Contemplating for one hour is better than worshipping for a year
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
He says: “Contemplating for one hour is better than worshipping for a year.” Is this a hadith?
Answer:
I do not know it to be a hadith, but it is well-known among the scholars. That is because contemplation—contemplating the Qur'an—has great virtue.[Muhammad 47:24]? [Al-Mu'minun 23:68]? [An-Nisa 4:82] So contemplation and understanding, seeking knowledge, is better than worship, better than standing in night prayer. Sitting to understand a verse or a hadith and gaining understanding in the religion of Allah is better than standing in prayer all night. Why?
Because the jurist benefits himself and benefits people, whereas the worshipper only benefits himself. So his benefit extends to others, while this one’s benefit is limited to himself. Therefore, gaining understanding in the religion of Allah and learning beneficial knowledge is better than voluntary acts of worship.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
He says: “Contemplating for one hour is better than worshipping for a year.” Is this a hadith?
Answer:
I do not know it to be a hadith, but it is well-known among the scholars. That is because contemplation—contemplating the Qur'an—has great virtue.
Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَاThen have they not reflected over the Qur'an
أَفَلَمْ يَدَّبَّرُوا الْقَوْلَThen do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًاBecause the jurist benefits himself and benefits people, whereas the worshipper only benefits himself. So his benefit extends to others, while this one’s benefit is limited to himself. Therefore, gaining understanding in the religion of Allah and learning beneficial knowledge is better than voluntary acts of worship.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
Source
بلوغ المرام 22-07-1433هـ — alfawzan.live (41:04)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.