بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
Alhamdulillah, many Muslims seek Islamic knowledge these days. Many attend classes, either on site or online. Other join courses via Whatsapp, Telegram, etc. Either way, a lot of people have become enthusiastic about seeking Islamic knowledge, which is great to see.
However, having said that, there is one thing that I have noticed quite frequently. Many seekers of knowledge seem to think it is sufficient to seek knowledge and that they aren’t required to do a great amount of worship. So, you will find many seekers of knowledge only praying the obligatory prayers and not any recommended ones, and not reciting the morning and evening adhkar (remembrances) for instance. Hence, the title of my post: “The disappearance of the aabid (the worshipper)”.
An aabid is a worshipper i.e. the one who worships Allah a lot. An aalim (person of knowledge), on the other hand, is one who possesses knowledge i.e. of Islam and all that it entails.
One reason for the disappearance of the aabid might be due to misunderstanding the status of an aalim (a person of knowledge) verses that of an aabid (a worshipper).
عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، قَالَ كُنْتُ جَالِسًا مَعَ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ فِي مَسْجِدِ دِمَشْقَ فَجَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا الدَّرْدَاءِ إِنِّي جِئْتُكَ مِنْ مَدِينَةِ الرَّسُولِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِحَدِيثٍ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تُحَدِّثُهُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا جِئْتُ لِحَاجَةٍ . قَالَ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ : مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَطْلُبُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَلَكَ اللَّهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا مِنْ طُرُقِ الْجَنَّةِ وَإِنَّ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ لَتَضَعُ أَجْنِحَتَهَا رِضًا لِطَالِبِ الْعِلْمِ وَإِنَّ الْعَالِمَ لَيَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَمَنْ فِي الأَرْضِ وَالْحِيتَانُ فِي جَوْفِ الْمَاءِ وَإِنَّ فَضْلَ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ كَفَضْلِ الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْكَوَاكِبِ وَإِنَّ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَرَثَةُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَإِنَّ الأَنْبِيَاءَ لَمْ يُوَرِّثُوا دِينَارًا وَلاَ دِرْهَمًا وَرَّثُوا الْعِلْمَ فَمَنْ أَخَذَهُ أَخَذَ بِحَظٍّ وَافِرٍ
Narrated Kathir ibn Qays: Kathir ibn Qays said: I was sitting with Abu Darda in the mosque of Damascus. A man came to him and said: Abu Darda, I have come to you from the town of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) for a tradition that I have heard you relate from the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). I have come for no other purpose.
He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) say: If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will lower their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, the inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned man. The superiority of the learned man over the devout is like that of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it takes an abundant portion. [Sunan Abee Dawood, Hadeeth No. 3641. Graded “sahih” (authentic) by Shaikh Al-Albani.]
There is an important point we need to understand here: an aalim (a person who has knowledge) is also an aabid (a worshipper). However, an aalim worships Allah with knowledge whereas a normal aabid may worship Allah without knowledge, thereby losing many of the rewards of that worship – as it may not have been done according to the Quran and Sunnah.
So, an aalim is superior to an aabid as the former worships Allah upon knowledge whereas an aabid just worships Allah without that level of knowledge which obviously would mean that they don’t necessarily worship Allah the right way.
This is a point that many people seem not to understand: that one cannot be a true aalim without also being an aabid, as knowledge is meant to be applied. So it is not enough just to attend Islamic classes. We also need to apply that knowledge and increase our level of worship accordingly.
أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَانِتٌ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَائِمًا يَحْذَرُ الْآخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُو رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ ۗ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
Is one who is obedient to Allah, prostrating himself or standing (in prayer) during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of his Lord (like one who disbelieves)? Say: “Are those who know equal to those who know not?” It is only men of understanding who will remember (i.e. get a lesson from Allah’s Signs and Verses). [Surah Az-Zumar (39) : 9]
The above ayah (verse) talks about some acts of worship i.e. prostrating and standing in prayer at night. After this, knowledge is mentioned (those who know vs. those who do not know) implying that those who know are those who do these acts of worship i.e. apply their knowledge. So standing in prayer at night is a sign of those who know.
Standing in prayer is also a sign of the muhsinoon (those with the highest level of faith).
إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ
آخِذِينَ مَا آتَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ
كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ
وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ
وَفِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ
Verily, the Muttaqun (pious) will be in the midst of Gardens and Springs (in the Paradise), Taking joy in the things which their Lord has given them. Verily, they were before this Muhsinun (good-doers). They used to sleep but little by night [invoking their Lord (Allah) and praying, with fear and hope]. And in the hours before dawn, they were (found) asking (Allah) for forgiveness, And in their properties there was the right of the beggar, and the Mahrum (the poor who does not ask the others). [Surah Adh-Dhaariyaat (51) : 15-19]
As you can see, the Muhsinoon sleep little and pray a lot at night and seek forgiveness in the time before the adhan of Fajr. They are also very charitable.
The greatest person ever created (and the greatest worshipper of Allah), Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), was also commanded to stand in the night prayer.
At the beginning of Surah Al-Muzzammil, Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ
قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
نِّصْفَهُ أَوِ انقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا
أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا
إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا
إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْئًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا
O you wrapped in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad)! Stand (to pray) all night, except a little. Half of it, or a little less than that, Or a little more; and recite the Quran (aloud) in a slow, (pleasant tone and) style. Verily, We shall send down to you a weighty Word (i.e. obligations, legal laws, etc.). Verily, the rising by night (for Tahajjud prayer) is very hard and most potent and good for governing (the soul), and most suitable for (understanding) the Word (of Allah). [Surah Al-Muzzammil (73) : 1 – 6]
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) used to stand in prayer at night until his feet were swollen.
عن الْمُغِيرَة، يَقُولُ قَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى تَوَرَّمَتْ قَدَمَاهُ فَقِيلَ لَهُ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكَ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ قَالَ : أَفَلاَ أَكُونُ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا
Narrated Al-Mughirah (radiallahu anhu): The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) used to offer night prayers till his feet became swollen. It was said to him: “Allah has forgiven you your future and past sins.” On that, he said, “Shouldn’t I be a thankful slave (of Allah)?” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Hadeeth No. 360]
The night prayer was obligatory on him in fact. It was also obligatory for his Companions (radiallahu anhum) at the beginning of his Prophethood for about a year.
After a year, the end of this Surah (i.e. Surah Al-Muzzammil) was revealed removing the obligation of the night prayers upon them (the Sahaabah and those after them but not the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)), and making it a recommended prayer.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَيِ اللَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُ وَثُلُثَهُ وَطَائِفَةٌ مِّنَ الَّذِينَ مَعَكَ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَىٰ ۙ وَآخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ ۙ وَآخَرُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۖ فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ ۚ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًا ۚ وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Verily, your Lord knows that you do stand (to pray at night) a little less than two-thirds of the night, or half the night, or a third of the night, and so do a party of those with you, And Allah measures the night and the day. He knows that you are unable to pray the whole night, so He has turned to you (in mercy). So, recite you of the Quran as much as may be easy for you. He knows that there will be some among you sick, others travelling through the land, seeking of Allah’s Bounty; yet others fighting in Allah’s Cause. So recite as much of the Quran as may be easy (for you), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give Zakat, and lend to Allah a goodly loan, and whatever good you send before you for yourselves, (i.e. Nawafil non-obligatory acts of worship: prayers, charity, fasting, Hajj and ‘Umrah, etc.), you will certainly find it with Allah, better and greater in reward. And seek Forgiveness of Allah. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful. [Surah Al-Muzzammil (73) : 20]
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and his Companions (radiallahu anhum) weren’t the only ones who worshipped Allah a lot. Even the earlier Prophets (alaihimissalaam) did that.
Dawood (alaihissalaam), despite being a king, was also a great worshipper of Allah.
عَنْ عَبْد اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : أَحَبُّ الصِّيَامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ، كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا، وَأَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صَلاَةُ دَاوُدَ، كَانَ يَنَامُ نِصْفَ اللَّيْلِ وَيَقُومُ ثُلُثَهُ وَيَنَامُ سُدُسَهُ
Narrated Abdullah bin Amr (radiallahu anhuma): Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to me, “The most beloved fasting to Allah was the fasting of (the Prophet) Dawood who used to fast on alternate days. And the most beloved prayer to Allah was the prayer of Dawood who used to sleep for (the first) half of the night and pray for one-third of it and (again) sleep for a sixth of it.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadeeth No. 631]
Imagine, the best fast and the best prayer was that of a king!
