Connect with us

Inspiration and Spirituality

Jihad by Night: Yahya Ibrahim

Published


“For twenty years I waged Jihad against myself.  I struggled, all throughout to remain standing in prayer at night.  For those twenty years I never tasted the sweetness of the night prayer.  It was only after that that I found comfort and sweetness.”

These are the words of one of the greatest scholars of the early generation.  Al-Imam Sufyaan ath-Thawri (161 H) is known as one of the Eight Ascetics of his age.  He was, rahimahullah, ‘aabid – a worshipper.

Twenty years of Jihad by night.  No sweetness was experienced by ath-Thawri (rahimahullah) for twenty years?

Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.

Nevertheless he kept the course with unwavering inspirational sabr.  He struggled in fear, campaigned in love, and toiled in hope of Allah.

He would later comment that a sin he committed kept him from the night prayers for five months.

Tahajjud, from ha-ja-da meaning “vigilant by night” consumed in devotional prayer.

It is a reality that for many the thought of prayer, obligatory not voluntary, results in sluggishness of form and drowsiness in invocation.

We pray, but do we?

We call out, but do we?

We attempt remembrance, but do we?

Twenty years of JihadJaahatu Nafsi the Imam said.  Twenty years of difficulty and comfort, prosperity and adversity, happiness and sorrow, wealth and poverty, fear and security, births and deaths, love and animosity.  Constancy in worship throughout all the conditions and experiences of life is unique.

Allah describes the animosity that a believer has for the comfort of their soft bedding.  In Surat as-Sajdah (32:16-17):

تَتَجَافَى جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّا أُخْفِيَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاء بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

Usually the verse is translated as

“Their sides Jafaa (forsake) their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (charity in Allah’s Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them.  No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.”

In fact the word Jafaa is much more contemptuous.  Allah describes the physical being of a believer as despising their bed and the comfort it invites.

Ash-Shafi’ee (rahimahullah) would touch his bed and say, “May you be destroyed. You are ever so soft and inviting.”

Abu Hanifa (rahimahullah) was asked how often he recites the Quran in its entirety. He asks in response, “Do you mean during the day or by night? During the night, the questioner inquired.  The Imam asked, “Do you mean while in Tahajjud or out of prayer?”

Subhan Allah!

Our audacity, at times, tempts us to feel content with our current level of devotion and ‘Ibadah.  The internet becomes our dawa, the masjid our hangout, the brothers – da brothas.  Our ‘Ibadah is weak but our talk is uninhibited. Our dreary lives, jobs, lack of jobs, idle free time and stress cause us to have grandiose self assessments and an over estimation of our true nearness to the Divine.  The response within us reflectively is dismissive in its oversimplification.

“That was then, this is now. That is al-Imam Sufyan and I am merely Yahya.”

So we fail to change or improve.  We look for quick fix solutions to problems in our life that are spiritual ailments that require a rejuvenation of Faith.

Once upon a time, ten years or more ago, I was as asleep in a hotel room thinking I was alone.  Little did I know that my teacher Shaykh Mohammed Safwat Nooredeen (rahimahullah) arrived in the middle of the night to take possession of HIS room wherein I was asleep due to a scarcity of rooms in the hotel which was attached to a conference I was translating for.  No one informed me that it wasn’t actually my room, and that they just put me in it knowing that I was his student and we’d make do whenever he finally arrived.  There I was, snoring away.

At first I was scared hearing what sounded to me like soft huffs and puffs.  I recited Ayatul Kursi.  A soft whine and moan ensued.  Someone or something was crying.

I sat up and looked around while fumbling for the lamp switch at the same time trying to grab my glasses; All the while reading Ayatul Kursi. Heart beat off the chart and I am ready to swing.

Prostrate in the corner of the room where the door is, out of my view was my Shaykh praying his night prayer.  He arrived, ate an apple, made his ablution and did what came natural. He prayed and bowed. He stood and prostrated.

