On one occasion the Master illustrated that prayer can be selfish
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When in Bahá'í history

On one occasion the Master illustrated that prayer can be selfish. He told a story: ‘It is said that once a Muhammedan, a Christian and a Jew were rowing in a boat. Suddenly a tempest arose and the boat was tossed on the crest of the waves and their lives were in danger. The Muhammedan began to pray: “O God! Drown this infidel of a Christian!” The Christian supplicated the Almighty: ‘O Father! Send to the bottom of the deep this Muslim!” They observed the Jew was not offering any prayer, and therefore asked him: “Why do you not pray for relief?” He answered, “I am praying. I am asking the Lord to answer the prayers of you!”
Source: Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 151
Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: prayer).
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