Title: Why do we have Legislations regarding Prayers Question: Why do we have formal prayers? Some people have stated to me that it's strange that a person can't pray to God in his/her own way. What would you reply to this? Another question is: Why are there fixed times for these prayers? Some would say why can't we pray at anytime? Others may even state that we should be praying all the time (maybe they meant God should be in our hearts and minds all the time). How come there are times we should not pray? For instance, during Shoo'rooq. I assume that we're not allowed to pray during that time because it coincided with the polytheists' prayer times. Am I right in this assumption? If not, can you please explain why we can't pray during Shoo'rooq, are there any other reasons? Another example of not being able to pray is when a woman is going through her menstrual cycle. This is her cleansing phase (unlike when person can just wash themselves, her body is doing the actual cleaning and she has to wait). How then can a woman who's going through her cycle approach God? How can she thank, give glory, or ask for something she's in need of? Is there a parallel (natural) situation that men go through (not including the time of ejaculation) when they are not allowed to pray? With respect, Ronnie USA Answer: First of all it should be kept in mind that the prescribed mode and timings of prayers are, in fact, the mode and timings for the minimum obligatory daily prayers. A person may offer more prayers of his own free will and in any reasonable and decent manner that he wants at any time during the day. In fact, the Qur'an has greatly encouraged the believers to offer supererogatory prayers and acts of worship of their own free will and has promised them great rewards in return. As for the reason for prescribing the mode and timings for the minimum obligatory daily prayers, it has been done to safeguard man from crossing the limits at both ends - the minimum and the maximum. As you have also written: Some would say why can't we pray at anytime? Others may even state that we should be praying all the time The purpose of prescribing obligatory prayers, according to the Qur'an is to keep the remembrance of God alive and active in our minds throughout the day. The Qur'an says: And establish prayers to keep My memory alive [in your minds] ( Ta Ha 20: 14) But how and how long should one pray to keep God's remembrance alive and active in one's mind? This is a question, answering which man is prone to losing sight of the desired balance in his life. Take the case of deciding about the mode. Deciding about the mode of God's worship, man, on the one end, can become a complete ascetic, giving up all the good things that God has bestowed upon him, becoming oblivious of the rights that he owes to all those living around him, and sometimes even spilling the blood of his own children for what he considers would earn God's pleasures for him. At the other end, man could be prone to believing that God's worship should be a matter of the heart alone. One may offer his prayers sitting in his office or lying down in his bedroom even relieving himself in his toilet. While the first extreme is likely to negatively affect the social fabric in which man lives, the second extreme entails the danger of ultimately becoming unmindful of our true relationship with the Almighty. A similar danger of imbalance lies in determining the timings of God's remembrance. Thus, we see that on the one extreme are those, who have become completely unmindful of their duties towards their fellow human beings, while on the other extreme are those whose acts of worship are limited to who consider it enough to attend a weekly congregation, and that too only if they feel like it. By prescribing the mode and timings of offering obligatory prayers, Islam has not only guided man towards the various actions and etiquettes which they may adopt in their worship - as qiyaam , ruku` , sujood and qa`dah - but has also prescribed the timings during the day when they must offer these prayers. This prescription regarding the mode and timings of prayers has, in a way, determined the minimum limit which a person must abide in the remembrance of God, on the one hand, while on the other, it has approved the actions which traditionally have been and may still be performed during these sessions of remembrance. Man, may, if he wants perform additional acts of remembrance of worship at any time by offering any of the various elements entailed in the obligatory prayers. For instance, man may, at any time offer ruku` or sajdah or qiyaam or qa`dah in seclusion and express his gratitude, offer his salutations, seek help or pray to God for guidance at any time during the day. There is no limit on the number of times that a person may offer such acts of worship, neither is there a limit on the timings at which these actions may be performed. However, this should indicate there still remained a danger of man's over involvement in worship and remembrance of the Almighty. This aspect of over involvement is safeguarded by the social teachings and other interpersonal teachings of Islam, according to which each individual is not only bound to fulfill his duties towards the Almighty, but shall also be held responsible for carrying out all his moral and social obligations towards his family, his friends, his neighbors, his associates and his acquaintances. Thus, through the prescription of the mode and timings for the obligatory prayers, God has guided man in a matter regarding which man has traditionally been prone to imbalances. For your second question regarding the timings considered as prohibited for offering prayers, I agree with your opinion that the stated prohibition was because of the fact that these were traditionally the times of worship of the polytheists [1] . During her menstrual cycle, a woman does not offer her obligatory prayers. However, it is not prohibited for a woman to offer supplications and prayers other than the prescribed obligatory prayers. I cannot think of a situation for men, which may be considered as parallel to that of a woman's menstruation. I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad August 3, 2002 [1] For details, please refer to one of my earlier response titled ' Offering Nawafil after Fajr and Asr Prayers '.