At first I thought that this was because of restlessness and inability to sleep due to the time change.  But I knew his ‘Ibadah was solid, outwardly is what I am witness to, and inwardly Allah grants the reward.

I made wudu and joined him. He informed me in the morning of the words of ath-Thawri. He was so polite in his advice. Don’t snore away your night was the accusation. Even if you don’t relish the worship, remember ath-Thawri.  Allah have mercy on our scholars and students.

Ath-Thawri also said, “I was barred from praying Tahajjud for 5 months on account of a sin I committed.”

Some said to Ibn Mas`ood, may Allah be pleased with him, “We are unable to perform the night prayer.” He responded simply, “Your sins are prohibiting you (from it).”

Allah orders the Messenger early on in the mission of conveying Islam to humanity:

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا نِصْفَهُ أَوِ انقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا أَوْ زِدْعَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا

“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]

Half the night!? For real?

‘Aisha (radi Allahu anha) says, “Do not ever stop standing in prayer at night. The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) never ceased praying it. When he (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) was sick or weak, he prayed sitting.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

My aim is not to dazzle myself and you with verses and hadeeth extolling virtue upon those who stand in prayer at night.  It is simply to ask, “Why is it so hard for me?”

So I write to you to remind myself.

I want to pray more than I do, more often than I do, in a more tranquil way than I do, for longer and humbler than I do.

I want us to be from those who sleep little at night but find energy and Baraka in their day. I want to greet the dawn each and every morning having made my Jihad by night. I want to find comfort and ease in that ‘Ibadah that is the hallmark of righteousness.

إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ آخِذِينَ مَا آتَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ

“Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs, accepting what their Lord has given them. Indeed, they were before that doers of good. They used to sleep but little of the night, and in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness.” [Quran 51: 15-18]

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَانِتٌ آنَاء اللَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَائِمًا يَحْذَرُ الْآخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُو رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُوا الْأَلْبَابِ

“Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.”[Quran 39: 9]

I want my wife to hose me down with water, or maybe just a sprinkle as the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said.

Abu Hurayrah also reported that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “May Allah have mercy on a man who wakes up at night, prays, and wakes his wife to pray; and if she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah have mercy on a woman who wakes up at night, prays, and wakes her husband to pray; and if he refuses, she sprinkles water on his face.” [Abu Dawood and it is Sahih]

Al-Hasan al Basri (another of the Eight Ascetics) was asked: “We are unable to perform the night prayer so prescribe us a cure.” He said, “Do not disobey Him during the day and He will help you stand before Him during the night.”

Oh Allah! Help me to remember you, thank you, and be better in my worship.

Oh Allah! Help me to wake up in your worship and to be consistent in it.

Oh Allah! Allow us to worship you as you deserve to be worshipped.

Oh Allah! Grant us patience in your worship.

I ask you my brother and sister to ask Allah to help me and my family worship Allah when others are oblivious in slumber.

Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.

Imam Yahya Ibrahim, Director of Islamic Community Service; A/Principal of the Langford Islamic College, Perth & Head of Islamic Studies. Imam Yahya Ibrahim is also Curtin University & University of Western Australia's Muslim chaplain and sits on the Human Research Ethics Committee at St Charles Gairdner Hospital for Western Australian Health Services. Imam Yahya is also an instructor for the world-renowned AlMaghrib Institute. His initiatives in Australia and internationally include diversity training, cultural sensitivity programs, educational lectures, and media presentations. His expertise is sought by schools, universities, and a wide range of government & non-government organizations. In recognition of his valuable contribution, Imam Yahya was awarded the West Australian Multicultural Community Service Award for Individual Excellence. He currently oversees a unique educational Online project through https://YahyaIbrahim.com/School and his social media outreach.

61 Comments

61 Comments

  1. Amatullah

    April 12, 2010 at 12:03 AM

    Oh Allah! Help me to remember you, thank you, and be better in my worship.

    Oh Allah! Help me to wake up in your worship and to be consistent in it.

