One hour of contemplation surpasses sixty years of worship.
About This Quote
Interpretation
The saying contrasts outward, habitual ritual with inward, reflective awareness. It suggests that deliberate contemplation—especially reflection that yields insight, moral correction, or deeper knowledge of God—can be spiritually more transformative than long spans of rote worship performed without understanding. In Islamic ethical and mystical traditions, this idea is often used to emphasize intention (niyyah), sincerity (ikhlas), and mindful presence, arguing that quality of devotion matters more than sheer quantity. However, because the attribution to Muhammad is uncertain in the canonical hadith corpus, the quote is best treated as a later maxim circulating in devotional literature rather than a securely authenticated prophetic statement.
Variations
1) "An hour of reflection is better than sixty years of worship." 2) "One hour of contemplation is better than a year of worship." 3) "An hour of contemplation is better than seventy years of worship."




