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Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship
In this book readers are lead on a powerful and inspiring journey through the inner dimensions of a range of Islamic acts, including prayer, almsgiving, fasting and pilgrimage.
Consisting of a selection of writings by a towering figure in Islamic history, Imam al-Ghazali, this book helps readers realise the benefits of the upliftment of their spiritual, social and moral qualities.
Consisting of a selection of writings by a towering figure in Islamic history, Imam al-Ghazali, this book helps readers realise the benefits of the upliftment of their spiritual, social and moral qualities.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
301 people are currently reading
2040 people want to read
About the author
Abu Hamid al-Ghazali
886 books2,987 followers
أبو حامد الغزالي
Born in 1058, Abū Ḥāmid Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad al-Ghazālī ranked of the most prominent and influential Sunni jurists of his origin.
Islamic tradition considers him to be a Mujaddid, a renewer of the faith who, according to the prophetic hadith, appears once every century to restore the faith of the ummah ("the Islamic Community"). His works were so highly acclaimed by his contemporaries that al-Ghazali was awarded the honorific title "Proof of Islam" (Hujjat al-Islam).
Al-Ghazali believed that the Islamic spiritual tradition had become moribund and that the spiritual sciences taught by the first generation of Muslims had been forgotten.[24] That resulted in his writing his magnum opus entitled Ihya 'ulum al-din ("The Revival of the Religious Sciences"). Among his other works, the Tahāfut al-Falāsifa ("Incoherence of the Philosophers") is a significant landmark in the history of philosophy, as it advances the critique of Aristotelian science developed later in 14th-century Europe.
أبو حامد محمد الغزّالي الطوسي النيسابوري الصوفي الشافعي الأشعري، أحد أعلام عصره وأحد أشهر علماء المسلمين في القرن الخامس الهجري،(450 هـ - 505 هـ / 1058م - 1111م). كان فقيهاً وأصولياً وفيلسوفاً، وكان صوفيّ الطريقةِ، شافعيّ الفقهِ إذ لم يكن للشافعية في آخر عصره مثلَه.، وكان على مذهب الأشاعرة في العقيدة، وقد عُرف كأحد مؤسسي المدرسة الأشعرية في علم الكلام، وأحد أصولها الثلاثة بعد أبي الحسن الأشعري، (وكانوا الباقلاني والجويني والغزّالي) لُقّب الغزالي بألقاب كثيرة في حياته، أشهرها لقب "حجّة الإسلام"، وله أيضاً ألقاب مثل: زين الدين، ومحجّة الدين، والعالم الأوحد، ومفتي الأمّة، وبركة الأنام، وإمام أئمة الدين، وشرف الأئمة.
كان له أثرٌ كبيرٌ وبصمةٌ واضحةٌ في عدّة علوم مثل الفلسفة، والفقه الشافعي، وعلم الكلام، والتصوف، والمنطق، وترك عدداَ من الكتب في تلك المجالات.ولد وعاش في طوس، ثم انتقل إلى نيسابور ليلازم أبا المعالي الجويني (الملقّب بإمام الحرمين)، فأخذ عنه معظم العلوم، ولمّا بلغ عمره 34 سنة، رحل إلى بغداد مدرّساً في المدرسة النظامية في عهد الدولة العباسية بطلب من الوزير السلجوقي نظام الملك. في تلك الفترة اشتُهر شهرةً واسعةً، وصار مقصداً لطلاب العلم الشرعي من جميع البلدان، حتى بلغ أنه كان يجلس في مجلسه أكثر من 400 من أفاضل الناس وعلمائهم يستمعون له ويكتبون عنه العلم. وبعد 4 سنوات من التدريس قرر اعتزال الناس والتفرغ للعبادة وتربية نفسه، متأثراً بذلك بالصّوفية وكتبهم، فخرج من بغداد خفيةً في رحلة طويلة بلغت 11 سنة، تنقل خلالها بين دمشق والقدس والخليل ومكة والمدينة المنورة، كتب خلالها كتابه المشهور إحياء علوم الدين كخلاصة لتجربته الروحية، عاد بعدها إلى بلده طوس متخذاً بجوار بيته مدرسةً للفقهاء، وخانقاه (مكان للتعبّد والعزلة) للصوفية.
Born in 1058, Abū Ḥāmid Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad al-Ghazālī ranked of the most prominent and influential Sunni jurists of his origin.
