Regarding the value of gathering for prayer, 'Abdu'l-Baha spoke as follows:-- Man may say: "I can pray to God whenever I wish, when the feelings of my heart are drawn to God; when I am in the wilderness, when I am in the city, or wherever I may be.

Why should I go where others are gathered upon a special day, at a certain hour, to unite my prayers with theirs, when I may not be in a frame of mind for praying ?" To think in this way is useless imagination, for where many are gathered together their force is greater.

Separate soldiers fighting alone and individually have not the force of a united army.

If all the soldiers in this spiritual war gather together, then their united spiritual feelings help each other, and their prayers become acceptable.

(from notes taken by Miss Ethel J.
Rosenberg).
Prayer the Language of Love To someone who asked whether prayer was necessary, since presumably God knows the wishes of all hearts, 'Abdu'l-Baha replied:-- If one friend loves another, is it not natural that he should wish to say so?
Though he knows that that friend is aware of his love, does he still not wish to tell him of it?
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