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AlGhazalisIhya-Book_of_Prayer, page : 40
the temptation to, which he had succumbed, then said: “O Messenger of Allah I
offer my garden as a charity. Dispose of it as you wish.” According to a different
source, he was distracted by the pleasant sight of the bees, buzzing round the
fruit as he prayed in the garden. He mentioned this to Uthman, saying: “I offer it
as a charity. Use it for the sake of Allah.” Uthman then sold the garden for fifty
thousand.
Such conduct was intended to eradicate cause of mental distraction and to atone
for deficiencies in prayer. This medicine tackles the root of the disease; it is the
only effective remedy. As for the gentler measure we proposed, such as calming
oneself and concentrating on understanding the words used in prayer, they may
be useful when passions are feeble and cares are only marginally distracting. But
it is useless to try and calm oneself when the pressure of desire is strong, for it
will attract you and you will attract it until it gets the better of you. You will be
cause up in this process throughout your prayer.
Consider this analogy: There was a man beneath a tree. He wished to collect his
thoughts, but the sparrows disturbed him with their chirping. He would chase
them with a stick and then resume his train of thought, but the sparrows would
offer my garden as a charity. Dispose of it as you wish.” According to a different
source, he was distracted by the pleasant sight of the bees, buzzing round the
fruit as he prayed in the garden. He mentioned this to Uthman, saying: “I offer it
as a charity. Use it for the sake of Allah.” Uthman then sold the garden for fifty
thousand.
Such conduct was intended to eradicate cause of mental distraction and to atone
for deficiencies in prayer. This medicine tackles the root of the disease; it is the
only effective remedy. As for the gentler measure we proposed, such as calming
oneself and concentrating on understanding the words used in prayer, they may
be useful when passions are feeble and cares are only marginally distracting. But
it is useless to try and calm oneself when the pressure of desire is strong, for it
will attract you and you will attract it until it gets the better of you. You will be
cause up in this process throughout your prayer.
Consider this analogy: There was a man beneath a tree. He wished to collect his
thoughts, but the sparrows disturbed him with their chirping. He would chase
them with a stick and then resume his train of thought, but the sparrows would