The daily routine of Sayyidah RābiꜤah al-Basriyyah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْهَا

It is narrated that when night entered and the people went to sleep, it was the habit of Sayyidah RābiꜤah al-Basriyyah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْهَا to say to herself, “O RābiꜤah! (It is possible that) This is the last night of your life and that you will not see the sun rise tomorrow, so stand and worship your Lord, lest you face embarrassment on the Day of Judgement! Be determined; do not sleep; stand and worship your Lord!” After saying this, she would stand and offer voluntary prayer until dawn.

After offering Fajr prayer, she would address herself once again, saying, “O my soul! Congratulations, for you undertook great difficulty last night, but remember that this can be the last day of your life.” Saying this much, she would become engaged in worship again, and whenever she was overcome by sleep, she would stand and walk around her house.

Whilst doing this, she would say to herself, “O RābiꜤah! What kind of sleep is this! What pleasure is there in this? Leave this, and sleep in comfort for a long time in the grave. You have not felt much sleepiness today, but you will feel it tomorrow night. Be determined and please your Lord.”

She رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْهَا spent 50 years in this manner where she neither slept on a bed nor placed her head on a pillow until she departed this world.^[1]

اللہُ اَکْبَر! Dear Islamic brothers! Look at how these righteous slaves of Allah Almighty would beautifully and steadfastly spend their days and nights in righteous deeds. On the other hand, we spend the night in heedlessness and the day in worldly matters; we neither have concern for the grave or the Hereafter, nor do we perform actions which please Allah Almighty.