Islamic tradition considers him to be a Mujaddid, a renewer of the faith who, according to the prophetic hadith, appears once every century to restore the faith of the ummah ("the Islamic Community"). His works were so highly acclaimed by his contemporaries that al-Ghazali was awarded the honorific title "Proof of Islam" (Hujjat al-Islam).
Al-Ghazali believed that the Islamic spiritual tradition had become moribund and that the spiritual sciences taught by the first generation of Muslims had been forgotten.[24] That resulted in his writing his magnum opus entitled Ihya 'ulum al-din ("The Revival of the Religious Sciences"). Among his other works, the Tahāfut al-Falāsifa ("Incoherence of the Philosophers") is a significant landmark in the history of philosophy, as it advances the critique of Aristotelian science developed later in 14th-century Europe.
أبو حامد محمد الغزّالي الطوسي النيسابوري الصوفي الشافعي الأشعري، أحد أعلام عصره وأحد أشهر علماء المسلمين في القرن الخامس الهجري،(450 هـ - 505 هـ / 1058م - 1111م). كان فقيهاً وأصولياً وفيلسوفاً، وكان صوفيّ الطريقةِ، شافعيّ الفقهِ إذ لم يكن للشافعية في آخر عصره مثلَه.، وكان على مذهب الأشاعرة في العقيدة، وقد عُرف كأحد مؤسسي المدرسة الأشعرية في علم الكلام، وأحد أصولها الثلاثة بعد أبي الحسن الأشعري، (وكانوا الباقلاني والجويني والغزّالي) لُقّب الغزالي بألقاب كثيرة في حياته، أشهرها لقب "حجّة الإسلام"، وله أيضاً ألقاب مثل: زين الدين، ومحجّة الدين، والعالم الأوحد، ومفتي الأمّة، وبركة الأنام، وإمام أئمة الدين، وشرف الأئمة.
كان له أثرٌ كبيرٌ وبصمةٌ واضحةٌ في عدّة علوم مثل الفلسفة، والفقه الشافعي، وعلم الكلام، والتصوف، والمنطق، وترك عدداَ من الكتب في تلك المجالات.ولد وعاش في طوس، ثم انتقل إلى نيسابور ليلازم أبا المعالي الجويني (الملقّب بإمام الحرمين)، فأخذ عنه معظم العلوم، ولمّا بلغ عمره 34 سنة، رحل إلى بغداد مدرّساً في المدرسة النظامية في عهد الدولة العباسية بطلب من الوزير السلجوقي نظام الملك. في تلك الفترة اشتُهر شهرةً واسعةً، وصار مقصداً لطلاب العلم الشرعي من جميع البلدان، حتى بلغ أنه كان يجلس في مجلسه أكثر من 400 من أفاضل الناس وعلمائهم يستمعون له ويكتبون عنه العلم. وبعد 4 سنوات من التدريس قرر اعتزال الناس والتفرغ للعبادة وتربية نفسه، متأثراً بذلك بالصّوفية وكتبهم، فخرج من بغداد خفيةً في رحلة طويلة بلغت 11 سنة، تنقل خلالها بين دمشق والقدس والخليل ومكة والمدينة المنورة، كتب خلالها كتابه المشهور إحياء علوم الدين كخلاصة لتجربته الروحية، عاد بعدها إلى بلده طوس متخذاً بجوار بيته مدرسةً للفقهاء، وخانقاه (مكان للتعبّد والعزلة) للصوفية.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 13, 2020
This is the first of Al-Ghazali’s works that I have delved into. Almost all of us have heard of him and I'm sure many have read him and undoubtedly gained benefit from his works. Worship is something that is vital in Islam; it is the reason for our very existence and it is the channel of communication between us and our Lord. Sadly for a lot of us, the five daily prayers become ritualistic and habitual, so much so that we often forget to be conscious or mindful of the words we are uttering and our bodily movements, both of which are highly significant aspects of the ritual prayer. This rings particularly true for the majority of Muslims around the world, as they do not speak Arabic and therefore the prayer can feel empty or baseless. I found this work to be magnificent in its binding of the five pillars to the inner realm of the soul - a dimension oft neglected in lieu of perfecting the outward state. As stated in the book, "What is the point of praying: 'Show us the Straight Path', if one is in a state of absent-mindedness?', I was struck by the frankness and plain truth behind this, as we too often succumb to mental distancing when praying. Part of my purchasing of this book was to increase tawakkul (God-consciousness) in my own heart and to honestly endeavor to reinstate my connection with my Lord.
