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Religious Studies & Theology vocabulary · Worship and Ritual

Prayer

Meaning in religious studies & theology, with examples

/preə/nounCore term

In religious studies & theology, prayer means: Communication addressed to God or the divine, either in one's own words or in a fixed ritual form, such as the five daily prayers in Islam.

In Turkish: dua, namaz, ibadet

How it is used

English uses one word where Turkish distinguishes dua and namaz. Academic texts clarify with ritual prayer, obligatory prayer or salat for namaz, and supplication or personal prayer for dua. Common verbs: say a prayer, lead the prayer, perform prayers.

Example sentences

  1. The imam leads the Friday prayer and then gives a short sermon.

  2. In the Psalms we find prayers of praise, thanksgiving and lament.

Common collocations

  • daily prayers
  • Friday prayer
  • lead the prayer
  • say a prayer
  • prayer times
  • worshipThe acts of honour, prayer and devotion that believers direct towards God or the divine, either privately or together with others.
  • ritualA set of actions, words or gestures performed in a fixed, repeated way, often with symbolic or religious meaning, such as a prayer service, a wedding or a funeral.
  • mosqueA building where Muslims gather for prayer, especially the Friday congregational prayer, which often also serves as a centre for education and community life.
  • meditationA practice of training attention and awareness, for example by focusing on the breath, a word or an image, used in many religions for spiritual growth.

More terms: Worship and Ritual

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