Facing difficulties in Ramadhan

 

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would never eat to a full stomach.  Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) says that she would feel pity for the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) on His staying hungry.  She would caress His stomach and say: I would sacrifice myself for you!  Please take so much from this world that you don’t stay hungry at least.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would say: The great Prophets (Peace be upon them) before me left this world hungry and bore many great difficulties.  For this reason, I fear that if I remain in the bounties and fill my stomach, I will be left behind.  I will be patient for a few days, so that in the hereafter, I get my full share.

 

Friends!  The night worship of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would be such that He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would sleep in the early part of the night, worship from 1:00 AM and would sleep before Fajr and get up for Fajr.  Oftentimes, this would happen.

 

Sometimes, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would sleep for a hour, get up perform Wudhu from the water bag, perform 2 Raka’at in 1 hour, then again sleep.  After some time, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would again get up, perform Wudhu and perform Salaat, then again sleep.  In this manner, the whole night would be spent.  What matter could have been in His blessed heart that would not allow Him to sleep and would keep waking Him!

 

 Friends!  It is true when you fast, you feel thirsty.  Hunger makes you weak and you face a host of difficulties.  Still, you don’t have to tie stones on your belly.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would tie stones on His belly.

 

Friends! No doubt, you don’t get proper sleep, but my friends, you feet don’t get swollen.  Because the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would remain standing in Salaat for the whole night and His feet would get swollen.  But once you will be reminded of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The thought of the Holy Prophet’s (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) tying stones on His stomach and His feet getting swollen due spending the night in prayer will come and give you such delight!

 

Thus, you will not get proper sleep and will face many difficulties and this should happen:

 

There are many difficulties in the path of Laila

 

You remain hungry and thirsty and your faces are parched, but on this parched face, there is such radiance!  Because of not getting proper sleep, your eyes are sleepy and those who look at you will call you mad.  Becoming famous as one who is mad is the first stage of love:

 

The first condition to bear all these difficulties is that you become a lunatic

[Excerpted from Fadhaail-e-Ramadhan of Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan]