and what it means is this: seek assistance for obeying Allah by engaging in worship when you are energetic and your heart is free of distractions, so that you relish the act of devotion, do not grow weary, and ultimately attain your goal. Just as a skilful traveller moves during these optimal hours and allows himself and his mount to rest at other times, thereby reaching his destination without hardship. Allah knows best.

[Explanation]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—cites in the chapter “Moderation in Worship” the ḥadith of Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Indeed, the religion is ease.” That is, the religion with which Allah sent Muhammad ﷺ, the religion by which the servants worship their Lord, is ease itself. Allah the Exalted says, “Allah intends ease for you and does not intend hardship for you” (Al-Baqarah 2:185). He also says—after mentioning His command regarding ablution, the full bath after major impurity, and dry ablution when water is lacking or illness prevents its use—“Allah does not wish to place upon you any hardship” (Al-Māʾidah 5:6). And He says, “Strive for the sake of Allah as is His due; He has chosen you and has not placed upon you any hardship in the religion” (Al-Ḥajj 22:78).

All of these texts show that this religion is ease—and so it is in reality.

If a person reflects on the daily acts of worship, he will find that the five prayers are made easy and distributed throughout set times. They are preceded by purification—both of body and of heart. Before each prayer one performs ablution and says, “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. O Allah, make me among those who repent often and among those who purify themselves.” Thus he purifies his body first and then his heart through affirming divine oneness, after which he performs the prayer.

If you then reflect upon the zakāh, the third pillar of Islam,