    Oh Allah! Allow us to worship you as you deserve to be worshipped.

    Oh Allah! Grant us patience in your worship.

    Ameen.

    Jazaak Allahu khayran Ustadh for this heartfelt reminder.

  2. Abd- Allah

    April 12, 2010 at 12:23 AM

    JazakAllah khayr akhi for the motivational reminder.

    It only takes but a few minutes to taste the sweetness of sleep, but it takes much longer to taste the sweetness of praying at night, yet we usually give up after a few minutes though. I wonder if we will ever be able to reach that level which we dream of. Perhaps, but only by the mercy of Allah and with His help. May Allah forgive our sins and shortcomings.

  3. ibnTauficTheSecond

    April 12, 2010 at 12:25 AM

    JazakAllaahu Khair for the great reminder and motivation to increase our efforts. I just wanted to point out that in the first and last set of ayah that you quoted, I think you forgot to put a space in-between the two ayah in the set. The last word of the ayah and the worst word of the next ayah appear as one word.

    JazakAllaahu Khair

    • Amatullah

      April 12, 2010 at 12:33 AM

      jazaak Allahu khayran, it’s been fixed.

  4. Abu Ibrahim

    April 12, 2010 at 1:08 AM

    May Allah reward you for the reminder. I pray we all strive to reach this level of devotion. Definitely, the first step is to stop committing sins.

    • striver

      April 21, 2010 at 2:41 AM

      one of the best comments quoted””””” Definitely, the first step is to stop committing sins.”””” jzk khair

  5. struggler

    April 12, 2010 at 1:31 AM

    Assalamualikum wa rahmatullahi wabarakatuhu

    excellent reminder, I struggle to get up I think it’s the shaytaan that tells me to go back to sleep because I cannot sleep at all during the day, and I need a good 8 hours of sleep for hifz. I try to review in qiyaam but bcause of lack of sleep i cant memorize during the day. any suggestions please

    • sayid

      April 12, 2010 at 2:20 PM

      your answer might be in Surah Muzammil, Ayah 6::

      “Verily, the rising by night (for Tahajjud prayer) is very hard and most potent and good for governing oneself, and most suitable for (understanding) the Word (of Allah).”

  6. Waris

    April 12, 2010 at 2:37 AM

    Subhan Allah !! Great reminder. I am struggling with my night prayers since ramadan. The number one obstacle I face is that I fear being tired and drowsy throughout the day. Allah swt has returned my soul many times exactly at the time of tahajjud .However, the same fear arises and I go back to sleep. How do I overcome this??

    • Hasan Yasir

      April 12, 2010 at 5:21 AM

      I find that a 30 min siesta ater dzuhr helps a lot. And I understand this was also a habit of our salaf (i.e. resting between dzuhr and asr)

      For example, if you go to sleep at 11pm, wake up at 4pm (fajr here is at 6) , then go to work and somehow manage to sneek in a quick power nap around 3pm, you may find this routine very beneficial.

      Add to this amending our lifestyle (i.e. eating healthily and at the right times, sleeping early etc.) I understand that the Companions used to close their doors ater Isha’, yet here we are wasting away the night in idle talk or in leisurely pursuits.

      May Allah swt correct our affairs.

  7. abu Rumasy-s.a.

    April 12, 2010 at 4:19 AM

    barak Allahu feek.

    I want my wife to hose me down with water, or maybe just a sprinkle as the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said.

    Be careful what you wish ya shaikh! :) I may have to blame you (or in reality thank you) if I get one…

    The reality is that most of the Muslims are struggling with Fajr, let alone Tahajjud, when I read these reminders, it makes us feel worthless because we could not never compare our state with that of the salaf, only hope that Allah ta`ala accepts the little that we put forth.

