Who said “Prayer carries us half way to God, fasting brings us to the door of His palace, and…”?

Misattributed

Not The Koran. It's commonly credited to them, but the evidence shows it isn't theirs.

What the research foundNot in the Qur'an; an early Muslim saying (Ibn Rajab, Lata'if al-Ma'arif), popularised in English by Gibbon.

Evidence: hadithanswers.com · How we check

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Authors A–Z
“Prayer carries us half way to God, fasting brings us to the door of His palace, and alms-giving procures us admission.”
— The Koran
MisattributedNot in the Qur'an; an early Muslim saying (Ibn Rajab, Lata'if al-Ma'arif), popularised in English by Gibbon. · evidenceCharity

Cite this quote

APA

“Prayer carries us half way to God, fasting brings us to the door of His palace, and alms-giving procures us admission.” [Quotation attributed to The Koran]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9775-prayer-carries-us-half-way-to-god-fasting/

MLA

“Prayer carries us half way to God, fasting brings us to the door of His palace, and alms-giving procures us admission.” Attributed to The Koran. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9775-prayer-carries-us-half-way-to-god-fasting/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“Prayer carries us half way to God, fasting brings us to the door of His palace, and alms-giving procures us admission.” Attributed to The Koran. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9775-prayer-carries-us-half-way-to-god-fasting/.

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More quotes by The Koran

“God loveth the clean.”
Qur'an 9:108, closing clause

وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُطَّهِّرِينَ

WaAllahu yuhibbu almuttahhireena

Text: quran-json: Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia text, Tanzil transliteration (CC BY 4.0)

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“There is no God but God.”
Qur'an 47:19, the phrase quoted

لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ

La ilaha illa Allahu

Text: quran-json: Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia text, Tanzil transliteration (CC BY 4.0)

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“The heavens and the earth and all that is between them, do you think they were created in jest?”
Qur'an 21:16, the verse it is based on

وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا لَٰعِبِينَ

Wama khalaqna alssamaa waalarda wama baynahuma laʿibeena

Text: quran-json: Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia text, Tanzil transliteration (CC BY 4.0)

ParaphrasedQur'an 21:16 (Surat al-Anbiya), reworded; compare 44:38 and 23:115 · evidenceDetails & citeHeaven
“What God writes on your forehead you will become.”
DisputedNot found in the Qur'an; echoes the traditional belief that fate is written on the forehead. · evidenceDetails & citeDestiny
All 9 The Koran quotes →