Part 5

Darkness has fallen over Madeenah, but the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, is lightening his heart with prayer and Thikr (words

English.islamweb.net/emainpage Page 33 to the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who Addressed him Saying (what means): {O you who wraps himself [in clothing], * Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little - * Half of it - or subtract from it a little * Or add to it, and recite the Quran with measured recitation.} [Quran 73:1-4]

Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, "The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to perform prayers at night until his feet become swollen. People asked: "O Messenger of Allaah! Do you perform prayer in such a manner while Allaah has forgiven your past and future sins? The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, replied: "Should I not be a grateful slave (of Allaah)?" [Ibn Maajah]

It was narrated on the authority of Al-'Aswad ibn Yazeed that he asked 'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, about the night prayer of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. She said, "The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to sleep in the first part of the night, then, get up…If he felt a desire to have intercourse with his wife, he did so. Once he heard the Athaan, he rushed forth, and poured water over his body if he was in the state of Janaabah. Otherwise, he made ablution and went to prayer." [Al-Bukhaari]

The night prayer of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was amazing and we should take it as an example. In a hadith on the authority of Huthayfah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that he said,

I prayed with the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, one night, and he started reciting the Surat Al-Baqarah. I thought that he would bow at the end of one hundred Aayahs, but he continued reciting; I, then, thought that he would perhaps recite the whole Surah in one Rak'ah, but he proceeded on, and I thought he would perhaps bow after completing (this Surah).

English.islamweb.net/emainpage Page 34 started (reciting Surat) Aal-'Imraan and his recitation was unhurried. And when he recited Aayahs that included the Glory of Allaah, he would glorify Him, and when he recited the Aayahs that mention seeking refuge with Allaah, he would seek refuge with Him. Then he bowed and said: "Subhaana Rabiyya Al-'Atheem (Glory be to my Lord, The Most Great!)" His bowing lasted about the same length of time as his standing (and then on returning to the standing posture after bowing), he said: "Sami'a Allaahu liman hamidah, Rabbana laka Alhamd (Allaah listens to whoever praises Him and to You is all perfect praise).'' Then he stood about the same length of time as he had spent in bowing. He then prostrated himself and said: "Subhaana Rabiyya Al-'A'la (Glory be to my Lord The Most High!)'' And his prostration lasted nearly the same length of time as his standing." [Muslim]

With the early signs of dawn and after performing the Fajr prayer in congregation (at the mosque), the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to sit there to remember Allaah The Almighty until sunrise and then perform two Rak'ahs (units of prayer).

Jaabir ibn Samurah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, "The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to sit at the place where he performed the Fajr prayer until the sun had risen high." [Muslim]

The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, encouraged us to perform this great act of the Sunnah given its great reward. In a hadith on the authority of Anas ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: "For the one who observes Fajr prayer in congregation, then sits down to remember

English.islamweb.net/emainpage Page 35 (after the sun has risen), there is for him the reward of performing Hajj and an 'Umrah." The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, added: "...Perfect, perfect, perfect." [At-Tirmithi]

It is forenoon in Madeenah, when the hot sun burns faces and people to go to their jobs and pursue their needs. However, the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to worship Allaah The Almighty at that time in spite of his great responsibilities such as meeting delegations, teaching the Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, and taking care of his family.

Mu'aathah, may Allaah have mercy upon her, said, "I asked 'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, 'Did the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, perform Dhuha prayer?' She answered, 'Yes, he used to perform four Rak'ahs or even more than this according to what Allaah The Almighty willed." [Muslim]

The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, recommended Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, to perform this prayer. Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, "My intimate friend (the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) advised me to observe fast for three days in every month, to perform two Rak`ahs (supererogatory) Dhuha prayer at forenoon and to perform the Witr prayer before going to bed." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]."

Performing the Supererogatory Prayers in the House

The house of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was full of faith, worship and Thikr, and he recommended us to make our houses

English.islamweb.net/emainpage Page 36 home, and do not take your houses as graves." [Al-Bukhaari]

Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said,

The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to perform the majority of the voluntary prayers and supererogatory prayers (other than the ones with specific causes) at his house. For example, it was not narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, performed the supererogatory prayer of AlMaghrib in the mosque. Performing the supererogatory prayers in one's house has benefits including following the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, teaching women and children how to pray, and expelling the devils because of remembrance of Allaah and recitation of the Quran. This also strengthens one's sincerity and devotion.

