worship. The pain was terrible. Instead of all these reasons, Sayyiduna Junayd Baghdadi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه wanted to perform more good deeds.

In the beginning, Sayyiduna Junayd Baghdadi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, used to do trade in mirrors. During this period of time, it was his routine that when he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would go to his shop, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would drop the curtain of his shop and offer 400 Rak’aat Nafl Salah. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه continued to practise this for a long period of time. After leaving the shop, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه then went to Sayyiduna Sari Saqati رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه and became an ascetic in one of the rooms of his home and started protecting and guarding his heart.

Similarly, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه spent a long period of 40 years. It was his routine for 30 years that he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would stand and say ‘اَللّٰه اَللّٰه’ from after Salat-ul-‘Isha until the morning, performing Salat-ul-Fajr with the same Wudu. He    رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه himself has said that he had not missed the first Takbeer for 20 years. (Sharh Shajarah Qadiriyyah Razawiyyah ‘Attariyyah, pp. 73)

Our pious predecessors and us!

Dear Islamic brothers! How beautiful the way of living of our pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی was that they earned Halal sustenance throughout the day and spent their nights in Zikr and worship, whereas we are wasting our lives in useless activities. Our pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی used to perform good deeds till their last breath, whereas there are people today who spend their entire lives in heedlessness and don’t even perform good deeds in their old age. Our pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی used to perform Salah so regularly that they did not miss the first Takbeer for years, whereas we do not go to the Masjid for months. Some go to Masjid with great preparations only for Eid Salah once a year, but some are even deprived of this privilege.

Our pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی were loyal to the Sunnah of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, however, we are fashionable people and are crazy for the attractions of this world. Our pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی not only performed good deeds themselves, but they also conveyed the call towards righteousness to others, but we not only commit sins ourselves, but also provide the opportunities of committing sins to others. Our pious predecessors