10.8 The Gift Descended to Man From the highest spheres, from that journey that had reached far beyond where human feet had ever been, far beyond where human eye had ever seen or human mind imagined, the Messenger brought back a gift for those who believed. It is significant that the gift he brought was not for himself, but for his people, for Mohamed cared much more for those who followed him than for himself; it is significant that it was nothing worldly, no diamond or bar of gold, but something of far greater value to those who understood. It was the gift of prayer and contact with the Most High. Muslims were to call upon their Lord - that is stand before their Lord and perform the rituals of prayer-five times a day. These five prayers, Allah, out of His bounty, would count as fifty. To pray five times a day is expiation and purification for the human soul, it can also be a very great spiritual pleasure. The Messenger found in nothing more solace and pleasure than in prayers, and when it was prayer time he used to tell Bilal, "Bilal, relieve us by prayers." The pressures, pains, and disappointments of this world are very many, so he found in prayer, in the moments he spent with his Lord, the greatest joy of his life. Whenever he had to face the impossible, a dilemma too great for the human mind, or a catastrophe too powerful for human hands, he sought refuge and solace in prayers. Prayers are a very important spiritual aspect of religion to all Muslims. They are one of the five pillars of the faith. One of the Companions once asked the Messenger about the prayers and Mohamed told him to compare a stream of running water and a pond. The stream of running water changed its water five times a day while the water in the pond was stagnant. Which would have purer water? The Companion answered that the running stream would. Mohamed explained that the action of prayer upon the human soul was as the action of running water on the stream. The second great gift the Messenger brought back concerned human actions. Man is liable to err, so Allah in His mercy encourages him by the following bonus. He who starts to do a good deed and then stops, this shall be counted for him just the same as a good deed, but if he accomplishes it, it shall be counted as ten good deeds. He who starts to do a bad deed but refrains, this shall not be counted against him, but if he actually commits a bad deed, it shall be counted as just one bad deed. And we learn from the Koran that a good deed is sometimes rewarded up to seven hundred times. Such is the grace of Allah.