Source: http://omidsafi.religionnews.com/2013/02/28/how-to-pray-presence-in-the-heart/
By Omid Safi

A man came to see the Prophet Muhammad (S).   Before talking with the Prophet, he quickly performed his prayers.   When he walked up to the Prophet, the Prophet sent him back to do his prayers over again, and said:  ”You did not do your prayers.”

The man was puzzled, yet he went back and quickly performed his prayers again.

Once more, he came back to the Prophet.

A second time the Prophet sent him back.

The man came back a third time, and for a third time the Prophet sent him back to perform his prayers.

This time the Prophet (S) added:

        “There is no prayer without the presence of the heart.”

Where there is presence of the heart, there too will God be present.

There are many items and conditions that are deemed helpful for prayer:
a beautiful temple/shrine/mosque/church, mood music, ritual purity, proper rituals, a rosary, clasped hands, incense, etc.

All of those can help in bringing about one’s focus on the presence of God.   But none of them can take the place of………

———————

There is a powerful reminder in the Gospel according to St. Luke, which depicts Jesus praying in a certain place.

When he finished, one of his disciples said to him,
        “Lord, teach us to pray.”   [Luke:  11:1]

The disciples of Christ asked him about the real meaning of prayer.
How do we pray like Christ?
This is not a prayer that most of us know intuitively.
We have to be taught how to pray.

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