The worship and fear of God of Sayyid al-Mursalin ﷺ
Acts of Worship of the Holy Prophet ﷺ
Hadith
حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَی أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامٌ هُوَ ابْنُ يُوسُفَ عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ عَنْ هَمَّامٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ صَلَّی اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ مَا أَعْلَمُ لَبَکَيْتُمْ کَثِيرًا وَلَضَحِکْتُمْ قَلِيلًا،
صحیح بخاری،کتاب الایمان والنذور (حدیث6637)Translation
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه said that Abu al Qasim ﷺ said: “By the One in whose control my life is, if you knew the realities that I know, you would weep much and laugh little.”
Narration
The Beloved Prophet's ﷺ state of worship was such that due to excessive standing in night prayer, his blessed feet would become swollen. The Companions رضي الله عنهم asked him why he endured such hardship and exertion when Allah had already forgiven all his past and future sins. He ﷺ replied, 'Should I not be a grateful servant?' meaning, 'Should I not show gratitude for being forgiven?' Sayyidatuna Aisha رضي الله عنها narrates that on one occasion, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ spent the entire night in prayer, repeatedly reciting a single verse of the Quran. Sayyiduna Hudhaifa ibn al-Yaman رضي الله عنه narrates that he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ praying during a part of the night. He ﷺ would say: 'Allahu Akbar' (three times), followed by: 'ذُو الْمُلْكِ وَالْجَبَرُوتِ وَالْكِبْرِيَاءِ وَالْعَظَمَةِ' (Dhil-Mulki wal-Jabarooti wal-Kibriyaa'i wal-'Adhamati) [Possessor of sovereignty, might, grandeur, and greatness]. Then he ﷺ would recite the opening supplication (Du'a al-Istiftah). After that, he ﷺ recited Surah Al-Baqarah (after Surah Al-Fatiha) and then performed the bowing (Ruku'). His bowing was as long as his standing (Qiyam), and in it, he would say 'سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ' (Subhana Rabbiyal-'Adheem) [Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent]. Then he ﷺ raised his head from the bowing. His standing after the bowing (Qawmah) was as long as his bowing, and in it, he would say 'لِرَبِّيَ الْحَمْدُ' (Li-Rabbiyal-Hamd) [To my Lord belongs all praise]. Then he prostrated (Sujud). His prostration was as long as his standing after the bowing. In his prostration, he would say 'سُبْحَانَ رَبِّی الاعلی' (Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la) [Glory be to my Lord, the Most High]. Then he ﷺ raised his head from the prostration. His sitting between the two prostrations was as long as his prostration, and he would say 'رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِی، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِی' (Rabbighfir li, Rabbighfir li) [My Lord, forgive me, my Lord, forgive me]. In this manner, he ﷺ prayed four Rak'ahs, and in them, he completed Surahs Al-Baqarah, Al-Imran, An-Nisa, and Al-Ma'idah or Al-An'am. The Beloved Prophet ﷺ possessed a perfect degree of fear of Allah. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn al-Shikhkhir narrates that one day he went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and saw him praying. Due to his weeping, a sound like a boiling pot could be heard from his blessed chest.
Key Points
- •Despite being the leader of the entire universe, such was the state of the Noble Prophet's ﷺ worship and fear of God that he would worship his Lord throughout the night and weep.
- •Having the fear of God in one's heart is essential, as it is a means to attain His pleasure. Making the worship of Allah obligatory upon oneself is the hallmark of a perfect believer.
- •From this story, we also learned one thing: that one should always express gratitude to their Lord in every circumstance.