The Social Integration Effect of Prayer Worship

Abstract

It aims to create a strong bond between members of religions and ensure social integration. Every religion tries to establish a system of beliefs and values ​​among its believers. Believers, united around the system of belief and values, reinforce this unity with religious practices. Religious practices play an important role in social cooperation and solidarity. Like other religions, Islam contributes to social solidarity with its principles of belief and worship. When the practices of the Islamic religion are considered, it can be said that it contains individual and social meanings. While the practices of the Islamic religion aim to create a strong bond between believers and Allah, they also provide integration between believers. Among religious practices, especially collective worship is effective in uniting believers around the same meaning and feeling. Prayer, which is the most concrete example of the spirit of unity among members of the Islamic religion, is performed collectively five times a day and brings believers together, eliminating all differences. In this study, the social dimension of religion and the understanding of social integration in Islam will be evaluated. In this context, prayer worship and the impact of mosques on social integration will be discussed under the heading.

Highlights 

• The phenomenon of religion functions as an integration factor in ensuring social integration and cohesion in societies.
• Religion ensures social continuity on the axis of the emotions involved in shaping society.
• Since prayer is a worship that is also performed collectively, it has an integration function.
• Social conflict is prevented through prayer in mosques.
• Prayer provides social equality by eliminating status differences in society.