The purpose of prayer in Christianity from my perspective growing up Christian was to be saved, to reach a higher power for daily life guidance, and to be forgiven/confess your sins. Here in Morocco, it feels that the purpose has a different context. Prayer in Islam or at least Moroccan Islam seems to be motivated by spiritualism. From my numerous conversations about religion with our tour guide, Hamid. I have discovered the purpose is a release of spiritual energy. There are however overlapping themes with both. I have noticed the gratefulness and mercy both religions show to their respective creator. In Islam when you wake up there is a prayer to thank the lord you woke up. In Christianity, there are many thanks given to the lord such as before a meal thanking the lord for food. I also see religious guilt in both. With Christianity, I have felt the guilt of not praying by my family, preachers, and myself. In Islam, there is guilt every day when the call to prayer occurs from the sirens in the Meirnet (large pillars overlooking the city). Either you pray or don’t and have the reminder of a siren you did not pray. I also spoke to Hassan, the tour guide of Fez, about 5 times a day prayer. He mentioned how it reduces crime to mostly petty crimes. The constant reminders of God in the city it has an effect on malicious acts. The ritual of prayer is much different as well. In the Christian faith holding hands with heads down and completing prayer with Amen is common when in groups. Islamic group prayer consists of music, dancing, and what seemed to me like reciting verses together. There also seemed to be a back-and-forth prayer within the group. The individual prayer is much more similar. There is supposed to be a direct connection between the individual and God. In the Christian faith, it depends on if you’re a catholic or Protestant. Protestants pray in nearly any fashion they choose. Catholics typically will visit a Church and pray in front of a shrine and recite prayers. Muslims pray alone on their hands and knees and do not recite prayers but chapters of the Koran. They also always face Mecca when praying. I find this extremely interesting as the two show such different practices and purposes. Muslims are told they must by Allah as it is their duty. The biggest difference and takeaway is in Christianity it is to grow a relationship and be saved while in Islam it is their duty and spiritual release.