Weeping of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam Many men and women weep, but the question is: How do they weep, and why do they weep? Our Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, wept though the whole world, if he wished, could have been in his hand and he was promised the highest rank in Paradise. True, the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, did weep, but it was the weeping of a worshiper. He used to weep while talking to Allaah The Almighty during his prayers and upon hearing the Quran, by virtue of his tender heart, sincere intentions, recognition of the grandeur of Allaah The Almighty, and fear of Him. Mutarrif reported on the authority of his father; Abdullaah ibn Ash-Shikhkhir,

English.islamweb.net/emainpage Page 37 sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, and found him performing prayer and sobbing while his chest made a sound like a boiling kettle." [Abu Daawood] It was narrated on the authority of Ibn Mas'ood, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said to him: "Recite (from the Quran) to me". I said, "O Messenger of Allaah! Shall I recite the Quran to you, while it is you to whom it was revealed?'' He replied: "I love to hear it recited by others". So I recited to him a part of Surat AnNisaa'. When I reached the 'Aayah in which Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {So how [will it be] when We bring from every nation a witness and We bring you, [O Muhammad] against these [people] as a witness?} [Quran 4:41] I saw his eyes overflowing with tears." [Al-Bukhaari] Look at the white hairs on the head of the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, and about eighteen white hairs in his beard. Listen to the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, when he explains why these hairs turned white. Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, "O Messenger of Allaah! You have grown white hair!" The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, replied: "The Surahs of Hood, Al-Waaqi'ah, Al-Mursalaat, 'Amma Yatasaa'aloon [An-Naba'], and Itha Ash-Shamsu Kuwwirat [At-Takweer] turned my hair white." [At-Tirmithi]

His Modesty, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was the best of people in good morals and perfection. His conduct was a practical application of the Quran, as 'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said, "The conduct of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was (an application of) the Quran." [Muslim] The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, also said: "I have been sent to perfect noble morals." [Ahmad] The signs of modesty of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, included that he did not like praise or to be complimented excessively. It was narrated on the authority of Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him,

English.islamweb.net/emainpage Page 38 praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising 'Eesa ibn Maryam (Jesus son of Mary, may Allaah exalt their mention). Indeed, I am only a slave (of Allaah); so say the Slave and Messenger of Allaah." [Abu Daawood] It was narrated on the authority of Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, that some people said, "O Messenger of Allaah! You are the best among us and the son of the best among us; you are our master and the son of our master." Hearing that, the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, instructed them, saying: "O people! Address me in the manner that you normally call me and let not the devil entice you. I am Muhammad, the Slave and Messenger of Allaah. I do not like that you place me in a status higher than the one that Allaah The Almighty placed me in." [An-Nasaa'i] Some Muslims excessively praise the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, believing that he knows the Unseen, has the power to bring about benefit or cause harm, fulfills needs and cures the sick. Yet, Allaah The Almighty negated all such claims in the Quran. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Say, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allaah has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me.} [Quran 7:188] This Prophet and Messenger, who is the best man to have ever walked on the face of the earth and under the sky, was always humble and repentant to Allaah The Almighty. He did not like arrogance; he was the leader of the modest people and the master of those who show humbleness to Allaah The Almighty. Anas ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, "The Companions did not love anybody more than the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam; however, when they saw him coming, they would not stand up for him because they knew that he disliked it." [Ahmad] Take another glimpse at the amazing modesty and unique behavior that the Prophet of this Ummah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, showed to a poor woman, giving her some of his time while being extremely occupied. Anas ibn

English.islamweb.net/emainpage Page 39 sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, and asked him to help her fulfill her need. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: 'Choose in which street of Madeenah you wish to sit (to talk)in and I will sit with you.'" [Abu Daawood] The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was the foremost and leader of those who were modest. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: "I shall accept an invitation even if I were invited to a meal of a sheep's trotter or foreleg, and I shall accept a gift even if it were a foreleg or a trotter of a sheep." [Al-Bukhaari] Hadeeths of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, serve as deterrent that forbids Muslims from arrogance and haughtiness. It was narrated on the authority of 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance will not enter Paradise." [Muslim] Arrogance leads to Hell - we seek refuge with Allaah from this - even if it is as small as a mustard seed. Also, contemplate the punishment of Allaah The Almighty for those who are arrogant who walk proudly, how Allaah has inflicted His wrath and tormenting punishment upon them. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: "While a man was walking, dressed in a two-piece garment admiring himself, his hair well-combed, and walking haughtily, Allaah made him sink into the earth and he will continue to sink into it until the Day of Resurrection.'' [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]