Do you hear the cry?

Western visitors to any Islamic country soon notice an intrusive feature of their new location: the five-times-daily call to Muslim prayers.
 
The most noticeable call to prayer is the one that occurs at 4:00 in the morning, waking even the most tired traveler from a sound sleep. It urges Muslims to get up to petition Allah, and reminds them that “prayer is better than sleep.”
 
Of course, the seasoned traveler knows of this aspect of Islam, and is well prepared – with earplugs! Thanks to these little stoppers, one can get a full night’s rest without being unduly interrupted.
 
Isn’t that what we as westerners do more often than not? Don’t we in effect believe that “sleep is better than prayer” and close our ears to the cry of the lost? Muslims are crying out for hope, for life, and it’s easier for us to stop our ears and continue on in the relative comfort of our insulated existence.
 
God, give us ears to hear and hearts to pray…and do!
 
   Deliver those who are drawn toward death,
   And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
   If you say, “Surely we did not know this,”
   Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?
   He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?
   And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?
                                           ~ Proverbs 24:11-12