People Praying
Praying, or prayer, is the practice of seeking out a relationship to a deity or object of worship through deliberate communication. The act of prayer is believed to have first been recorded as early as 5000 years ago, and is a form of intercession, praise, and thanks common among the vast majority of religions throughout the world. The methodologies and beliefs surrounding this practice vary, with some religions viewing prayer as a highly ritualized act, placing restrictions on who is allowed to pray, as well as where, when, and how, with others teaching prayer as an activity which may be done freely by anyone, anywhere, at anytime.
Prayer seeks to start a rapport with an object of worship such as a deity or deified ancestor through deliberate communication. It is a communication process that can also have the purpose of giving thanks or praise. Prayer can be a ritual, performed alone or in groups, or it can take the form of a hymn, incantation, formal creedal statement, or spontaneous utterance.
The early basis of the belief in saintly intercession is the thought that martyrs could pass quickly into the presence of god, and could obtain his graces and blessings for others. Just as people may ask their friends and family to pray for them, Catholics believe they can ask saints to pray for them as well.
Salat is the obligatory Muslim prayers; it is the second Pillar of Islam, and god ordered Muslims to pray at five set times of the day. The prayers should be performed at Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isha (night).
