Comparative Analysis of Prayer in Islam with Prayer in Christianity Research Paper

Comparative Analysis of Prayer in Islam with Prayer in Christianity - Research Paper Example Comparative Analysis of Prayer in Islam with Prayer in Christianity It will analyze role and meaning of prayer in general as well as in each of two religions in particular. The first part of the paper will examine such prayer related themes as meaning of prayer in Islam: calling out of the muezzin: parts of the five time prayer; prayer in the Koran; the Fatiha – the main prayer of the Muslims. The second part of the paper will discuss prayer from Christian perspective: particularly prayer in Catholicism and ways of praying; Liturgy of the hours; prayer and the Scripture; the Lord’s Prayer – the main prayer of the Christians. Notion of pray is present almost in all religions which eve existed and still exist today. Prayer usually expresses such feelings as love and faith, respect, regret and sorrow, happiness and gratitude. Being one of the essential parts of spiritual practice, a prayer is utilized in worshiping God. However, prayer is different in different religions. There are various forms of prayer: spoken and written words, meditations, songs, etc. usually religious people call prayer a conversation with God. However, only religious people can understand all the nuances and meanings of the spiritual power of a prayer (Beasler 196). According to Mauss prayer is very ancient and unique religious phenomenon (p. 21). Role of prayer has always been complex and constantly changing. Both in Islam and in Christianity prayer place significant role, because is the first and the major means of communication or connection of the believer and God. II. Meaning of prayer 1. Prayer in Islam Holy prayer salat is one of the major pillars of Islam. Except prayer there are four other fundamentals of Islam such as almsgiving (zakat), fasting during the month of Ramadan (sawm), pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj), and personal declaration of faith to God and Mohammed (shahad) (Oh 38). Role of prayer in Islam cannot be underestimated. According to the teachings of the Muslims, the payer was mentioned by the Prophet Mohammed after his revelation about faith. Like Moses and Jesus taught about role of prayer and praying, Mohammed taught about praying Allah. One cannot be a Muslim without praying. It is obligation of every Muslim to pray God and Prophet in their remembrance, because prayer is act of confession of faith. Muslims deliver their prayer five times a day, so prayer is rather an act of worshiping: at daybreak, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. Muhammad himself established the times for praying as well as ritual actions. In Muslim countries anyone can hear the call to pray of the muezzin. It serves as a calling out or a reminder to pray. Usually the muezzin delivers his calling out via a megaphone located on the top of a mosque’s minaret. So, the muezzin calls out: God is most great [Allahu Akbar], God is most great, God is most great, God is most great, I witness that there is no god but God [Allah]; I witness that there is no god but God. I witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God. I witn ess that Muhammad is the messenger of God. Come to prayer; come to prayer! Come to prosperity; come to prosperity! God is most great. God is most great. There is no god but God (Esposito 18). People, who are at work or with family, busy or doing nothing, hear the reminder and know that it’s time to go to pray. No matter how busy a person is, they should go to the mosque and concentrate their mind on the pray to their God Allah. Even if there is no mosque nearby, a person can pray in