This book succeeded in providing clear evidence from both the Qur'an and our Islamic faith tradition in truly facilitating proactivity and motivating us to make the most of this one chance we are given at life. To conclude, this was a greatly enlightening book, generous in evidences and offering hope to the common Muslim.
This book succeeded in providing clear evidence from both the Qur'an and our Islamic faith tradition in truly facilitating proactivity and motivating us to make the most of this one chance we are given at life. To conclude, this was a greatly enlightening book, generous in evidences and offering hope to the common Muslim.
June 3, 2017
Published in 1983, Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship is an English translation of selections from Imam al-Ghazali's Ihya' 'Ulum ud Din by Muhtar Holland, a convert.
This book is a very short but powerful and inspiring exploration of the rites of Islamic Worship — Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving, Pilgrimage, Night Vigil, Invoking blessing upon Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم and the merit of seeking forgiveness.
It is supported by numerous references from the Holy Quran and Ahadith which was very nice to see. Instances from the life of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم are also included to re-affirm the faith of the reader.
It was a surprisingly faith-affirming read for me, I enjoyed the foreword very much and by the end, I was quite moved.
But, what really, really bothered me was the usage of the vague word God instead of the many names of Allah which have a proper context and meaning, only the English translations of the Quran not the actual text but the transliteration (which I know is helpful but the Arabic should have been included too for complete understanding, inspiration and reward) and the Biblical names of the Prophets and the angels instead of the Quranic names at the risk of resemblance to Christianity or Judaism, inconsistencies which I attribute to the translator. This book is kind of dated so another thing to be taken into account is that it is better to invoke your blessings on the Prophets, the Companions and saints in Arabic to take the most reward regardless of language. I'm especially mentioning this so that the future reader may be aware of these discrepancies, I suggest replacing these with their better equivalents whether you're reading aloud or silently. These are the reasons I gave the book 4 stars, not 5.
Otherwise, it was a very compelling, overwhelming and a rewarding read. The references are very strong and beautiful. The book is brief but brings to light many of the things not thought about or paid attention to on a daily basis but which really should. The title Inner Dimensions is very apt as the book focuses on the inner depth of Islamic worship instead of jurisprudence. The effort should be recognized as taking the best of a 4-volume Arabic book and bringing it to the average reader's attention and ease by translating it to English being as succinct as one can is an amazing feat. I, myself, have been able to get introduced to and read Imam al-Ghazali's Ihya', which is regarded as the greatest work of Muslim spirituality, only through this translation. Read this if you want an in-depth yet concise understanding of daily Islamic Worship.
This book is a very short but powerful and inspiring exploration of the rites of Islamic Worship — Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving, Pilgrimage, Night Vigil, Invoking blessing upon Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم and the merit of seeking forgiveness.
It is supported by numerous references from the Holy Quran and Ahadith which was very nice to see. Instances from the life of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم are also included to re-affirm the faith of the reader.
It was a surprisingly faith-affirming read for me, I enjoyed the foreword very much and by the end, I was quite moved.
But, what really, really bothered me was the usage of the vague word God instead of the many names of Allah which have a proper context and meaning, only the English translations of the Quran not the actual text but the transliteration (which I know is helpful but the Arabic should have been included too for complete understanding, inspiration and reward) and the Biblical names of the Prophets and the angels instead of the Quranic names at the risk of resemblance to Christianity or Judaism, inconsistencies which I attribute to the translator. This book is kind of dated so another thing to be taken into account is that it is better to invoke your blessings on the Prophets, the Companions and saints in Arabic to take the most reward regardless of language. I'm especially mentioning this so that the future reader may be aware of these discrepancies, I suggest replacing these with their better equivalents whether you're reading aloud or silently. These are the reasons I gave the book 4 stars, not 5.
Otherwise, it was a very compelling, overwhelming and a rewarding read. The references are very strong and beautiful. The book is brief but brings to light many of the things not thought about or paid attention to on a daily basis but which really should. The title Inner Dimensions is very apt as the book focuses on the inner depth of Islamic worship instead of jurisprudence. The effort should be recognized as taking the best of a 4-volume Arabic book and bringing it to the average reader's attention and ease by translating it to English being as succinct as one can is an amazing feat. I, myself, have been able to get introduced to and read Imam al-Ghazali's Ihya', which is regarded as the greatest work of Muslim spirituality, only through this translation. Read this if you want an in-depth yet concise understanding of daily Islamic Worship.