The Companion who narrated the above hadeeth was Abdullah ibn Amr (radiallahu anhuma). He was also a great worshipper of Allah.
عن عَبْد اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ . فَقُلْتُ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. قَالَ : فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ، صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ، وَقُمْ وَنَمْ، فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ بِحَسْبِكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ كُلَّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ، فَإِنَّ لَكَ بِكُلِّ حَسَنَةٍ عَشْرَ أَمْثَالِهَا، فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ . فَشَدَّدْتُ، فَشُدِّدَ عَلَىَّ، قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً. قَالَ : فَصُمْ صِيَامَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ وَلاَ تَزِدْ عَلَيْهِ . قُلْتُ وَمَا كَانَ صِيَامُ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ ـ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ـ قَالَ : نِصْفَ الدَّهْرِ . فَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ بَعْدَ مَا كَبِرَ يَا لَيْتَنِي قَبِلْتُ رُخْصَةَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم
Narrated Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-Aas (radiallahu anhuma): Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to me, “O `Abdullah! Have I not been informed that you fast during the day and offer prayers all the night.” I said: “Yes, O Allah’s Messenger!” He said, “Don’t do that; fast for few days and then give it up for few days, offer prayers and also sleep at night, as your body has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you, and your guest has a right on you. And it is sufficient for you to fast three days in a month, as the reward of a good deed is multiplied ten times, so it will be like fasting throughout the year.” I insisted (on fasting) and so I was given a hard instruction. I said, “O Allah’s Messenger! I have power.” He said, “Fast like the fasting of the Prophet of Allah, Dawood (alaihisalaam) and do not fast more than that.” I said, “How was the fasting of the Prophet of Allah, Dawood (alaihissalaam)?” He said, “Half of the year,” (i.e. he used to fast on every alternate day). Afterwards when Abdullah became old, he used to say, “It would have been better for me if I had accepted the permission of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) (which he gave me i.e. to fast only three days a month). [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadeeth No. 196]
عَنْ يَزِيد بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فِي كَمْ أَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ قَالَ : فِي شَهْرٍ . قَالَ إِنِّي أَقْوَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ – يُرَدِّدُ الْكَلاَمَ أَبُو مُوسَى – وَتَنَاقَصَهُ حَتَّى قَالَ : اقْرَأْهُ فِي سَبْعٍ . قَالَ إِنِّي أَقْوَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ : لاَ يَفْقَهُ مَنْ قَرَأَهُ فِي أَقَلَّ مِنْ ثَلاَثٍ
Yazid ibn Abdullah narrated from Abdullah ibn Amr (radiallahu anhuma) that he said: O Messenger of Allah, in how many days should I complete the recitation of the Quran? He replied: In one month.
He said: I am more energetic to complete it in a period less than this. He kept on repeating these words and lessening the period until he said: Complete its recitation in seven days. He again said: I am more energetic to complete it in a period less than this.
He (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: He who finishes the recitation of the Quran in less than three days does not understand it. [Sunan Abee Dawood, Hadeeth No. 1390. Graded “sahih” (authentic) by Al-Albani.]
The great worshippers mentioned so far are all actual people that existed, not mythical creatures. The reason I say that is because, sadly, many people approach their stories that way. Because of this, they are unable to understand that Allah has made these great worshippers examples for us to follow.
Yes, that’s right. We are supposed to follow them i.e. try to behave like them.
The first thing we need to do is to actually hope that we can be something like them one day i.e. an aabid. So we need to have that intention and hope in our hearts. Remember, Allah can do all things so He could cause us to become great worshippers. If we lose hope in Allah’s Mercy, then we really have no chance of improving.
The second thing we need to do is to keep supplicating to Allah to make us both an aalim (person of knowledge) and an aabid (a worshipper). Yes, an aalim is also an aabid but this dua (supplication) will remind us that it isn’t enough for us to gather knowledge and that we also have to apply it.