    At the same time, should we also remind ourselves about the simplicity of attaining Jannah which is the ultimate goal. It may be that a single word may enter us into Jannah or a small persistent & pure action, such as the case of the sahabi who walked by and the Prophet (saws) said he is a person of Jannah, when one of the other sahaba accompanied him for 3 nights, he did not notice any night prayer or anything extra other than the basic, when they finally asked him, he told that when he goes to sleep every night, he does not hold grudges against the Muslims and he forgives them (summary of hadeeth).

    Also, some people have health issues which requires them to rest or their weakness does not allow them to get up and subhanAllah because of Allah’s infinite mercy, there are many other avenues of voluntary prayer that could supplement this..

    Although we strive to please our Lord, azza wa jal and worry about our shortcomings, we also have great hope in Allah ta`ala’s infinite mercy….

    Is this the correct approach in understanding these two ideas…

    Tamim

  8. Zulander

    April 12, 2010 at 5:47 AM

    BarakAllahu feek for the reminder shaikh!

  9. vindicated

    April 12, 2010 at 6:00 AM

    Jazakallah.

    This is one of those posts that I really resonate with. The tahajjud alarm is never effective- I used to wonder why, now I know.

  10. Naeem Azam

    April 12, 2010 at 6:46 AM

    Assalaamu alaykum. An excellent reminder. JizakAllah. Ameen to all the dua’s.
    -Naeem

  11. TheSussist

    April 12, 2010 at 8:00 AM

    Subhanallah… And what sins keep us away from fajr

  12. Mariam E.

    April 12, 2010 at 8:19 AM

    Asalamu Alikum,

    Jazakum Allah khair for this really beautiful post. May Allah increase you in khayr.

  13. huzaifa

    April 12, 2010 at 8:27 AM

    May Allah swt put Barakah in the lives of all those associated with Muslim Matters and Yahya Ibrahim for that wonderful post. And may He swt enable us to worship Him throughout the night.

    Ameen

  14. Abs

    April 12, 2010 at 8:49 AM

    Jazak Allah khair.

    I ask all those who do pray at night to pray for us that Allah makes it easy for us to join you in this glorious worship.

  15. Shuaib Mansoori

    April 12, 2010 at 10:43 AM

    Assalamu Alaikum Ya Ustadh,

    BarakAllahu Feek for a really profound and moving article. May Allah make you and your family from the inheritors of Jannatul Firdaws and make us from those who stand in prayer in the deepest parts of the night.

  16. Siraaj

    April 12, 2010 at 10:48 AM

    thank you for this excellent reminder, not only for qiyaam, but as well to be vigilant of our (and by our, I mean “my”) sins throughout the day.

    Siraaj

  17. asme

    April 12, 2010 at 12:47 PM

    assalamu alaykum this has always confused me. i wanted to know, if one wakes up 1 hour before fajr and prays until fajr. is that considered tahajjud? or one would have to wake up long before fajr?

    • Mohammad S

      April 12, 2010 at 3:49 PM

      yes, that is definitely considered tahajjud

      …arise [to pray] the night, except for a little – half of it – or subtract from it a little or add to it… [73:1-4]

      the hadith I heard was that Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) comes to the closest heaven in the last 1/3rd part of the night

      so an hour before Fajr is an ideal time to wake up, or a little more

      • Naz

        April 20, 2010 at 11:46 PM

        I believe it is also sunnah to rest between tahajjud and fajr. This would refresh the person for their fajr prayer. Wallahu A’lam.

        • Abd- Allah

          April 21, 2010 at 1:32 AM

          I believe it is also sunnah to rest between tahajjud and fajr. This would refresh the person for their fajr prayer. Wallahu A’lam.

          Yes it is lying down after praying the 2 rak’ahs of sunnah before the Fajr prayer, this way the person rests from standing in prayer during the night. But if a person fears that he/she might fall asleep and miss the actual Fajr prayer, then it is better for him not to lie down after praying the sunnah of Fajr and Allah knows best.

