The night worship of the saints of the Ummah

Seeing the night worship of the Companions and their efforts in this regard, the Successors (Taba’een) also followed in their footsteps and sacrificed their sleep and comfort to seek the pleasure and approval of Allah Most High.

 

The worship and striving of Imam A’adham Abu Hanifa (May Allah be well pleased with him) is a very good example for the Ummah.  He would offer Salaat for the entire night and for 40 years, he finished one complete recitation of the Holy Quran every single night.

 

As reported by Imam Ghazali (May Allah shower His mercy on him) in Ihya Ul ‘Uloom:

 

Translation: Imam A’adham Abu Hanifa (May Allah be well pleased with him) would spend half the night in worship.  Once, he passed by some people.  They said:  This person spends the whole night in worship.  Imam A’adham said:  I feel shy that someone attributes something to me which I don’t do.  After this, he started spending the whole night in worship.  It is also said that at night, there was no bed at all for the Imam to rest. (Ihya Ul ‘Uloom, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 327)

 

Imam Hasan Basri (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says:

 

Translation: We know of no deed more hard than praying in the night and spending money.  He was asked:  Why is it that those who offer Salaat Ul Tahajjud have radiant faces.  He said:  They keep company with the Lord Almighty.  Thus, Allah Most High grants them a mantle of radiance.  (Ihya Ul ‘Uloom, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 366)

 

When Hadhrat ‘Abdul ‘Azeez bin Rawaad (May Allah shower His mercy on him) would come onto the bed for rest, he would remind himself of the bounties of paradise and wouldn’t rest.  Instead, he would engage in worship.  Hadhrat Hasan Basri (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says about his worship:

 

Translation: When night would come, Hadhrat ‘Abdul ‘Azeez bin Rawaad (May Allah shower His mercy on him) would come onto the bed, caress it with his hand and say:  Indeed you are soft, but by Allah!  Paradise has beds softer than you.  Then he would offer Salaat for the whole night. (Ihya Ul ‘Uloom, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 367)

 

With the Sufis, not having the strength to offer Salaat in the night and not preparing to engage in it is a sign of being rejected and is in the status of a sin, as Hadhrat Fudhail bin ‘Iyaaz (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says:

 

Translation: When you can’t engage in worship in the night and can’t fast, then understand that it is a sign of being rejected and that your sins have indeed become too many.  (Ihya Ul ‘Uloom, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 367)

 

The conditions and states of the pious folk of the Ummah are not understood by the common folk.  Normally, people are unhappy with the coming of the night and its darkness.  However, the saints love it, as it is the time when they meet their Beloved.  Imam Ghazali (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has reported the sayings of Hadhrat Fudhail bin ‘Iyaaz and Hadhrat ‘Ali bin Bakaar (May Allah shower His mercy on them) in this regard:

 

Translation: When the sun sets, the darkness gladdens me, as it is the time when I am alone with my Lord and when the sun rises, then because of people coming to me, I feel sad.  Hadhrat ‘Ali bin Bakaar (May Allah shower His mercy on him) said:  From 40 years, nothing has saddened me except the dawning of the day.  (Ihya Ul ‘Uloom, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 367)