Concept of Prayer in Islam and Judaism: Similarities and Differences

Abstract

All divine religions are based on the belief in the Oneness of God. Prayer was made obligatory for the practical manifestation of this belief in all divine religions so that this belief is strengthened in the core of the heart, and in turn, it develops and strengthens the relation between God and His servant. Prayer is a dialogue and whispering between Allah and mankind; it is a source of acquiring righteousness. Keeping in view the importance of prayer, books, and research articles have been written on the concept, obligation, importance, and purpose of prayer in Islam and Judaism. However, a valuable comparative study is still missing on the conditions, elements, posture, and supplication of prayer. This article traces the similarities and differences in prayer between Islam and Judaism. In this connection, an analytical and comparative study has been used in the light of the Quran, Ḥadīth, and the Old Testament on the meaning of prayer, its obligation, conditions, elements, posture, supplications, and qualities of Imām in Islam and Judaism. Hence, the similarities and differences of prayer in both religions have been traced out.