. JI ದ : ; (cont.)

It is also stated that it was customary for the Hadith #29: "Tell me an act which . . . " Ibn al-Qayyim points out that the people who perform the late night prayer, in general, are hiding that from the eyes of others. Usually, no one sees what they are doing. Therefore, in this verse, Allah specifically states that the reward for what they are doing in a hidden fashion is a great reward that is kept hidden for them. No one can know it now or imagine it.1 These are just one set of many verses that emphasize the importance of performing the late-night prayers. Others include the following,2 J ., ,,, .,..., ;;l .1 / / / • • / , / , } I / , \.1 1 / ਂ-- / } / , / I / µI / .. .:i I /೫ I J.,,,.,... -°' ஦ Q..• - • ઑ J઒ :JUJ ffi ," 1 .ut.>LLJ 1...4 .. .... Ji...J..:I · ஥U u...;...r- .. . ,._ ... "-'..T-· ೀ .. '-' એ .. .../ / ,.. / ,,,. / / "They used to sleep but little at night [spending that time in prayer] and in the hours before dawn, they were found asking for forgiveness [from Allah]" (al­ Dhaariyaat 17-1 8). In this verse, Allah is stating some of the characteristics of the pious people who will be entered into Paradise. Allah said to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), in a verse that demonstrates how praiseworthy the act of late-night prayers is, / \N BC AJ D J TਃdJ ਁLl ෕ ઎ 1:t1 ਄J l..5'"஧-- .... ,...,,,. u-::- ,... / "And in some parts of the night offer the late-night prayer with it [the Quran ], as an additional prayer for you. It may be that your Lord will raise you to a position of praise" (al-Israa 79). Another verse states, ě / / ஹ) iY, ਀j g_j-\ Uକ EDj \FC.. I: I\ ;-C1; '! . • /, 8 .:;t ,.. ê ,, u-::- / / / ;;; ;;; A ,... ;;; ..., ,.,, ;;;,., A. GH WI 0 -9 I.:U lj 0 I.:U \ 0;-' ਣ'Iਤ 'I}• f ி; J "- , J. r : ಿ i ·;, L ౦ , . , ; _ J i 1 d1 J ઉ , J. r , . 1 (, L .&I l ; .. ઋ) ("';Y' H -9 .11 l_,/ .. J ைj ?I \· ,,,. ,,,. ,,,. .... ු ,,,. / / / / \'.J:.] SI ^ _ iJ*J iJft-`j ia1U U-bI ઄ a=I / / / "Count you the quenching of a pilgrim's thirst and tending of the Inviolable Place of Worship as (equal to the worth of him) who believes in Allah and the Last Day, and strives in the Way of Allah? They are not equal in the sight of Allah. Allah guides not wrongdoing folk. Those who believe and have left their homes and striven with their wealth and their lives in Allah's way are of much greater worth in Allah's sight. These are they who are triumphant" (al-Tauba 19-20). ,,,._ ,,,. ,,... .:' ,,,.,., J }ූ ( ".' } "·ts' LL:, I . -J1 JΫ ৐ S άέ Jw ৳) Ɩ Aili ৴ ৵1 Jή; Jl .f..; s:.G:. ,,, { ,,,. ,,, ... , ,,,. ,,,. o .... ,,,. ... ,,, ,,,. fa ':1) r fa !)৲ ৯x 0i ৑৒\ c;:. \੕P e:;· f ί Jt; ΰαi ':} Hadith #29: "Tell me an act which . . . " f-'c.;._ j ০ ઁ£ [Abu Huraira related that] a man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said, "O Messenger of Allah, show me a deed that is equal to jihad." The Prophet (peace be upon him) told him, "I do not find such a deed." Then he told him, "Can you, while the Muslim fighter is in the battlefield, enter your mosque to perform prayers without ceasing and fast while never breaking your fast?" The man said, "Who could do that?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) told him, "The one who makes jihad is rewarded even for the footsteps of his horse while it wanders about for grazing while tied on a long rope." (Recorded by al-Bukhari.) Abu Saeed al-Khudri narrated that a man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, "O Allah's messenger, who is the best among the people?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, o.JC' ં JJ1 l '.. · ১Ɣ ౤ ·.' , , J , , : , ౣ i$. , - iXY "A believer who strives his utmost in Allah's cause with his life and property." (Recorded by al-Bukhari.) In addition to the above, the negative results of abandoning jihad have been made very clear by the Prophet (peace be upon him). Perhaps these are other reasons why the Prophet (peace be upon him) has stated that jihad is the apex of the matter of entering Paradise and escaping the Hell-fire.