Prayer in Islam

It is to put ourselves in touch with God, remind ourselves of His greatness, goodness and beauty, think over how we can develop the qualities He has placed in us, remember the goal He has put before us, and ask for His help in enabling us to do good and refrain from evil. Prayer also makes us see our lives, with all the successes and disappointments, in their true perspective, and makes us pause for a moment to see what we are doing in the light of what God wants us to do.

Is prayer necessary?
Just as the body requires food, cleansing, and exercise to make it fit for everyday living, the spirit or soul has spiritual needs for its development, so that one's character and conduct remains good and healthy. The needs of the spirit are provided by acts of worship and devotion, the most important and frequent of which is prayer. Not supplying these needs weakens the highest part of man, damaging his ability to do good and refrain from evil, just as not having enough food makes his body unfit to work and prone to disease.

What are the most important points Islam teaches about prayer?
Among many other important points about prayer, the first is that a person should say his prayers "as if he is seeing God", or at least be conscious that he is in God's presence. This means that prayer should be said with full attention, concentration of mind, and feeling of heart, just as if we were talking to someone in front of us. Another very important point Islam teaches is that a main purpose of prayer is to lead one to do good, to refrain from evil, and to behave better towards others. If prayer does not have this effect on a person's daily life and conduct, it means that he or she is not performing prayers properly, in the way required by Islam.