❀ Avoiding Excessive Hardship in Worship ❀
In Islam, performing abundant acts of worship is praiseworthy, yet placing oneself in hardship beyond one’s capacity is clearly prohibited. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, on many occasions, guided towards acts within a person’s ability so that balance and consistency in worship could be maintained. The following narrations are clear examples:
① Moderation in the Recitation of the Qur’an
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr (رضي الله عنه) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Complete the recitation of the Qur’an once a month."
He replied: "I am able to do more."
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Then complete it in twenty days."
Again he said: "I can do more."
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Then complete it in ten days."
He still said: "I can do more."
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Then complete it in seven days, and do not go beyond that. For your wife has a right over you, your visitors have a right over you, and your body has a right over you. Perhaps you will live long (and will not be able to maintain it in old age)."
When ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr grew old, he would say:
"I wish I had accepted the concession of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ."
(al-Bukhārī: Faḍā’il al-Qur’ān, 5054; Muslim, al-Ṣiyām, 1159)
② Prohibition of Completing the Qur’an in Less Than Three Days
Later, the Prophet ﷺ permitted ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr to finish the Qur’an in three days, and said:
"One who recites the Qur’an in less than three days will not comprehend it."
(al-Tirmidhī, al-Qirā’āt, 2949; Abū Dāwūd, Shahr Ramaḍān, 1390 – graded ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ by al-Tirmidhī)
③ Prohibition of Straining in Voluntary Prayers
The Prophet ﷺ saw a rope tied between two pillars in the mosque and asked:
"What is this?"
The people said: "It belongs to Zaynab (رضي الله عنها). She prays (at night), and when she tires, she holds onto it."
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Untie it. Let each of you pray as long as he has energy, and when he feels tired or sluggish, let him rest."
(Muslim, Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, 784)
④ Rejection of Monastic Self-Denial
From these events, it is clear that:
◈ Islam has no concept of abandoning lawful pleasures.
◈ Physical self-torture and extreme ascetic practices are not acceptable.
⑤ Virtue in Moderated Night Prayer
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever recites two hundred verses in the night prayer will be recorded among the devout and sincere worshippers."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, 1134 – authenticated by al-Ḥākim and al-Dhahabī)
The Prophet’s Long Night Prayer and Three Supplications
Khabbāb ibn al-Aratt (رضي الله عنه) said:
One night I was with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He prayed for a long time until dawn. After the prayer, I said: "O Messenger of Allah, may my parents be sacrificed for you! Tonight you prayed in a way I had never seen you pray before."
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"You spoke the truth. Prayer is an act in which love for Allah increases and refuge from His punishment is sought. I asked my Lord three things:
① That He not destroy my ummah as He destroyed previous nations — and this was granted.
② That He not give an enemy from outside power over my ummah — and this was granted.
③ That He prevent division among my ummah — but this was not granted."
(al-Tirmidhī, al-Fitan, 2192 – graded ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ gharīb)
Summary:
◈ Balance and moderation in worship is essential.
◈ Overburdening oneself diminishes the spirit of worship.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ taught his ummah ease and moderation in devotion.