June 19, 2019
Because I was reading a translation of this novel, I feel I have to divide the review into two parts: ideas and translation.
Ideas
Ideologically, I very much enjoyed this book. Ghazali focuses first on each action's merit (using the Qur'an and hadith as evidence) then goes into what/how our inner selves should think/feel/gain from each actions. In most instances, however, he does not say how to achieve these inner states; the how is left to the reader. Still, just being conscious of the purpose of prayer (and other acts of worship) has improved the quality of my prayers tremendously.
Translation
The reason I gave this book four stars instead of 5 is the clunkiness of the translation. At times it felt like modern speech and at times the phrasing felt a little bit awkward or outdated. I'm not sure how much of that is the translation and how much of it is the author, but I would have liked a bit more consistency. I also felt jipped, for lack of a better word, in the end. The last two chapters were exceedingly short, and the comparison is even paler when I consider how long and thorough the preceding chapter (the one regarding Hajj) is. The book feels like it just ends. I'm aware that this book is the extremely abridged version of Ghazali's several-volume work, and I believe the brevity of the last two chapters is a result of the truncation of the larger work because the chapters don't follow the same thought process as the chapters before it. I see no reason why the rest of these chapters would have been left out, but the abrupt ending left me wanting more. If, one day, I am able to read Persian/Farsi, I will read the original text (insha'Allah).
Ideas
Ideologically, I very much enjoyed this book. Ghazali focuses first on each action's merit (using the Qur'an and hadith as evidence) then goes into what/how our inner selves should think/feel/gain from each actions. In most instances, however, he does not say how to achieve these inner states; the how is left to the reader. Still, just being conscious of the purpose of prayer (and other acts of worship) has improved the quality of my prayers tremendously.
Translation
The reason I gave this book four stars instead of 5 is the clunkiness of the translation. At times it felt like modern speech and at times the phrasing felt a little bit awkward or outdated. I'm not sure how much of that is the translation and how much of it is the author, but I would have liked a bit more consistency. I also felt jipped, for lack of a better word, in the end. The last two chapters were exceedingly short, and the comparison is even paler when I consider how long and thorough the preceding chapter (the one regarding Hajj) is. The book feels like it just ends. I'm aware that this book is the extremely abridged version of Ghazali's several-volume work, and I believe the brevity of the last two chapters is a result of the truncation of the larger work because the chapters don't follow the same thought process as the chapters before it. I see no reason why the rest of these chapters would have been left out, but the abrupt ending left me wanting more. If, one day, I am able to read Persian/Farsi, I will read the original text (insha'Allah).
May 13, 2020
This book explores four of the five pillars of Islam; Salah (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), Sawm (fasting) and Hajj (pilgrimage). Al-Ghazali also looks further into Qiyam-Ul-Layl (night prayer), invoking blessings upon the Prophet (SAW) and Tawba (seeking forgiveness).
Sometimes a bit of candour is needed and that’s exactly what I found in this book - particularly in the chapter regarding prayer. Throughout the chapter I was constantly reminded how important full concentration in prayer is. The Prophet (SAW) said “Allah (SWT) has no regard for a prayer in which a man’s heart is not present as well as his body”. Many of us are guilty of praying without focusing on what we are saying, primarily because we do not understand the words we say, and so the prayer has become a daily box ticking exercise. Al-Ghazali offers tips on how to tackle this and thus strengthening your prayer.
The book constantly refers back to the Quran and the life of the Prophet (SAW) – offering wisdom from both. Though it is quite brief, it persistently provokes self-reflection.
Sometimes a bit of candour is needed and that’s exactly what I found in this book - particularly in the chapter regarding prayer. Throughout the chapter I was constantly reminded how important full concentration in prayer is. The Prophet (SAW) said “Allah (SWT) has no regard for a prayer in which a man’s heart is not present as well as his body”. Many of us are guilty of praying without focusing on what we are saying, primarily because we do not understand the words we say, and so the prayer has become a daily box ticking exercise. Al-Ghazali offers tips on how to tackle this and thus strengthening your prayer.
