Prayer implies a life of service to others. We can be of service to God in no other way, for if we turn our backs on others, are we not turning our backs upon God? `Abdu'l-Bahá stated emphatically:
This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people. Service is prayer. A physician ministering to the sick, gently, tenderly, free from prejudice and believing in the solidarity of the human race, is giving praise.[15]Gandhi, too, was very much aware of this truth:
There is no worship purer or more pleasing to God than selfless service of the poor.[16]