hadith
156
۞
Al-Hassan al-Sayghal said that he asked Imam Sadiq (a.s) about the meaning of what people say when they state that it is better to think for one hour than pray for one whole night. The Imam (a.s) replied in the positive saying that the Prophet (a.s) had said: “It is better to think for one hour than to pray for one whole night.” Then he asked how one should think. The Imam (a.s) replied: “He should ask the following questions when he passes a house or the ruins of an old building: Where are the residents? Where are those who constructed this building? And why do they not speak?”
عن الحسن الصيقل قال
سألت أبا عبد الله (عليه السلام) عما يروي الناس، تفكر ساعة خير من قيام ليلة، قال: نعم، قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله): تفكر ساعة خير من قيام ليلة، قلت: كيف يتفكر؟ قال: يمر بالخربة وبالدار فيتفكر يقول: أين ساكنوك، أين بانوك، ما لك لا تتكلمين!.
Similar narrations
- Mīzān al-Ḥikma #3183 The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Two simple units of prayer performed with contemplation are better than standing the whole night in prayer.
- Mīzān al-Ḥikma #4222 Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Thinking for an hour is better than worshipping for a year, for “Only those who possess intellect take admonition”...
- Al-Kāfi #107 “Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about what people’s narration, ‘Thinking for one hour is better than worshipping a whole night,’ how...
- Kitāb al-Zuhd #32 “I asked Abā ʿAbdillāh (a), ‘Is an hour of contemplation better than standing vigil [in worship] at night?’ He replied, ‘Yes. The Messenger...