By : Dr  Noha abo-krysha
 

              Translated By : Nassim Dhaher

              Revised By Magdy Abd Al-Shafy

In fact , prayer is a strong connection to God . In prayer , one can find many meanings that beggar description , man can find out the basic reason behind his existence . Allah the Exalted says in the Holy Quran what means :

{ Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah. for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction}                Sura Arraadverse28

God also says in the Holy Quran what means :{78-Establish regular prayers - at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony. 79-And pray in the small watches of the morning: (it would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual profit) for thee: soon will thy Lord raise thee to a Station of Praise and Glory!}                     Sura Al-israa verses 78,79

Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say , when somthing distress him : (Oh Bilal(the prayer caller ), call for the prayer, relax us by it)   [Sunan Abi Dawud]

The Scientific Study

It has become clear , through the results of several studies, the great effect that prayer and devotion have on brain stability and mode of function, and it has also become clear that several changes occur in the body ;among these is the effect that happens during blood systematization to certain parts in the brain

prayer effect on cerebral activities

This research was carried out by Dr. Newberg, the assistant Professor at X-Ray division of the Pennsylvania University Medical Center, on a group of faithful people who have faith in God , practice their prayers and come from different religious backgrounds.

This as done using Single Photon C.T. scan that shows the flow of blood in the cerebrum using colors which are based on brain activity where the color Red represents high activity and Yellow and Green represent low activity.

The First Image

The image shows the brain before meditation and prayer(on the left) and during prayer (on the right) where we see that during the envolvement in prayers and meditation, blood flow has increased , frontal lobe region is responsible for controlling emotions and agitations in humans and a region also important for the acquisition and practice of complicated percetion-movement abilities.

Terms used in the image

Baseline: normal state without meditation

Meditation: as name implies

The Second Image

The image shows a a blood flow decline in the the Parietal lobe at the region where humans sense their time and space limits. It was concluded from these results that during prayer, contemplation and seeking Allah, the limits of self-conciousness dissapear and a feeling of peace and freedom starts in the person and one feels closer to Allah in a way that no words can describe.

Verses from The Quran

Many are the verses that talked about the importance of prayer (Assalat), devotion and praise Allah the Almighty. The Quran has made a link between patience and prayer to make sure one does not get agitated.

Allah The Exalted Says in the Holy Quran what means:

{Nay, seek (Allah's) help with patient perseverance and prayer: It is indeed hard, except to those who bring a lowly spirit} SuraAl-Baqara verse 45

There are other verses that linked between prayer and tranquility.

Allah The Exalted Says:

{When ye pass (Congregational) prayers, celebrate Allah’s praises, standing, sitting down, or lying down on your sides; but when ye are free from danger, set up Regular Prayers: For such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times.} Sura An-Nisa verse 103

{Successful indeed are the believers , Who are humble in their prayers} Sura Al Muminun verses 1,2

Results

It becomes clear after these verses of the Noble Quran and scientific studies the importance of prayer in the life of the faithful, and the importance of devotion and glorification during the application of those prayers. From here the wisdom of Islam is apparent in focusing on the danger of  ceasing to do the prayers.

If experiments show stability of the brain during prayers for non-Muslims who don’t even read Al-Quran during their prayers, How then is it when one prays to Allah and reads the Book of Allah? Undoubtedly the stability will be greater.

We remember this noble verse that confirms the importance of the channels of communication towards Allah, ie ,piety, submission, heart purification, and putting things in Allah’s command.

Allah The Exalted Says in the Holy Quran what means:

{Be guardians of your prayers, and of the midmost prayer, and stand up with devotion to Allah.}

Sura  Al-Baqara verse 238

Let us remember also the supplication of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him)

My Lord! Make me to establish proper worship, and some of my posterity (also); our Lord! and accept my prayer.

Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and believers on the day when the account is cast.

References

The Noble Quran

Why God Won’t Go Away,

 (w/ Eugene G. d’Aquili, MD), 2001

-Drs. d'Aquili and Newberg: "Religious and Mystical States: A Neuropsychological Substrate" (Zygon 28: 177-200, 1993).

-Newsweek, May 7, 2001

"Religion and The Brain

In the new field of "Neurotheology," scientists seek the biological basis of spirituality. Is God all in our heads? "

Author: Sharon Begley with Anne Underwood

Edition: U.S. Edition