are necessary accompaniments of the inward state and are not included in what the term denotes when used without qualification”—his view resembles theirs. When the Lawgiver couples deeds with faith, this is like coupling pilgrimage with acts that complete it, as when one says, “Whoever performs pilgrimage to the House, circumambulates it, walks between Safā and Marwah, stands at ʿArafah, and stones the pillars”; or, “Whoever prays, reciting, bowing, and prostrating.” Likewise, he said, “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and in hope of reward.” It is well known that this would not be fasting as prescribed by Islamic law unless it were done out of faith and in hope of reward.

He also said:

“Whoever performs pilgrimage to this House, neither engaging in sexual intercourse nor committing sins, returns free of sins as on the day his mother gave birth to him.”

It is well known that sexual intercourse invalidates the pilgrimage, while sin diminishes its reward. Likewise, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever offers our prayer, faces our direction of prayer, and eats what we slaughter.”

A person is not considered to be praying unless he faces our direction of prayer during it. Likewise, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah has prescribed five prayers for His servant each day and night. Whoever observes them diligently has a covenant with Allah that He will admit him to Paradise. Whoever does not observe them diligently has no covenant with Allah: if He wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will forgive him.”

He thus mentioned the person who observes them diligently. It is well known that a person does not perform them in the manner commanded unless he observes them diligently. Yet he explained that the warning of punishment is subject to this condition. Thus, failure to observe them diligently does not necessarily mean that he does not perform them after their appointed time, though he would not thereby be observing them diligently.

For observing them diligently necessarily entails performing them, as Allah said:

“Guard strictly the prayers, especially the middle prayer.”

This was revealed when the afternoon prayer was delayed in the year of the Battle of the Trench. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“May Allah fill their bellies and their graves with fire, just as they kept us from the middle prayer until the sun had set.”