The book constantly refers back to the Quran and the life of the Prophet (SAW) – offering wisdom from both. Though it is quite brief, it persistently provokes self-reflection.
December 10, 2015
I really really enjoyed this book especially the chapters on ritual prayer, fasting and forgiveness. Only downside is I had to look up so many words but that may increase my vocabulary God willing. I'll definitely be looking out for the other books in the series inshallah
April 24, 2007
ghazali goes into details about the five pillars in islam and much much more. the book is very enlightening, esp the chapter on hajj. it compares every aspect of the hajj we perform in this world to our inevitable meeting with the Lord in the next. makes you think about things differently!
April 23, 2012
Highly recommend to anyone who wants to understand the inner meaning of the five pillars of Islam. A must read for every muslim, its very short but to the point and it will leave an instinct impact on you.
August 12, 2014
Superb book.
Unpacking the obligatory rituals Muslims are required to do to unveil deeper meanings.
Unpacking the obligatory rituals Muslims are required to do to unveil deeper meanings.
July 8, 2021
This book is great and I’ll definitely come back to reading it in the future iA. It explains different elements of worship so beautifully and gives good pointers to improve yourself from inside. It’s organised really nicely with a ton of supporting hadiths and Quranic evidence around the topics. And straightaway I could see the quality of my prayers improve as I learned about the deeper meanings of the actions. Al Ghazali gives really good advice on how to be sincere in your actions and everything’s explained thoughtfully without it being super hard to read.
My only teensy problem is that it’s a little over- translated at parts but that’s nothing to do with actual content of the book which was v good.
Overall a nice imaan boost for imaan :)
My only teensy problem is that it’s a little over- translated at parts but that’s nothing to do with actual content of the book which was v good.
Overall a nice imaan boost for imaan :)
January 10, 2022
An excellent book written by one of the greatest scholars in history given the title "The proof of Islam'. This book perfectly explains how the Muslim believer can reconcile the internal and external aspects of faith. The only criticism I have is the extensive use of inauthentic narrations, but the reader can weed these out by checking the sources.
February 22, 2026
Inspiring and very enlightening! This was an eye opening book and a really huge reminder on how we should live our lives as Muslims. Sometimes, we tend to rush through prayer, prioritizing other things. “What is the point of praying: ‘Show us the Straight Path,’ if one is in a state of absent-mindedness? ” This book has truly reminded me of the purpose of prayer but also served as a scary reminder, may Allah accept all our prayers.
December 30, 2017
Inner Dimensions Of Islamic Worship by Al-Ghazali is slightly exciting to own by the renowned intellectual explaining the fundamentals of Islam.
March 31, 2021
To be completely honest, this was not on my TBR list for this month but I was in the library one day and was roaming the religion section when I saw this rare gem and instantly took it off the shelf. I genuinely felt like I was destined to read this book especially since I haven't been dwelling much on Islamic books last month AND since Ramadan is coming up in a few weeks. Hence, I thought that this was the perfect book to prepare for the special occasion.
Currently, I'm mentally preparing myself for Ramadan and although I've been reading this book since last month, I'm glad I took my time because this book definitely impacted me. It dwells on the 5 pillars of Islam and how Imam Al-Ghazali describes these obligatory religious duties in such a beautiful and poetic manner, which he extracts from the Quran and Hadith. Alhamdulillah that I chose to read this book because sometimes a reminder is what I need most. It is always important to brush up on our foundation before we start conquering heavier topics, and for that, I'm grateful for this book.
Currently, I'm mentally preparing myself for Ramadan and although I've been reading this book since last month, I'm glad I took my time because this book definitely impacted me. It dwells on the 5 pillars of Islam and how Imam Al-Ghazali describes these obligatory religious duties in such a beautiful and poetic manner, which he extracts from the Quran and Hadith. Alhamdulillah that I chose to read this book because sometimes a reminder is what I need most. It is always important to brush up on our foundation before we start conquering heavier topics, and for that, I'm grateful for this book.
March 3, 2025
“Hatim al-Asamm said: ‘I was once too late for congregational Prayer and Abu Ishaq al-Bukhari was the only one to commiserate with me. Had I lost a son, more than ten thousand would have offered me their condolences, for people find religious misfortune easier to bear than worldly calamity.’”
“If this is the secret of Fasting among men of profound spiritual understanding, what benefit is to be derived from postponing a meal only to combine two meals after sunset, while indulging in all other passions the whole day long?”
