Pages: 38-44

Abstract

NAMAZ is one of the important teachings of Islam connecting the human being to the creator of the universe. The faith in NAMAZ and being bound to it paves the way for purity and individual and social felicity. On the other hand, the university students are considered as the fundamental bases of the progress in every society in terms of human resources and the extent to which this educated class believes in NAMAZ can be very effective. Thus, the present study was placed atop of the researchers’ agenda with the objective of investigating the extent of university students’ beliefs in the effectiveness of NAMAZ in individual and social life. The study has been carried out based on a survey method and the study population included 699 university students from Semnan Medical Sciences University. The information collection instrument was a two-part questionnaire comprised of demographic questions and researcher-constructed items indicating the extent to which the university students believe in the effectiveness of NAMAZ in their individual and social life. The questionnaire validity was investigated and confirmed using content validity test and experts’ judgment and the questionnaire reliability was examined using Cronbach’s alpha method. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 18, and the descriptive statistical methods (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Mann-Whitney and variance analysis). The results indicated that the married university students in contrast to single ones, the non-native university students in comparison to the native students and the dormitory-residing university students as compared to those living in places other than dormitories have more faith in the effectiveness of NAMAZ in their individual and social life. A significant difference was evidenced between marital status variables (P=0.018) and university place of education (P=0.007) with the belief in the effectiveness of NAMAZ in individual and social life. According to the aforementioned findings, saying prayers or NAMAZ causes growth and individual and social development, reduction in inappropriate behaviors, success at work and life and reduction in the amounts of sins. Thus, it is expected that the officials and educational managers of the university provide proper facilities and conditions for the fulfilling of NAMAZ by the university students.