The third we need to do is start small. We need to take it step by step. Someone who rarely recites the Quran cannot start reciting one Juz a day overnight which is what they would need to do to finish the Quran in one month. Rather the person would start by reciting one verse daily or half a page if possible. Then when he or she is accustomed to this, they can increase it to a full page daily. Then when they are accustomed to this (even if it takes 6-10 months), they could increase it to two pages daily and so on, until they reach 20 pages (i.e. one Juz) daily.
Now, this might take a person 5-10 years to actually be able to finish the whole Quran in a month. That’s fine because this is a journey to self-improvement, not a Formula One race. You are ultimately only competing with yourself, not anybody else. We need to keep making ourselves better versions of the people we are at present.
Of course, a person should not stop at one Juz daily. Those for who Allah has made reciting the Quran easy should try to keep increasing the number of Juz until they reach 10 Juz so that they can finish the Quran in 3 days.
With regards to the recommended prayers, perhaps a person could start praying one rakah of Witr daily. After they get used to this, they could add the two rakahs of the Sunnah of Fajr daily. After they get used to this, they could add one more recommended prayer and so. So, perhaps in 5-10 years, this person would be praying the obligatory prayers along with most of the recommended ones including Dhuha (the forenoon prayer) and Tahajjud (the night prayer).
With regards to Dhuha, a person could start with only praying two rakahs a day and keep increasing it to 8 (whether more than 8 can be prayer is a matter of dispute amongst the scholars).
With regards to Tahajjud, a person could start with two short rakahs 5 minutes before the adhan of Fajr and slowly keep making that prayer longer (as the standing in the night prayer is meant to be long) and then add two more rakaahs. Those for whom Allah has made praying at night easy could eventually try to pray the way that Dawood (alaihissalaam) prayed.
As for fasting, a person should try to make up any obligatory fasts first and then perhaps move on to fasting any three days of the Islamic month.
عَنْ أَبَي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ : شَهْرُ الصَّبْرِ وَثَلاَثَةُ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu) said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) say: “The month of patience (i.e. Ramadan) and the three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime.” [Sunan An-Nasai, Hadeeth No. 2410. Graded “sahih” (authentic) by Al-Albani.]
After this perhaps they could focus on the best three days i.e. the 13th, 14th and 15th and then after this maybe Mondays and Thursdays. Those for whom Allah has made fasting easy should eventually try to fast on alternate days like Dawood (alaihissalaam).
There are other acts of worship as well like dua (supplication), dhikr (remembrance) including the morning and evening ones (very important as a protection in today’s magic and envy filled times), seeking forgiveness, Zakaah, charity, itikaaf (staying in the masjid), Hajj, Umrah, etc.
A seeker of knowledge should have big hopes and start applying step by step.
Please note that hoping without putting in the effort is not called hoping. It’s called “fantasizing” and there’s no place for that in our lives.
Now, someone may say, “Well, that’s great but how will I get time for all this stuff??”
Well, you will “get time for all this stuff” the same way you “get time” for all the “other stuff” like work/school/university, working out, taking showers, eating, sleeping, housework, family outings, meeting friends, etc. How do we “get time” for all that stuff? Well, we give it importance and thus we MAKE time for that stuff. Many people even schedule those things in their calendar so as not to forget.
So that’s how we do it with seeking knowledge and applying that knowledge – we schedule a time for it and make sure that we do it. It’s as simple as that. As Muslims, our lives are supposed to center around the worship of Allah.
A person who can find time for everything except worshipping Allah and learning about His religion, will really have a lot to answer for on the Last Day.
One last thing that we need to remember is that doing these acts of worship will actually bring us many blessing in our lives including blessing our time and efforts. Those who worship Allah a lot will always find ease in other aspects of their lives. Also, in these trial-filled times, worshipping Allah a lot keeps a person afloat, guided and at ease, and stops them from drowning in despair.
The proof of this is Ramadan, Hajj and Umrah. Why do we always feel so amazing during those times? Because we focus on the ibaadah (worship), not anything else.
Of course, the most important thing that these acts of worship will bring about is the Pleasure of Allah and Paradise. If that’s the only thing we get, then it is enough.
So dream big, hope even harder, supplicate a lot and start working on your worship. Perhaps if all of us start doing this, I could one day write a post in 10 years, in shaa Allah, entitled “The reappearance of the aabid (the worshipper)”.
May Allah make us from amongst the aalimoon (knowledgeable ones) and the aabidoon (those who worship Allah a lot).