Taʿawwudh
Definition
The ta'awwudh is the formula 'A'udhu billahi min al-shaytan al-rajim' — 'I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed devil' — recited before beginning Quran recitation. Al-Ghazali explains that this is not merely a ritual preliminary but a recognition of the spiritual combat that genuine Quran recitation involves: Shaitan's primary strategy is to prevent the heart from connecting with the divine word, through distraction, through whispered doubts, and through the attraction of worldly thoughts. Seeking Allah's protection before recitation is an acknowledgement that the reciter cannot accomplish this most sacred task without divine assistance.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
Appears in
1 book in the library
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