Tuesday 

Loosely themed around the days of the week on which they were to be broadcast this series really used the Qur'an to illustrate what I was saying, rather than what I was saying being more of a commentary on the Qur'an.

People often hear that Muslims pray five times a day with a reaction not much less than horror. Five times a day? That’s a bit extreme isn’t it? If not bordering on the fanatical. Yet if I said that I had a break for a sit-down with a cup of coffee five times a day it would be received in a very different way.

One is seen as an imposition on everyday life, the other as an intrinsic part of it. But when the call to prayer sounded for his community, Muhammad would say “It is time for rest”. And sometimes we need to be reminded to take a rest. Looking after ourselves takes discipline, and the discipline of our prayers is really just a reminder to apply that discipline to our lives.

Qur’an says “True piety is this: to believe in God, and the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, and the Prophets, to give of one's substance, however cherished, to kinsmen and orphans, the needy, the traveller, and beggars, and to ransom the slave, to perform the prayer, to pay the alms. And they who fulfil their covenant when they engage in a covenant, and endure with fortitude misfortune, hardship and peril, these are they who are true in their faith, these are the truly godfearing.”

And everybody fears – it is of our nature, and its partner is hope, and we can arm ourselves against it by our beliefs and our behaviour, because “Those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, and make prayer, and give in charity - their wage awaits them with their Lord, and no fear shall be on them, nor shall they sorrow.” says Qur’an.

All-Merciful God, help us to submit with grace to all the trials of our lives. Give us the discipline to live our lives doing the best we can for others, and the knowledge and self-discipline to live our lives in a way that avoids damage to ourselves. Amen