What is the real meaning of ṣalāh?
The scholars taught that ṣalāh has an outer form and an inner life. One without the other is a body without a soul. This is what they meant.
10 passages from 5 books in the library
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 5 books by Imam al-Ghazali, Ibn Kathir, and Ibn Battuta — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Scholars have noted that if one is in prayer and misses responding to the call to prayer, he can respond after finishing his prayer, even if the caller has stopped."
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"If one is occupied with an obligatory act or making up a missed prayer, it fulfills the greeting and achieves the virtue because the intent is to not leave the entrance without an act of worship specific to the mosque."
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"The fifth point, performing two units of prayer after ablution is recommended because ablution is an act of devotion intended for prayer."
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"Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, shared that if the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was unable to perform his night prayer due to sleep or illness, he would make up for it by praying 12 units at the start of the day."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Thus, both love and worship are blessings from him who initiated you with them without merit, for there is no prior cause or connection."
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"However, the hadith, the prayer of the one who relies on his deeds is not raised above his head, has not been found in original"
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
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"known for their worship of celestial bodies this counters the claim that he made such statements as a child emerging from a cave a"
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"Meaning I do not care about these deities you worship besides Allah for they bring no benefit nor do they hear or understand?"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Let us return and aid him in preparing for her for the world does not hold enough value to distract a believer from the worship"
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
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"Sheikh Shams al-Din ibn Taj al-Arifin was residing in the city of Khol, devoting himself to worship, a figure of great stature."
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