When these blessed people worship Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ in such a manner that has been prescribed, then Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ grants them the glad tidings of His pleasure. But alas! In the current era, we strive to go ahead of one another in worldly matters. For example, we wish to make a beautiful house when we see that someone else has got a beautiful house, we wish to wear expensive clothes upon seeing someone else wearing such clothes, we wish to buy a new car or have a successful business upon seeing someone else with a new car or a successful business. The growing influence of the worldly wealth and money is increasing day by day, to such an extent that we strive for these things day and night and go through much difficulties, but do not get tired at all.

Have we ever developed the passion to perform virtuous actions after seeing someone else do performing good deeds? Have we ever had the mind-set to offer all five Salah with congregation in the first row of the Masjid after seeing someone else go towards the Masjid? Have we ever developed the passion to act upon the Sunnah after seeing someone else with a Miswak, beard and wearing Imamah Shareef? Have we ever strived to do Madani Dars, participate in area visit, attend the weekly Ijtima and Madani Muzakarah upon seeing another Islamic brother carry out these activities? If only we also could develop the passion to strive in becoming pious upon seeing someone engaged in virtuous actions. Let’s now listen to a story of a pious person رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه with the intention of increasing our passion for worship:

Worshipping all night and fasting during the day

Sayyiduna Habeeb Najjaar رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه would worship throughout the night, fast during the day, give away whatever food would be presented to him for Iftar and would himself worship all night in the state of hunger. When it would be close to morning, he would pray the following in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ with humility and humbleness: I remained drowned in the oceans of negligence and lost in sins. O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! This disgraceful, sinful and ill bondsman of yours is present at the door of your generosity and is asking you for protection. (Raud-ul-Faaiq, pp. 246; summarised)