How does Prayers keep a person away from sin?

Question

According to Quran’s point of view one of the effects of Prayers is that it keeps one away from sins and unlawful things. Because Quran says:

And keep up prayer; surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil…[16]

Then also we see that many people who pray commit sins and evil deeds and there is no effect of prayers on their words and deeds. Then what is the meaning of the above-mentioned ayat?

“Always remember God (Allah), because His remembrance is a hindrance between a person and unlawful deed.”

Holy Quran

Answer 1

when you pray with a sincere heart, God will work wonders. if you are about to do something wrong and pray about it - truly thinking on the fact that it IS wrong, a prayer asking for strength will keep you away from doing the wrong thing.

Answer 2

I think prayer does a few things. It helps a person open him or herself to God and God's will, which is anything BUT sin. It also gives a person time to really think about actions and their reasons, cause & effect, good & evil, etc. I like the idea someone else had about prayer acting like an affirmation.

Answer 3

Mark 12: 38-40
And in his (Jesus) teaching, he went on to say :"Look out for the scribes that want to walk around in robes and want greetings in the market places and front seats in the synagogues and most prominent places at evening meals.
They are the ones devouring the houses of the widows and for a PRETEXT making long prayers; these will receive a heavier judgment".
We must pray in faith and mean it because God is searching all hearts and knows the sincere ones. He helps those who are sincere and humble.

Answer 4

Prayers are a lifetime quest for الصراط المستقيم the right path. You get through prayers intuition of what's right and wrong, but then you decide what to follow.

Answer 5

One who is seriously engaged in prayer usually finds it difficult to sin at the same time.

The more time you take to pray, the less time you have to sin.

Answer 6

Well, prayer draws a person closer to God or "Allah"

The closer you are to God, the farthr from sin

But prayer isn't some magic potion, you have to keep working on eliminating your sin, while praying

Answer 7

What it means is to ponder and pray on God is a good way of communing with God.
If one is busy communing one does not have the idle time to seek temptation and sin.
IMO

Answer 8

Matthew 22:29
But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God."
Luke 24:44-47
44 Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."
45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
46 and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day,
47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem."

Answer 9

Perhaps they don't pray it wright, Cause if u really pray with ur heart than u must be afraid of god, and u won't commit a sin.

Answer 10

How does Prayers keep a person away from sin?

IF one PRAYS to THE GOD/JESUS the prayers are heard by HIM.

Praying to an ancient desert little moon god is of no value!
Trust not the Quaran it is full of lies and errors.
One Good example is below;
"Not Jesus, but a look alike, was substituted and crucified at the Cross." -4:157
THIS IS BLASPHEMY - AND A LIE! No proof can be offered at all.