Power of Prayer and Hope

Severely tempted to write a scathing post on the problems of Muslims who charge into people's homes in the middle of the night, i suddenly realized that there has been a lot of negativity surrounding Islam in recent times, including many things i myself have written.

For a change, i want to write about what right with Islam and Muslims.

Islam, among other things, preaches hope of all things good. Hope through prayer, hope through goodwill, hope through the messages of the Prophet and the Holy Quran, and you can see how well this affects all Muslims.

During the Hari Raya prayers i attended recently, the imam presented a very positive message during his sermon. He spoke about how Islam is a religion of peace and harmony, how living in a multi-racial country has blessed us with the variety of our non-Muslim Malaysian brothers and sisters, and how through celebration and festivals we can learn to live together and knit a stronger Malaysian community. We prayed to Allah that morning for these things to be true, and as i left the mosque, i was very happy to notice that the sheen of hope was lit on many faces and my own.

Later on in the day, visiting with my relatives, we had a short prayer as a family. Prayers were said for my grandparents, who have passed away many years ago. There was a moment of sombre apprehension as we thought of them, but as the prayer continued, i could feel spirits rising all around the room. It was a warm day that day, but as we, as a family, sat there on the floor, reading the Quran together, it felt cool and breezy. There is a certain power to prayer when it can calm the nerves and thoughts of people who have lost those that they love; perhaps it comes from the hope of their well-being and happiness and comfort in the Hereafter.

I've always believed that humans are spiritual beings. Just like our need for food and drink, there is an inner spirit that needs nourishment as well. Muslims draw on prayer for that nourishment, and it keeps us very well. I am inspired by Islam, prayer gives me hope -- perhaps that is what keeps us alive at the end of the day. Where would life be without hope?