On Transport During Hajj : “He should therefore consider whether the journey he is about to make, riding this mount, will help to equip him for that other journey aboard that other vehicle. How close at hand it is! For all he knows, death may be so near that he will be riding the coffin before he has time to ride the camel. The coffins-ride is certainty, whereas there is doubt about whether one can secure all one’s needs for this trip. So where is the point in making careful preparations to equip oneself with provisions and transport for a doubtful journey, while neglecting the matter of one that is sure and certain?”
Every page of this book was an experience and a half to read - so much to reflect over and implement in our daily lives.
If anybody wishes to start with al-Ghazali, I’d recommend you begin here.
“If this is the secret of Fasting among men of profound spiritual understanding, what benefit is to be derived from postponing a meal only to combine two meals after sunset, while indulging in all other passions the whole day long?”
On Transport During Hajj : “He should therefore consider whether the journey he is about to make, riding this mount, will help to equip him for that other journey aboard that other vehicle. How close at hand it is! For all he knows, death may be so near that he will be riding the coffin before he has time to ride the camel. The coffins-ride is certainty, whereas there is doubt about whether one can secure all one’s needs for this trip. So where is the point in making careful preparations to equip oneself with provisions and transport for a doubtful journey, while neglecting the matter of one that is sure and certain?”
Every page of this book was an experience and a half to read - so much to reflect over and implement in our daily lives.
If anybody wishes to start with al-Ghazali, I’d recommend you begin here.
April 25, 2021
Okay this book is a great reminder of how improve our worship from salah to Saying istagfar.
Salah took a big protion of this book which make sence because Allah swt always 1 mention iqamat salat then Zakah so on so forth... and ever since I read that book my intention is fix my prayers and I realized it is hard to pay attention.
Over all this book is must have to get inspired or revive you Iman.
Salah took a big protion of this book which make sence because Allah swt always 1 mention iqamat salat then Zakah so on so forth... and ever since I read that book my intention is fix my prayers and I realized it is hard to pay attention.
Over all this book is must have to get inspired or revive you Iman.
June 21, 2015
Imam Ghazali, the Hujjat al-islam (Proof of Islam), explains spiritual, social, and moral benefits of Islamic five pillars, which are shahada, prayer, alms giving, fasting, and pilgrimage. Muslim reader can realize and view the five pillars not only as the mandatory and routine duty but also as tools to improve our life.
June 2, 2021
Every good book leaves an impact either over your mentality or lifestyle in one way or the other. Rarely, there are books that start showing their impacts at earliest. This is one such book.
First, let me tell you that it was my first book of Al Ghazali. I'm impressed by his teaching that revolves around marriage between mysticism and law. I am all up to explore his work. I will be getting my hands over his magnum opus Ihya Ulum al-Din soon.
Second, Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship consists of selections from Al-Ghazali's Ihya. He leads the readers into inner dimesnions of Islamic Worships through his powerful and inspiring way. It has four chapters on worships, i.e., Prayer, Alms giving, Pilgrimage and Fasting. Fifth chapter is on Night Vigil and last two chapters are on The Last Messenger, gratitude and forgiveness.
Each chapter is beautifully written with coherence. Chapters open with outer dimensions, the law, and leads towards inner dimesnions, the spirituality. In between elements of merits, performances of Worships, prerequisites and understanding of Worships is discussed.
Last, I experienced a change in my prayers. It looked more meaningful and understanding grew too. This was the impact that I mentioned in the start. I hope, I will be blessed enough to continue it. Also, this book will be of immense help to the countless young men and women of our times who are rapidly growing in their commitment to Islam and ever tring to be God Conscious.
I truly believe, God Consciousness is impossible unless one can develop the inner consciousness, resources and understanding of things they do, let alone offering Islamic Worships.
A big thanks to Muhtar Holland for this translation. Indeed a good read.
First, let me tell you that it was my first book of Al Ghazali. I'm impressed by his teaching that revolves around marriage between mysticism and law. I am all up to explore his work. I will be getting my hands over his magnum opus Ihya Ulum al-Din soon.
Second, Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship consists of selections from Al-Ghazali's Ihya. He leads the readers into inner dimesnions of Islamic Worships through his powerful and inspiring way. It has four chapters on worships, i.e., Prayer, Alms giving, Pilgrimage and Fasting. Fifth chapter is on Night Vigil and last two chapters are on The Last Messenger, gratitude and forgiveness.
