<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">The virtuous scholars and scholars sacrificed their sleep and comfort to seek the pleasure and approval of Allah Most High.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He would offer Salaat for the entire night and for 40 years, he finished one complete recitation of the Holy Quran every single night.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">As reported by Imam Ghazali (May Allah shower His mercy on him) in Ihya Ul ‘Uloom:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">Translation: Imam A’adham Abu Hanifa (May Allah be well pleased with him) would spend half the night in worship.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Once, he passed by some people.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They said:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This person spends the whole night in worship.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Imam A’adham said:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I feel shy that someone attributes something to me which I don’t do.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After this, he started spending the whole night in worship.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">Imam Hasan Basri (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">Translation: We know of no deed more hard than praying in the night and spending money.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He was asked:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Why is it that those who offer Salaat Ul Tahajjud have radiant faces.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He said:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They keep company with the Lord Almighty.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thus, Allah Most High grants them a mantle of radiance.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Ihya Ul ‘Uloom, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 366)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Instead, he would engage in worship.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Hadhrat Hasan Basri (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says about his worship:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">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:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Indeed you are soft, but by Allah!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Paradise has beds softer than you.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then he would offer Salaat for the whole night. (Ihya Ul ‘Uloom, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 367)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">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:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Ihya Ul ‘Uloom, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 367)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">The </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-language:ER">conditions and states of the pious folk of the Ummah are not understood by the common folk.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Normally, people are unhappy with the coming of the night and its darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>However, the saints love it, as it is the time when they meet their Beloved.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-language:ER"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-language:ER">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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Hadhrat ‘Ali bin Bakaar (May Allah shower His mercy on him) said:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>From 40 years, nothing has saddened me except the dawning of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana">(Ihya Ul ‘Uloom, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 367)</span></p>