The Impact of Saying Prayers and Supplication on Prisoners of War
During their captivity, prisoners of war endured the harshest physical and psychological tortures. Their only hope and weapon against the enemy was saying prayers, communion, and supplicating the Prophet`s family members (peace be upon them). The impact of saying prayers and supplication on the prisoners is as follows:
1. Revival of Hope
In times of despair, the supplicant connects themselves with a primordial power to whom difficult or easy makes no difference, and who pours into their hearts as a ray of hope. Once in the abyss of despair when one`s hope for liberation from bondage and hardships of living under tyranny is ebbing away, the only factor that could help the captives out was to boost their morale and religious faith. To protect themselves from the enemy's comprehensive cultural invasion, which manifested itself through newspapers, magazines, radio, and television, the prisoners strengthened their spiritual morale through prayers, recitation of the Quranic verses,and consulting such sacred books as Nahj al-Balagha, and Mafatih[1]. By reciting the Supplication of Tawassul on Tuesday nights, the Supplication of Kumayl on Friday nights, Ziyarat Ashura, and the Supplication of Nudbah on Fridays, they purified their hearts, and when grief and sorrow attacked, they sought refuge in prayers and the Quran.
2. Invitation to Purity, Goodness, and Piety
During captivity, saying prayers ensured that purity, good deeds, and avoidance of sins were part of the prisoners' daily agenda.
3. An Important Factor in Upbringing
The more important the subject of saying prayers is for a person, and the greater the hope and need for its fulfillment, the more efforts will be spent to create the above-mentioned conditions , and the profound effect of prayers on the moral upbringing of individuals will be more palpable. For this reason, during captivity, saying prayers and supplication had a positive impact on others.
4. Strengthening Altruism
Saying prayers strengthens a person's sense of altruism and their care for the conditions and problems of other human beings. For this reason, we should first pray for others and then for ourselves. During captivity, a concrete example of this altruism and prioritizing their interests over one's own was observed.
5. Battling Inner Anxieties
Saying prayers and supplicating the Almighty Lord, and reliance on the Creator's eternal power wholeheartedly, reassure a person. This reassurance and entrusting oneself to Him give a person peace. Performing the recommended duties and saying prayers and Quranic incantations created a kind of spiritual and psychological peace of mind in the captives and eliminated their despair and sorrow[1]. In rooms where saying prayers and religious ceremonies were held more frequently, greater spiritual and psychological well-being prevailed.
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Author
Zahra Yazdinejad