What is the purpose of life in Islam?
The classical scholars answered this question the way the Qurʾan did: directly, without ornament. Here is what they said.
10 passages from 6 books in the library
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 6 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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"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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"Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated that the Prophet warned against abandoning worship due to weariness, as Allah would despise such behavior."
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"The Hadith from Aisha, narrated by Ibn al-Sunni, warns that abandoning worship due to boredom incurs Allah's displeasure."
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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"Consider self-admiration through actions within one's control, such as worship, charity, or managing and reforming creation."
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."
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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"He stated a word from goodness that a believer hears and then teaches and acts upon is better for him than a year's worship"
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