Among the worldly effects of prayer are closeness to God, a special bond with the Worshipped One, freedom from heedlessness, tranquillity, sustenance and blessing, love, the granting of one’s requests and prayers, protection from Satan, firmness of faith and conviction, a lightened burden and a purified heart, and more.
Among its otherworldly effects is its role as the measure by which deeds are weighed.
The root cause of distracting thoughts during prayer is a person’s lack of knowledge and love. For the lover is never apart from the beloved: the beloved’s memory fills every corner of the lover’s heart and stirs their feelings. (المرء مع من أحب)
Prayer is the finest means of drawing near to the One Beloved. One who loves God will not let go of the cord of love! Love of this world is the true obstacle to love of God, and it gives rise to heedlessness in prayer. Whoever experiences the joy of worship will not turn away from it, for worship is a means of love and devotion, and prayer is the finest such means. The lower self’s desires obstruct the enjoyment of communion with the Worshipped One; that obstacle must be removed. ( کیف یجد لذه العباده من لا یصوم عن الهوى)
Practising humility strengthens a person’s appetite for worship and transforms their state in prayer. ( ما لی لا أرى علیکم حلاوه العباده قالوا و ما حلاوه العباده قال التواضع)
Avoiding sin awakens the desire to worship and deepens one’s longing for prayer. ( طلبت حلاوه العباده فوجدتها فی ترک المعصیه)
قال عیسى ع بحق أقول لکم کما نظر المریض إلى الطعام فلا یتلذذ به من شده الوجع کذلک صاحب الدنیا لا یتلذذ بالعباده و لا یجد حلاوتها مع ما یجده من حلاوه الدنیا بحق أقول لکم إن الدابه إذا لم ترکب و تمتهن «1» تصعبت و تغیر خلقها کذلک القلوب إذا لم ترقق بذکر الموت و بنصب العباده تقسو و تغلظ و بحق أقول لکم إن الزق إذا لم ینخرق أو ینحل «2» یوشک أن یکون وعاء العسل کذلک القلوب إذا لم تخرقها الشهوات أو یدنسها الطمع أو یقسیها [یقسها] النعیم فسوف تکون أوعیه الحکمه
Majmu‘at-e Varram, vol. 1, p. 148
Jesus (AS) said: “Truly I tell you, just as a sick person looks at food but cannot enjoy it because of the severity of their pain, so too does a person attached to this world take no pleasure in worship and find none of its sweetness so long as they taste the sweetness of worldly life.
“Truly I tell you, just as an animal that is not ridden or put to work for a time becomes difficult to ride and grows weak, so too do human hearts become hard and harsh if they are not softened by remembrance of death and the exertion of worship.
“And truly I tell you, if a waterskin is not pierced, it may become a vessel for honey. Likewise, if hearts are not pierced by desires, stained by greed, or hardened by abundant blessings, they can become fine vessels for wisdom.”
Āyīn-e Bandegī va Niyāyesh (translation of ‘Uddat al-Dā‘ī), p. 180
Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said: “When you stand facing the qibla, give up hope in this world and all that it contains, and in people and what they possess; forget it all. Empty your heart of everything that occupies you, keeps you from God, and draws you towards itself instead of Him. With a sincere heart and pure intention, turn towards the majesty and grandeur of the Lord. Then consider yourself standing before His exalted presence. God Most High says: ‘On the Day of Resurrection, every soul will be confronted with what it sent ahead, and they will return to their Lord, the True Master.’ Let your standing be grounded in both fear and hope.
“When you say the opening takbīr of the prayer, regard everything as small before His greatness and majesty, and consider all creatures between heaven and earth lowly and insignificant. For when a worshipper says the takbīr while their heart contradicts what they profess, unaware of its true meaning, a call comes from the Lord Most High: ‘O lying servant, are you trying to deceive Me? By My might and majesty, I shall deprive you of the sweetness of remembering Me and bar you from nearness to Me and the joy of intimate communion.’
“Know that the Lord Most High has no need of your service; He is independent of you, your worship, and your prayers. Out of His grace and kindness, He has invited you to draw near to Him, so that He may grant you His mercy and benevolence, save you from His punishment and wrath, send down upon you the blessings of His grace and mercy, open to you the door of His forgiveness, and guide you to what pleases Him. Even if God Most High were to create worlds several times greater than these, lasting to the end of time, it would be all the same to Him whether every inhabitant of those worlds disbelieved in Him or believed. For He seeks nothing from the worship and obedience of His creation other than to manifest His generosity, bounty, and power. So make modesty your cloak and neediness your garment, and place yourself beneath the sovereignty, dominion, and authority of the Lord Most High, so that you may benefit from the gifts of His lordship and the outpouring of the lights of the Real. Continually seek God’s help, and take refuge in Him in all your affairs.”
Miṣbāḥ al-Sharī‘a, translated by Muṣṭafavī, text, p. 57