Iran's Ayatollah speaks of importance of prayer

http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-24/0811194969173016.htm

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Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei here on Wednesday said that prayers play a significant role in rectifying men and the society and that such Islamic symbols particularly prayers should be evident in various parts of the society.

The Supreme Leader made the remark in a meeting with participants in the 17th Nationwide Prayers Conference on Wednesday.

"If man successfully controls his carnal desires, he will attain bliss and happiness but if he fails to do so, he will end up in tyranny, prostitution, poverty and arrogance," said Ayatollah Khamenei.

Promotion of true culture of prayers would bring peace of mind, security and tranquility to the society, underlined Ayatollah Khamenei.

The Supreme Leader also advised the government to put construction of mosques in populated areas on top of its agenda.

Islamic culture should be properly demonstrated and observed in construction of mosques, underlined Ayatollah Khamenei.

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This is another example of the wise and shared perception among Christian, Muslim and Jewish religious leaders about the importance of prayer.

Notice that the Ayatollah, like other leaders of the divine faiths, emphasizes the healing role of prayer for the individual and the community.

Many people who fall away from prayer somehow think of it as a theoretical benefit, one they cannot see the results of, and they assume prayer is "only" done from obligation to be subservient and worshiping of God.

But as all the divine faiths have long realized, prayer is spiritual medicinal in character, affirming and healing the individual, protecting him or her from wrong directions, and also of benefit to the entire community and society.

It is interesting that many pagan-leaning modern "new agers" value the effect of "spiritual" acts such as meditation, but do not recognize that prayer, in comparison, is meditation that is done in partnership with God, and the benefit that this obviously confers on the individual and on all the world community.