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December 8, 2007
prayer and faith
Someone asked what is more excellent than prayer. The answer is, that the soul of prayer is better than prayer. Another answer is that faith is better than prayer, for prayer is obligatory at five specific times a day where as faith is uninterrupted. One can be excused from prayer for a valid reason, and it is also allowable to postpone prayer. Faith without prayer merits reward, whereas prayer without faith, such as the prayer of hypocrites, does not. Prayer differs according to religion, but faith does not change by religion. Its states, its focus, and so forth, are immutable. There are other differences too. One hears the Word in accordance with the degree to which one has been “attracted.” The hearer of the Word is like flour in the hands of a kneader; the Word is like water, and the “right amount of water must be mixed into flour.”
Rumi - Fihi Ma Fih
Posted by amin at December 8, 2007 11:57 PM