  18. Farooq

    April 12, 2010 at 2:00 PM

    It touched the heart

  19. Umm_Ismael

    April 12, 2010 at 2:12 PM

    Asslam u alaikum wr wb,
    Beautiful reminder! One wonders why one doesn’t taste the sweetness of faith immediately upon a voluntary act of worship- thinking for a fleeting instant whether the question is of acceptance- its amazing to see what someone like Imam At Thauri experiences. So its a test of sabr in its totality. May ALLAH Help us become one of those who find the sweetness of faith through the night prayer – ameen.
    jazakALLAH!
    Asslam u alaikum wr wb.

  20. Umm Reem

    April 12, 2010 at 2:32 PM

    JazakAllah khiar shaikh…and ameen to your adiyyah…

  21. Pingback: Tayyibaat» Blog Archive » Morning: Time for Istighfar

  22. Sarah

    April 12, 2010 at 3:09 PM

    JazakumAllahu khayrn… much needed. Ameen to the du’aa.

  23. sister

    April 12, 2010 at 3:46 PM

    jazakillahu khairaa.How to attain steadfastness in these nafil ibadat?

  24. Mohammad S

    April 12, 2010 at 3:55 PM

    Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh,

    Brothers and sisters, I’d like to share with you an amazing hadith:

    Anas (radiAllahu anhu) quoted Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam) as saying,
    “Prayer in my mosque is equal to TEN THOUSAND prayers [elsewhere]. And prayer in the Sacred Mosque is equivalent to ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND prayers [elsewhere]. And prayer in the battlefield is equivalent to ONE MILLION prayers [elsewhere]. And what is MORE THAN ALL OF THAT is two rak’ahs performed by a servant [of Allah] during the middle of the night.”

    This is reported by Abu ash-Shaikh, Ibn Hibban in his work ath-Thawab, and al-Munzhiri.

    • Abd- Allah

      April 12, 2010 at 4:47 PM

      Anas (radiAllahu anhu) quoted Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam) as saying,
      “Prayer in my mosque is equal to TEN THOUSAND prayers [elsewhere]. And prayer in the Sacred Mosque is equivalent to ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND prayers [elsewhere]. And prayer in the battlefield is equivalent to ONE MILLION prayers [elsewhere]. And what is MORE THAN ALL OF THAT is two rak’ahs performed by a servant [of Allah] during the middle of the night.”

      Akhi, this hadith is not authentic. It has been reported in numerous authentic narrations that:

      1) Prayer in the Prophet’s masjid is equal to one thousand (1000) prayers elsewhere.

      It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “One prayer in this mosque of mine is better than one thousand prayers anywhere else, apart from al-Masjid al-Haraam [in Makkah].” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1133; Muslim, 1394).

      2) Prayer in al-Masjid al-Haraam [in Makkah] is equal to one hundred thousand (100,000) prayers elsewhere.

      It was reported that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: One prayer in this mosque of mine is better than one thousand prayers anywhere else, apart from al-Masjid al-Haraam, and one prayer in al-Masjid al-Haraam is better than one hundred thousand prayers anywhere else.” (Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 1406; Ahmad, 14847)

      3) Prayer in al-Masjid al-Aqsaa (in Jerusalem) is equal to two hundred and fifty (250) prayers elsewhere.

      It was reported that Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: when we were with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) we were discussing which was better, the mosque of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or the mosque in Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem). The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “One prayer in this mosque of mine is better than four prayers there, and how good a place of worship it is…” (Narrated and classed as saheeh by al-Haakim, 4/509; al-Dhahabi and al-Albaani agreed with him, as stated in al-Silsilah al-Sahihah).

  25. Adnan

    April 12, 2010 at 4:16 PM

    Barakallahufeek for the wonderful reminder. We are so far away from where the blessed companions and their righteous predecessors were. May Allah grant you, your family and all of us tawfeeq. Ameen

  26. NAS

    April 12, 2010 at 4:56 PM

    As Salamu Alaikum,

    One of the best articles I’ve read…ever. MashAllah.

    Really puts everything into perspective.

