By Dr. Yehdua Stolov | Executive Director
The group met again to talk about prayer in Islam and Judaism.
The encounter began with each participant sharing their personal experience with prayer, how it reflects on their daily lives, and the spiritual and psychological impact it has on them, along with examples from their own experiences.
One of the Muslim participants spoke about the importance of prayer in Islam, explaining that it is the pillar of the religion and that it was ordained for Muslims during the Prophet Muhammad's Night Journey and Ascension (Isra and Mi'raj), when he ascended to the heavens and met God and the prophets. She pointed out that prayer was initially prescribed as fifty prayers, which were later reduced to five daily prayers. She also explained that prayer in Islam is performed five times a day, some obligatory and others recommended as acts of worship and drawing closer to God, which raised the interest of the Jewish participants.
The Jewish participants shared that they have three daily prayers and that women do not always pray according to religious tradition, a point that surprised the Muslim participants. For their part, the Muslims explained that prayer is obligatory for both men and women, with temporary exceptions such as during menstruation or after childbirth.
The discussion then shifted to the impact of prayer and its effects on individuals. One Jewish participant shared how prayer helped her find peace and tranquility, especially during difficult times such as the beginning of the war in Gaza. Another participant spoke about finding solace through prayer and connecting it to sharing life stories that offered moments of reflection and inner peace amidst tension and anxiety.
The encounter concluded with a clear sense that prayer, despite its different forms and traditions in both religions, constitutes a shared space for tranquility, reflection, and spiritual connection, and contributes to fostering mutual understanding and respect among the participants.
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