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AlGhazalisIhya-Book_of_Prayer, page : 26
How many subtleties of meaning we have come to understand in the course of
ritual prayer! Things that had never occurred to us before.
It is in this context that prayer becomes a deterrent to indecency and mischief, for
the understanding it brings is a positive obstacle to vice.
Reverence
As for reverence, this is something beyond both awareness and understanding.
A man may address his servant in full awareness of his speech, and
understanding the meaning of his words, yet without reverence, for reverence is
an additional element.
Awe
As for awe, it is over and above reverence. In fact, it represents a kind of fear
that grows out of the latter. Without experiencing fear, one will not stand in awe.
There is an ordinary fear of things we find repugnant, like scorpions or bad
temper, but this is not called awe. What we call awe is the kind of fear we have of
ritual prayer! Things that had never occurred to us before.
It is in this context that prayer becomes a deterrent to indecency and mischief, for
the understanding it brings is a positive obstacle to vice.
Reverence
As for reverence, this is something beyond both awareness and understanding.
A man may address his servant in full awareness of his speech, and
understanding the meaning of his words, yet without reverence, for reverence is
an additional element.
Awe
As for awe, it is over and above reverence. In fact, it represents a kind of fear
that grows out of the latter. Without experiencing fear, one will not stand in awe.
There is an ordinary fear of things we find repugnant, like scorpions or bad
temper, but this is not called awe. What we call awe is the kind of fear we have of