Each chapter is beautifully written with coherence. Chapters open with outer dimensions, the law, and leads towards inner dimesnions, the spirituality. In between elements of merits, performances of Worships, prerequisites and understanding of Worships is discussed.
Last, I experienced a change in my prayers. It looked more meaningful and understanding grew too. This was the impact that I mentioned in the start. I hope, I will be blessed enough to continue it. Also, this book will be of immense help to the countless young men and women of our times who are rapidly growing in their commitment to Islam and ever tring to be God Conscious.
I truly believe, God Consciousness is impossible unless one can develop the inner consciousness, resources and understanding of things they do, let alone offering Islamic Worships.
A big thanks to Muhtar Holland for this translation. Indeed a good read.
September 1, 2019
An awakening for spiritual reconnection. A manual for spiritual guidance. And a personal handbook for the elements of worship. I feel this book will never leave my hand for it is a short reference to guidance and handy manual for worship.
It’s my first time reading for Al-Ghazali, and definitely not my last. If anything, he is definitely one of my favourite authors. ”Inner dimensions of islamic worship”- is a short summary of passages from Al-Ghazali’s “ihya ulum udeen” series. I can’t wait to invest in his series of books. Too many times was I left speechless after reading pages in this short book.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in an insightful reflection on how acts of worship ought to be conducted. In the chapter of the pilgrimage, Al-Ghazali builds an intensive connection between acts of worship on Earth and the Hereafter. He puts the feelings and thoughts some us may have previously experienced into perspective as he integrates their connection with the acts of pilgrimage, the hereafter and the day of resurrection. Overall, chapters in this book left me questioning, self-reflecting and at some point challenging the understandings and desires of oneself. A beautiful book of serious contemplation and reflection, showing you how aspects of worship ought to be.
It’s my first time reading for Al-Ghazali, and definitely not my last. If anything, he is definitely one of my favourite authors. ”Inner dimensions of islamic worship”- is a short summary of passages from Al-Ghazali’s “ihya ulum udeen” series. I can’t wait to invest in his series of books. Too many times was I left speechless after reading pages in this short book.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in an insightful reflection on how acts of worship ought to be conducted. In the chapter of the pilgrimage, Al-Ghazali builds an intensive connection between acts of worship on Earth and the Hereafter. He puts the feelings and thoughts some us may have previously experienced into perspective as he integrates their connection with the acts of pilgrimage, the hereafter and the day of resurrection. Overall, chapters in this book left me questioning, self-reflecting and at some point challenging the understandings and desires of oneself. A beautiful book of serious contemplation and reflection, showing you how aspects of worship ought to be.
May 3, 2020
This book is a translation of a section of Al-Ghazali’s Ihya. It is a practical guide to improving four components of your practice of religion, namely Prayer, Almsgiving, Fasting and Pilgrimage, with two shorter sections detailing the benefits of Salawat and Seeking Forgiveness.
The primary purpose of this book is to offer practical steps on improving the inner elements of your worship. In the introduction, Holland discusses the balance between the internal and the external whilst Al-Ghazali mentions the discrepancy of focus between the internal and the external.
Al-Ghazali brilliantly summarises the purpose of each element of worship that goes beyond modern-day, reductive logic. He then uses references from the Quran and from the Sunnah to advise on the most important ways for us to ensure sincerity in our approaches. He advises of humility, of focus, of honesty and a genuine desire to do good.
The primary purpose of this book is to offer practical steps on improving the inner elements of your worship. In the introduction, Holland discusses the balance between the internal and the external whilst Al-Ghazali mentions the discrepancy of focus between the internal and the external.
Al-Ghazali brilliantly summarises the purpose of each element of worship that goes beyond modern-day, reductive logic. He then uses references from the Quran and from the Sunnah to advise on the most important ways for us to ensure sincerity in our approaches. He advises of humility, of focus, of honesty and a genuine desire to do good.
February 23, 2020
“My Lord, forgive and have mercy! Overlook my faults, of which You are well aware!’ (Rabbi-ghfir wa-rḥam wa-tajāwaz ‘ammā ta’lam.)”
