God invites us to pray because it is our duty. In order to get closer to the King, we must serve him.
When the time comes for prayer, the dervishes line up in close formation, shoulder to shoulder and side by side. Their personal stories no longer matter, and they all feel the same.
It is like in war: what matters is the common mission, serving the greater plan, no matter how you feel, your personal problems do not have room.
To know, you need to get in touch with someone who knows — not with those who believe. Those who know are Kings; those who only believe are fanatics.
According to tradition, it is said that praying in the community is seventy times better. Islam brings us together.
All men and women are invited to meet on Friday for Jummah, the community prayer, if they are able to do so. ‘The One who gathers’ is one of the divine names, Jami. The ego always wants to isolate itself, to elevate itself above others. This is its programme.
The prayer grants peace, allowing us to come together as one body, moving in unison and culminating in prostration. Bowing with others brings reconciliation.
Prayer enables us to connect with our true nature. It makes us human. By bowing, you connect with the divine will that becomes audible.
The celestial world is always watching us and looking for us. If we are wrapped up in our own psychic world and only ever think about our problems, we become invisible to the spiritual world, which cannot recognise or contact us.
Prayer opens us up and puts us in the right position.
Then a divine ray reaches us, giving us reality and making our souls shine. It bestows a subtle strength and protection upon us. We rise like stars from our psychic darkness and enter the divine movement.
We pray because God invites us to, but we don’t pray for God. He has everything. What could we possibly give Him? Our prayers neither increase nor diminish His happiness.
As the Father, He wants to provide for His children. However, since He is the ultimate goal and there is nothing but Him, we must turn to Him in prayer.
It is difficult to think during prayers, but if you find yourself following your own thoughts, it does not matter. Fixing your gaze on where your head will touch when you prostrate yourself strengthens your willpower and reduces distractions.
The masters invite us to imitate the angels’ behaviour with regard to prayers, which means receiving an order and executing it. Prayer is the daily sustenance of the soul. Maintaining a daily discipline weakens the ego; prayer is part of the work. It is an activity of the soul.
