The Contact Prayers
[4:103] Once you complete your Contact Prayer (Salat), you shall remember GOD while standing, sitting, or lying down.* Once the war is over, you shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat); the Contact Prayers (Salat) are decreed for the believers at specific times.
*4:103 Your god is whoever or whatever occupies your mind most of the day. In order to belong in God’s kingdom, and enjoy His grace and protection, the Quran exhorts us to remember God “always” (2:152 & 200, 3:191, 33:41-42). This profound fact explains the numerous verses asserting that “most” of those who believe in God are going to Hell (12:106, 23:84-89, 29:61-63, 31:25, 39:38, 43:87). See Footnote 3:191 and Appendix 27.
This verse shows that the Contact Prayers are designed for specific times and even under these sever circumstances the believers would still perform their Contact Prayer. If we could make up Contact Prayers then it wouldn’t be required to have people stand guard and it would have just said to make up the Contact Prayers when you are safe.
[70:34] They consistently observe their contact prayers (Salat) on time.
Is it wrong to ask God for material things?
No. We should implore God for everything we need or want. This shows our dependence on God for all our provisions. As we grow in belief we may begin to pray more thoughtful prayers such that as oppose to praying for material possessions that may disappoint us we would pray for things that will benefit us no matter what i.e. righteousness, guidance, etc.
[17:11] The human being often prays for something that may hurt him, thinking that he is praying for something good. The human being is impatient.
Supplication: A Form of Worship*
[40:60] Your Lord says, “Implore Me, and I will respond to you. Surely, those who are too arrogant to worship Me will enter Gehenna, forcibly.”
*40:60 Supplication, imploring God for anything, even material luxuries, is a form of worship. Hence the commandment to implore God whenever we have any need. An atheist will never implore God for anything.
[38:34] We thus put Solomon to the test; we blessed him with vast material wealth, but he steadfastly submitted.*
[38:35] He said, “My Lord, forgive me, and grant me a kingship never attained by anyone else. You are the Grantor.”
[38:36] We (answered his prayer and) committed the wind at his disposal, pouring rain wherever he wanted.
God Answers the Prayers of “His Servants”
[2:186] When My servants ask you about Me, I am always near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to Me and believe in Me, in order to be guided.
We don’t want to implore God only when we need provisions. We need to implore God all the time. If we don’t then we can turn unappreciative.
[29:65] When they ride on a ship, they implore GOD, devoting their prayers to Him. But as soon as He saves them to the shore, they revert to idolatry.
[31:32] When violent waves surround them, they implore GOD, sincerely devoting their prayers to Him alone. But as soon as He saves them to the shore, some of them revert. None discards our revelations except those who are betrayers, unappreciative.
Rebellious Humans
[10:21] When we bestow mercy upon the people, after adversity had afflicted them, they immediately scheme against our revelations! Say, “GOD’s scheming is far more effective. For our messengers are recording everything you scheme.”
[10:22] He is the One who moves you across the land and sea. You get onto the ships, and they sail smoothly in a nice breeze. Then, while rejoicing therein, violent wind blows, and the waves surround them from every side. This is when they implore GOD, sincerely devoting their prayers to Him alone: “If You only save us this time, we will be eternally appreciative.”
[10:23] But as soon as He saves them, they transgress on earth, and oppose the truth. O people, your transgression is only to the detriment of your own souls. You remain preoccupied with this worldly life, then to us is your ultimate return, then we inform you of everything you had done.
In the following verse we see that even though two people go to Hajj, one person implores God for things of this world, while others ask for righteousness. The choice is ours what we want to implore God for. This is more of a reason why it is important to not rush into doing Hajj until we have grown and developed our souls.
[2:200] Once you complete your rites, you shall continue to commemorate GOD as you commemorate your own parents, or even better. Some people would say, “Our Lord, give us of this world,” while having no share in the Hereafter.
[2:201] Others would say, “Our Lord, grant us righteousness in this world, and righteousness in the Hereafter, and spare us the retribution of Hell.”
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