Page 47 - Prayer in the Qur'an

THE IGNORANT UNDERSTANDING OF PRAYER 45

You need to draw lessons from this incident in the Qur'an, and strive
not to be like the idolaters who prayed in the ship but then became
ungrateful once relieved. You need to ask for forgiveness and repen-
tance, for the duty of every person of faith is to avoid the character
traits of disbelievers and idolaters and strive to assume the believ-

ers' character traits. One of these is their constant remembrance that
they are Allah's servants, whether they are at ease or in trouble.
They always turn to Allah in prayer and remain grateful.
We need to remember that praying only in times of trouble and
hardship is an insincere attitude. Indeed, the Qur'an relates that
even the most insolent people who revolted against Allah and His
messenger prayed to Allah at very difficult times.
Pharaoh is the prototype of such a character. Pharaoh, who pre-
sented himself as a god in ancient Egypt and grew arrogant, treated
the Prophet Musa (as) and his people cruelly and denied Allah, de-
spite the many miracles he witnessed and the Prophet Musa's com-
munication of Allah's message. Moreover, Pharaoh's denial and
arrogance persisted until he met his death. Yet, once he realized that

death was very near and that he had no hope for salvation, he
started to pray desperately and claimed that he was also a Muslim—
one who has submitted himself to Allah. This is related in the
Qur'an as follows:
We brought the tribe of Israel across the sea and Pharaoh and
his troops pursued them out of tyranny and enmity. Then,
when he was on the point of drowning, he said, "I believe that
there is no god but Him in Whom the tribe of Israel believe. I

am one of the Muslims." "What, now! When previously you re-
belled and were one of the corrupters? Today we will preserve
your body so you can be a Sign for people who come after you.