Seerah.Net

The holy Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) was the Messenger of Allah, the chosen and the exalted, whose all sins, foregoing and coming, had been forgiven by the Lord, yet he was the most painstaking, eager and earnest in paying homage to God.

Al-Mughira b. Sh'uba reported that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) once got up at night and stood praying for such a long time that his feet became swollen. On being asked why he did this when all of his former and later sins had been forgiven, he replied, "What! should I not be a grateful servant (of God)?" 'Aisha relates that the Apostle of God (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) once kept awake throughout the night till morning reciting only one verse. Reporting the same event Abu Dharr says that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) kept praying throughout the night reciting one verse until the dawn appeared. The verse he recited was: "If Thou punish them, lo! they are Thy slaves, and if Thou forgive them, lo! Thou, only Thou art the Mighty, the Wise."

'Aisha says, "The Apostle of God (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) took to fast to such anextent that we thought he would never give it up, and when he would go without fasting we thought that perhaps he would never fast again." Anas reports that whoever wanted to see the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) praying at night could do so and similarly one could see him sleeping. 'Abdullah b. ash-Shikhkhir says that once he went to see the Prophet(sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) . He was then offering prayers and sobbing — the sound emitting from his chest was like that of a boiling pot.

The Apostle (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) was never at ease except when he performed the prayers. It seemed that even after saying his prayers, he eagerly looked forward to the time when he would again be paying homage to Allah. The Apostle (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) often remarked: "The comfort of my eyes lies in prayers." The companions of the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) relate that whenever he had any trouble he used to prostrate in supplication to Allah. "Whenever the wind blew at night", says Abu Darda', "the Apostle of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) took shelter in the mosque until it became calm. And whenever there was a solar or lunar eclipse, thc Prophet got up in trepidation seeking refuge from Allah until it was over and the sky was clear." The Apostle (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) always seemed solicitous to commune with Allah; uneasy and restless until he had again fellen prone before the Lord. Oftentimes he sent for Bilal and said, "Bilal, make arrangements for holding prayers and put me at. ease."

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