their prayer would feel nothing at all; they became oblivious to everything but Allah. Urwah ibn al-Zubayr—one of the eminent jurists from the generation of the Successors—was once afflicted by a spreading, ulcerous infection that threatened his whole body. The physicians resolved that his leg must be amputated before the disease advanced further. No anesthetic existed at the time, so he said, “Give me a moment until I enter my prayer.” As soon as he began to pray they severed his leg, yet he sensed no pain, for his heart was entirely occupied with Allah. When the heart is engrossed, it no longer registers what befalls the body.

Look, for example, at laborers who load or unload a lorry. One of them may gash his hand or foot while working, and he does not feel it because he is preoccupied. Once the job is finished, the pain suddenly becomes apparent. Likewise, during prayer a person must be with Allah; his heart must not wander left and right, as is the habit of so many of us. Whisperings and stray thoughts gain power only when a person enters the prayer: Satan comes and says, “Remember this … recall that … do this, don’t do that.” Such intrusions spoil the prayer, and someone may leave it having gained nothing—his obligation is formally discharged, but he has realized none of its fruits.

‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to organize his army while standing in prayer, and idle people have seized on this to claim that it is perfectly acceptable to indulge in stray thoughts and the like during the prayer.