayer. Praying is a mystery of servanthood to God through worship. Worship is done solely to please God and for His Sake. We should affirm and display our poverty and weakness, and seek refuge with Him through prayer. We must not interfere in His Lordship, but rather let God do as He wills and rely on His Wisdom. In addition, we should not accuse His Mercy.”¹⁰⁾

“Every creature offers its unique praise and worship to God. What reaches the Court of God from the universe is a kind of prayer. Some creatures, like plants and animals, pray through the tongue of their potential to achieve a full form and then display and show certain Divine Names. Another kind of prayer is expressed in the tongue of natural needs. All living beings ask the Absolutely Generous One to meet their vital needs, as they cannot do so. Yet another kind of prayer is done in the tongue of complete helplessness. A living creature in straitened circumstances takes refuge in its Unseen Protector with a genuine supplication and turns to its All-Compassionate Lord. These three kinds of prayer are always acceptable, unless somehow impeded. The fourth type of prayer is the one used by humanity. This type falls into two categories: active and by disposition, and verbal and with the heart.”¹¹⁾

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