    May Allah reward you

  27. BrownS

    April 12, 2010 at 8:05 PM

    Subhanallah! 20 years!

    Jazakallahu khair for this reminder. It is truly scary to be actually kept from performing the night prayer.

    Ameen to all your adiya.

  28. Abu abdullah

    April 12, 2010 at 10:42 PM

    barakAllaah feek. JazakAllaah khayr.

    True. If you want something in your life and don’t ask Allaah by waking up in Tahajjud. It means you do not really need that thing.

    Is it ok to reveal the good deeds of our tarbiyyah even if those pious living people won’t want you to disclose their good deeds. First it was about imam of masjid nabawi and here about your own teacher.

    may Allaah make us focus on knowledge and not possible lacunae of our teachers and let us all benefit from the knowledge that benefits.

    • abu Abdullah

      April 13, 2010 at 9:15 PM

      Salamualaikum Ustadh Yahya,

      i remember Shaykh Yaser Birjas, hafidhahullah, while teaching Fiqh of Salah class suggested a couple of home work items during early morning prayers and among those was to lengthen your rukoo’ and sujood almost equal to our (long) Qiyam and reflect on what is being said.. like how perfect Allaah is when we say subahan Allaah.

      Allahumma Ameen to your all dua you made. Truly humbling write up reminder for our sins. insh Allaah i will make dua for you.

      wassalam.

      • Abu 'Ubaidah

        April 15, 2010 at 8:29 AM

        Jazakhallah khair for sharing!

  29. Sadaf Farooqi

    April 12, 2010 at 10:52 PM

    We burn the midnight oil for many things that are important to us: studying for an exam, tending to the needs of a sick child or elderly parent, taking a flight at dawn, even early-hour fitness regimens…so we should really ask ourselves, when we find ourselves wondering, “Oh why doesn’t Allah guide me? Why doesn’t He answer my dua’s’? –> “Why is what I want from Allah not important enough for me, to make me wake up an hour before Fajr to ask for it and beg Allah to give it to me at the time when He wants someone to ask, so that He can give?”
    I feel that, before complaining to Allah that He doesn’t give, we should bring ourselves to account for not asking at the most opportune time, in the most recommended of ways (sunnah).
    This article was very, very humbling; it had an effect on me that no article has had for a very long time. I prayed for you Shaikh Yahya, that may you, your wife and your children all become consistent performers of long, deep, khushu-filled tahajjud salah (without the need for a hose! Hehehe..)! And then I asked that for my own self too.
    May Allah reward you for writing such an honest piece. Ameen.

  30. Ibn Ameen

    April 12, 2010 at 11:18 PM

    Jazakallah khair :)

  31. Abdus-Sabur

    April 13, 2010 at 3:36 PM

    As-salamu alaikum,

    Very thoughtful piece and a great reminder for all of us. Sobering to say the least.

    If one prayers witr before sleep and wakes up for tahajjud does it still qualify as such and does witr have to be prayed over again? I have been very curious about this. Any info appreciated. Jazakallahu khair.

    Was-salamu alaikum

  32. DawahIT

    April 13, 2010 at 6:39 PM

    Assalamu alaikum,

    I just heard on GEO News that Dr. Israr Ahmed passed away. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon.

    May Allah protect him from the punishment of the grave and grant him Janatul Firdus.

    Wassalamu alaikum.

    • abu Abdullah

      April 13, 2010 at 9:08 PM

      inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon.

      Truly he was a great man of wisdom, with his 50+ years of marathon teaching of Qur’an in the subcontinent. Thousands upon thousands benefitted from his knowledge, alhamdulillah.
      may Allaah accept his deeds. ameen.

  33. Qas

    April 13, 2010 at 11:11 PM

    inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon

    I am really saddened by the loss. May Allah grant him paradise. In one of his books, he was asked why is he doing the work he does. He replied that he needed an “excuse” to enter Jannah, and his 50+ years of work was simply that. SubhanaAllah…

  34. another white brother

    April 14, 2010 at 8:54 AM

    Hmm whats the shar`i definition of jihad again?

