The Mere-Transcendence of the Necessary Being and the Matter of Prayer to Non-Person-Like God in Ibn- Sina's Writings

God appears as a completely different being in Ibn Sina's writings; in his philosophical discussions he presents a picture from the 'necessary being' as God which is not only mere-transcendental in its being and distinct from other beings, the range of this transcendence reaches to human's mind and knowledge as well. On the other hand his discussions about prayer, in his different writings, might show the incompatibility of his pictures of God or at least their multiplicity at first glance, but since Ibn Sina is aware of the problems of praying to a non-person-like God, he clearly states that speaking – in its common sense - with the almighty 'necessary being' is impossible; he thus creates a different meaning for prayer, instead of changing the picture of God, and presents a philosophical definition for it. The reality of prayer, in his view, is not a mere dialogue; rather it is a kind of existential change which is rooted in knowledge and love. He explains this matter by distinguishing between the formal aspect – which he explains with a Divine legislation approach - and the real aspect – which is connected with his philosophical view – and by changing the concept of prayer to love. Ibn Sina's picture of the Divine love is completely compatible with his picture of non-person-like God and also his definition of prayer.