“Gratitude is the cause of augmentation. In the words of God, Exalted is He:
‘If you give thanks, I will surely give you more.’ [Ibrāhīm, 14:7]”
“There is an hour of the night when, if any Muslim asks God, Exalted is He, for something good, He is sure to grant it to him.’ Or, in another version: ‘… asks God, Exalted is He, for something good of this world or the Hereafter. And that is every night.’”
“God’s Messenger, on him be peace, was told: ‘So-and-so prays during the night and in the morning he steals.’ Said he: ‘His good action will cause him to desist.’”
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I wish I had read this book in Arabic, I feel as though I would have been able to understand verses better than I have done with this particular translation. Really really good book. Reading it reminded me to devote more time, focus, and sincerity when it comes to praying and making duaa. 💛
“Gratitude is the cause of augmentation. In the words of God, Exalted is He:
‘If you give thanks, I will surely give you more.’ [Ibrāhīm, 14:7]”
“There is an hour of the night when, if any Muslim asks God, Exalted is He, for something good, He is sure to grant it to him.’ Or, in another version: ‘… asks God, Exalted is He, for something good of this world or the Hereafter. And that is every night.’”
“God’s Messenger, on him be peace, was told: ‘So-and-so prays during the night and in the morning he steals.’ Said he: ‘His good action will cause him to desist.’”
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I wish I had read this book in Arabic, I feel as though I would have been able to understand verses better than I have done with this particular translation. Really really good book. Reading it reminded me to devote more time, focus, and sincerity when it comes to praying and making duaa. 💛
March 5, 2025
Suchhh an incredible collection of chapters providing insights into the five pillars of Islam and the importance they hold. I could not pick a favorite chapter because of how meticulously each has been explored. From prayer to pilgrimage, a vast range of wisdoms are shared with the reader. I loved the parallels drawn between the path to pilgrimage and the afterlife and the last chapter speaking on the importance of forgiveness. Definitely made me feel a lot closer to Islam and gave me a sense of understanding for things I previously had no clue about.
April 20, 2023
amazing book
Great book with a dive into the essence of Islamic worship. It guides you to spiritual enlightenment through worship of one true God. Islamic worships are more than rituals there is a deeper meaning in them . Imam Ghazali may Allah give him high rank in heaven explains them well .
Great book with a dive into the essence of Islamic worship. It guides you to spiritual enlightenment through worship of one true God. Islamic worships are more than rituals there is a deeper meaning in them . Imam Ghazali may Allah give him high rank in heaven explains them well .
April 13, 2025
A comprehensive understanding of the 5 pillars of Islam. Well written, and put in simple words. I will say that Al Ghazali makes a point to add an additional 2 chapters, one being the night vigil and the other being salutations to the prophet. These two practices are key to the Islamic faith, so it was actually really pleasant to see that they were included
February 17, 2019
Excellent reference material
A very good read. Simplified and very easy to understand. A good reference for Muslims and non Muslims alike. I would recommend this book as an additional reference material.
A very good read. Simplified and very easy to understand. A good reference for Muslims and non Muslims alike. I would recommend this book as an additional reference material.
June 5, 2020
It's an exceptional piece of literature on the pillars of Islam. Al Ghazali explains the inner dimensions of worship, the spirit and the level of consciousness with which you approach the Lord Almighty. It's an explanation of ikhlas.
September 26, 2020
Interesting summary from Imam al-Ghazali's Ihya. I get more perspective on Islamic worship and I hope that it will make my worship much much better from the heart. Especially since I have difficulty concentrating and focusing on my prayers. Wish me luck!
March 13, 2024
Buku ini seperti intisari ibadah Islam, bagus banget untuk siapa pun yang mencari pemahaman yang lebih dalam tentang perjalanan spiritual. Apalagi dibaca saat bulan puasa. Jadi semakin menyadari bahwa kita perlu kembali ke jalan-NYA.
October 6, 2025
Undoubtedly, improving the quality of our prayers is the ultimate method to improve our lives. Let us make prayer not just a mere ritualism but be able to interpret it more deeply and be more present.
#selfreminder
#selfreminder
March 31, 2018
Always a pleasure to read Imam Al-Ghazali. This, along with the Beginning of Guidance, are both necessary and rewarding reads for the faithful.
August 20, 2018
Beautiful
Alhamdulillah it’s great to find a book like this on kindle. There is no better character than the sunnah character of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
Alhamdulillah it’s great to find a book like this on kindle. There is no better character than the sunnah character of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
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