  35. Abu 'Ubaidah

    April 15, 2010 at 8:28 AM

    Subhan’Allah!

    Jazakhallah khair for sharing and ameen to all the duas.

  36. Nahyan

    April 15, 2010 at 11:09 PM

    Jazakallahukhair ya ustadh

  37. Omar

    April 17, 2010 at 4:14 PM

    simply beautiful, great advice! jazakumullah khairan!

  38. Anon.

    April 17, 2010 at 5:40 PM

    Jazakullahu khairan for writing this. Alhamdulillah the quote from Imam Sufyaan ath-Thawri was a really inspirational reminder.

  39. umm chocolate

    April 19, 2010 at 1:13 PM

    SubhanAllah, beautiful article mashAllah! its a real iman booster! just by reading it, the article took me through a spirtual journey of being close to Allah (swt) which i have not experienced for a very long time!
    may Allah(swt) reward you abundantly! Ameen!

  40. striver

    April 19, 2010 at 8:43 PM

    Assalamu Alaikum ,

    Subhanallah!!! One of the best articles I’ve read…MashaAllah….with Allah swt’s mercy i do wake up half an hour and pray Tahajjud before fajr still i dont feel satisfied maybe because the quality of my prayer is poor… May Allah bless shaikh Ustadh yahya and his family and grant Jannathul firdouse… The whole thing moved me but The best of the article was

    Al-Hasan al Basri (another of the Eight Ascetics) was asked: “We are unable to perform the night prayer so prescribe us a cure.” He said, “Do not disobey Him during the day and He will help you stand before Him during the night.” How very true… May allah forgive us and grant us all his infinite mercy. Aameen.

  41. thanaya asgher

    April 20, 2010 at 5:34 AM

    Assalam o alaikum Brother,
    subhanAllah! i am actually touched today by how Allah swt answers our queries and guides us out of our miseries! I face the same situation every now and then! maybe because its human nature… and Allah swt is indeed so merciful that he led me to the answers through your blog and another blog that I follow:abezsez.com… in fact ive posted ur blog as a comment on abez’s blog! tc and keep guiding us… may Allah swt help and guide all of us, Ameen!

    • striver

      April 20, 2010 at 10:27 PM

      Assalamu Alaikum ,
      Jzk khair …Actually im a sister of Islam, wat i wrote was actually my own experience and it really works when we sincerely ask him to guide us… Allah is sooooo merciful that even after we sin so much be it small or big and if we turn back to him for his mercy he showers it more than we deserve !!! Subhanallah… May allah keep us all steadfast in our path of Islam!!

  42. Hannah

    April 23, 2010 at 5:01 AM

    i love this post . crazyyylove.

  43. Anam

    April 28, 2010 at 5:51 AM

    Ameen.

    JazakAllahu khairan Sheikh for a timely reminder for myself. May Allah reunite us soon in the UK for the next AlKauthar course.

  44. brother

    May 31, 2010 at 9:02 PM

    ameen

  45. Pingback: When the Night is Dark

  46. Pingback: Dear Not a Loser… | Abez sez Assalamualaikum!

  47. Pingback: The Myth of the Naturally Good Muslim | MuslimMatters.org

  48. Pingback: The Myth of the Naturally Good Muslim — Jamiatul Ulama KZN

  49. Bint Yasa'ah

    February 4, 2014 at 10:36 PM

    Assalamu Alaikum

    I had made a habit of waking up at Tahajjud and praying, but then unfortunately I had my menses and was unable to pray. After that I lost the habit – and will – to pray Tahajjud. It saddens me deeply that I changed for the worse within a little more than a month. What do you think would be the solution to this problem? Wake up for Tahajjud even when I can’t pray just to make du’as or something?

    Sorry for the shamelessness, but I really need to know. -_-

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

MuslimMatters NewsLetter in Your Inbox

Sign up below to get started

Trending