Does God Exist?

The Power of Prayer

Muniba, a young Muslim university student, was home for the summer. She had gone to visit some sisters one evening and the time passed quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year.

She ended up staying longer than she had planned.

Evening came and Muniba had to walk home alone, but she wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away. As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Muniba asked "God" to keep her safe from harm and danger. When she reached the alley, which was a short cut to her house, she decided to take it.

However, halfway down the alley, she noticed a man standing at the end, as though he was waiting for her. She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for "God's" protection.

Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped around her; she felt as though someone was walking with her. When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely.

The following day, she read in the paper that a young girl had been assaulted in the same alley, just twenty minutes after she had been there.

Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep. Thanking God for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station. She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story. The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a line up to see if she could identify him.

She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before. When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed.

The officer thanked Muniba for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her, she asked if they would ask the man one question.

Muniba was curious as to why he had not attacked her? When the policeman asked him he answered, "Because she wasn't alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her." Subhan Allah (Glory be to God)!

Never Underestimate The Power of Prayer!

He, who loses money, loses much He, who loses a friend, loses much more He, who loses FAITH, loses ALL (B) Dua Is a Weapon:

It is essential that a man recites Dua at all times, especially in this era. The need for Dua is greater today, because we are living in dangerous conditions. In the face of all this difficulties, we must recite Dua constantly.

Of course, we must act too. In Hadith - "A prayer of supplicant without action is same as a bow without a string". But action without God's help is also of no use.

Dua plus action shall help us. Dua not only can uplift us spiritually, but is gives us strength as well. As The holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said: "Dua is a faithful people's weapon".

The Rope: Prayer without Action

Another fictional story, to understand prayer without complete faith and action! The night fell heavy in the heights of the mountains and the man could not see anything.

All was black. Zero visibility, and the moon and the stars were covered by the clouds. As he was climbing only a few feet away from the top of the mountain, he slipped and fell in to the air, falling at great speed. He could only see black spots as he went down, and the terrible sensation of being sucked by gravity.

He kept falling and in the moments of great fear, it came to his mind all the good and bad episodes of his life. He was thinking now about how close death was getting, when all of a sudden he felt the rope tied to his waist pull him very hard. His body was hanging in the air.

Only the rope was holding him and in that moment of stillness he had no other choice other to scream: "Help me God". All of a sudden a deep voice coming from the sky answered, "What do you want me to do?"

"Save me God".

"Do you really think I can save you?"

"Of course I believe You can." "Then cut the rope tied to your waist." There was a moment of silence and the man decided to hold on to the rope with all his strength. The rescue team tells that the next day a climber was found dead and frozen his body hanging from a rope. His hands holding tight to it, only one foot away from the ground!

Hence, a prayer without sincere action and full trust is no use. How attached we are to our rope will we let go? Don't ever doubt about the words of God. We should never say that He has forgotten us or abandoned us.

The holy Qur'an says, "Allah is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith the patrons are the evil ones: from light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein (Forever)." (2:257 )

Prayer without Belief

A tale is told about a small town that had historically been "dry," (no alcohol sold) but then a local businessman decided to build a tavern. A group of Christians from a local church were concerned and planned an all-night prayer meeting to ask God to intervene.

It just so happened that shortly thereafter lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground. The owner of the bar sued the church, claiming that the prayers of the congregation were responsible, but the church hired a lawyer to argue in court that they were not responsible.

The presiding judge, after his initial review of the case, stated that "No matter how this case comes out, one thing is clear. The tavern owner believes in prayer and the Christians do not."

One other observation is that we should beseech Allah's help to all our serious and trivial problems. It is true that a man should ask Allah for everything, even for the salt of his table, but important things come first.

Our Prophets asked for victory, asked for truth to win. The followers of Prophet Moses (p.b.u.h.) used to ask for steadfastness, and patience against troubles. Everybody should ask for Islam's victory.

Dua should go with the time, and many scholars say that Dua is not that which is written in books only, but a man is allowed to pray the way he wants.

Dua is a contact with Almighty God, so make the contact the way you feel best. Of course, the Duas of our Imams (p.b.u.t.) are more comprehensive and effective, but making contact yourself with your own words and thoughts is allowed too.

Express your inner feelings to Almighty God. Our Imams (p.b.u.t.) use to pray for social conditions and political conditions that they lived in.

Imam Ali (p.b.u.h.) would pray against Moawiya and Amr Ibn Aas. Imam Hussain (p.b.u.h.) prayed against the army of Bani Umayya on the day of Ashura.

If the Dua in books doesn't express what you feel, go ahead and express your feelings from the bottom of your heart, with choking voice with all devotion and concentration.