Prayer is a great manifestation of the name All Merciful and Most Merciful and a huge generosity to believers, for it allows believers to tell Allah of their sincere faith and love, as well as the fear and respect they have for Him. By praying believers can show their submission to Allah, their only friend and advocate, ask for and expect help from Him alone. In societies that do not practice the religion’s morality, praying to Allah has been complicated by various myths and superstitions. 

Although people always want to approach Allah, they have set certain times and means for this. Allah warns people about these superstitions: “Indeed, is the true religion not Allah’s alone? People who take protectors besides Him (say): ‘We only worship them so that they may bring us nearer to Allah.’ Allah will judge between them regarding the things about which they differed. Allah does not guide anyone who is an ungrateful liar.” (Surat Az Zumar: Verse 3) 

Those who say that there are various ways to pray make religion appear difficult and divert people from the straight path. But the Holy Quran tells us that Allah is always very close: “We created humanity and We know what his (or her) own self whispers to him (or her). We are nearer to him (or her) than his (or her) jugular vein” (Surat al-Qaf, Verse 16).

That is, a person may approach Allah at any time and pray for assistance, for His endless mercy answers sincere prayers. People must pray with a sense of His being and closeness, because only those who are aware of Allah’s existence understand prayer’s real meaning and importance: establishing a warm and special bond between Allah and His servants. People seek His aid in everything, and Allah answers their prayers. 

There is no need to wait for a particular time to pray or to use special forms, for Allah can hear prayers at every moment and in every place. A person can pray as he goes from one place to another, comes downstairs, does his shopping, prepares a meal, watches television, rides in an elevator, waits in a certain place, goes to bed, gets up in the morning, has breakfast, drives his car — in short, in every place and at every time — and expresses his desires to Him.

It is enough for people just to think something, because Allah knows all that is hidden in the human heart. Believers pray with the knowledge that Allah hears, sees, and knows their thoughts, regardless of how fleeting they might be. A believer prays with the knowledge that Allah hears him, sees him, and knows his thoughts. He knows that the Lord even knows his most fleeting thoughts and can do his acts of worship as he wishes without regard for place or time. The simplicity that Allah has given for something as important as worship is an act of generosity toward a believer.

When we think of prayer, we imagine it as a verbal offering of praise to Allah, a confession of sins, and an expression of one’s own needs and those of other believers. To do this, people must be sincere. 

While he is praying, what is important is that person’s spiritual condition, intention and sincerity.

Prayer is a great blessing, and believers engage in it to protect themselves against despair and to ask for patience, strength, and endurance. Knowing that Allah always creates everything for the best purpose, they know that their prayers will be answered in the best possible way. 

As the holder of the only true power that exists, Allah will answer the believers’ prayers if they turn to Him, seeking ease: “… He Who responds to the oppressed when they call on Him, removes their distress, and has appointed you as inheritors of Earth. Is there another deity besides Allah? How little you pay heed!” (Surat An Naml: Verse 62)

Adnan Oktar's piece in Gulf Today:

http://gulftoday.ae/portal/b0a87dec-2d11-463f-81c1-aaa009200e48.aspx