I do not subscribe to this notion. The acceptance of prayer is not dependent on a certain location. The spirit behind one’s prayer is what makes it relevant. The Prophet and his Companions made dua from various locations and their prayers were answered.

Prayer (dua) is a natural utterance for one who has a spiritual bent of mind. However, without realisation, prayer is only a repetition of words. The prayer that comes from a realised soul is prayer in the real sense. The prayer, devoid of maarifah (realisation), is nothing but lip service; it has no value. Prayer is a form of worship, and the real form of worship is one in which the realisation of God is an integral part.

Prayer is of two kinds. One is that which requests God to fulfil some need of the suppliant concerning some personal problem he is facing and entreating God to provide a solution. Another form of prayer is that the person praying projects his problem as the problem of God Himself.

The first kind of prayer is the result of human needs. However, the second kind of prayer comes from a person’s heart with deep God-realisation. The second kind of prayer is the result of the discovery of God at the level of realisation. This kind of prayer comes out of the heart or mind of a person only when he has some exceptional experience of God’s nearness.

Source: The Spirit of Islam

Prayer or dua means a call. That is a servant of God invokes his Creator to express either his needs or his servitude to Him. This call in itself is a form of worship. God is a living and permanent existence. He hears and sees and has the power to do as He desires and set the course of events in consonance with His will.

It is this firm conviction which gives rise to this urge within man to pray to God. When man receives inspiration from God, it comes to him naturally to call upon God for all his needs and to ask for God’s blessings in this world as well as in the Hereafter. God is truly man’s sustainer.

There is no time set for prayer, neither is there any prescribed method nor a separate language. Man, at any moment, in any form, and in any language can pray to God. If the prayer has come right from inside one’s heart, it will certainly reach God. God will hear the call without delay and will answer the suppliant’s prayers.

There are certain prayers, which are repeated in different forms of worship. But most prayers are not linked to one form of worship or another. For instance, when a man goes to sleep at night some words of prayer come to his lips according to the time. Similarly, when he wakes up, he starts praying to God to help him to make a better start to the coming day. In the same way when he meets someone, or eats and drinks, or takes his seat in a conveyance or is traveling, or is engaged in his economic activities –whatever the occasion – such prayers come to his lips as mean, O God, in this matter you will decide what is best for us.

Dua means seeking from God and this seeking from God has no ending. It continues always. Dua is an expression of unceasing feelings welling up inside the believer’s heart for his Lord. No moment of a believer’s life can be bereft of it.

Source: Principles of Islam

The Speaking Tree | Sunday, August 15, 2010

Yes. Prayer means establishing contact with the higher reality and that higher reality is the source of all kinds of inspiration. It is also a source of great solace. So prayer, if it is genuine, will certainly help in developing focus and making you a better person.