rather it would start from a very young age and their whole life would be spent in acting upon the Islamic rulings, worship and reciting the Holy Qur’an. Even then their passion for good deeds would not decrease, rather it would increase.

Sayyiduna Junaid Baghdadi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه and his desire for good deeds

It is reported that Sayyiduna Junaid Baghdadi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه used to do mirrors’ business. Whenever he would come to his shop, he would drop down the curtains and offer 400 Rak’ats Nafl Salah. After a while, he left his business and went to the court of Sayyiduna Sirri Saqati رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, where he performed worship in a small room in their house. He spent 40 years in this state. For 30 years, he would perform Isha Namaz, and then stand and do Zikr of Allah Almighty until morning, and with the same Wudu he would offer Fajr Salah. He himself states that in 20 years, I have never missed my Takbeer-e-Aula (The first Takbeer). (Sharh Shajarah Qadiriyyah Razawiyyah Attariyyah, pp. 73, summarised)

Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Attar رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states: When Sayyiduna Junaid Baghdadi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه passed away, some of my friends and I were present. We saw that just a few moments before he passed away, he was offering Salah whilst sat down due to weakness. Both of his feet had become swollen. When he would bend over to do Ruku and Sujood, he would twist one foot, which would cause immense pain and discomfort. The friends saw this and asked, “O Abu Qasim! What is this? Why are your feet swollen?” He replied, “اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَر, this is but a blessing.” Sayyiduna Abu Muhammad Hareeri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه then asked, “O Abu Qasim! What is the harm if you take some rest?” He replied, “Now I have some time, in which I can gather some good deeds. After this, where will I get such time.” He then said اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَر and he passed away. It is also narrated that when someone said to him to have some sympathy on his body, he replied that my book of good deeds is now being closed. Therefore, in this very moment, who is in need of good deeds more than me.

(Uyoon-ul-Hikayat, pp. 250, summarised)