Question
I find the book Fadail A’mal informative in its explaining themes through Quranic Ayah and Ahadith. However, I find some of the other material very strange. For example, in Fazail of salah, it says that Ibn Abidin (rahmihullah) prayed a thousand nafl rak’ah every day. How is this humanly possible in a 24 hour day (if each rak’ah took one and a half minutes on average, then he would be praying 25 hours a day of nafl salah!)? As unbelievable as this is, is such an act not against the shari’ah (which teaches moderation)? Where do these and other such statements come from? By no means do I wish to attack this work. I merely seek clarification and verification of the authenticity of such statements. Jazakallah
Answer
Such incidents seem strange to those who are unaware of the belief of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah that, ‘Karamatul Awliya Haqq’. (The miraculous deeds of the pious are true).
It is not impossible that Allah Ta’ala grants Barakah in the time of some of his chosen ones so as to enable them to do such deeds. Furthermore, such incidents are manifold and are quoted by many other great Muhaddithun (Hadith masters). Thus, proving it to be a reality that cannot be refuted. Imam Nawawi (rahimahullah) -in his commentary on Sahih Muslim- has strongly discouraged against refuting such achievements of the pious. (Sharh Sahih Muslim, vol.1 pg.10)
Hereunder are a few examples:
1. Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) reports from Maslamah ibn ‘Amr that Umayr ibn Hani used to perform 1000 rak’ahs everyday and he used to recite 100 000 Tasbih.
2. Imam Abu Nu’aym (rahimahullah) has reported the same of ‘Amir ibn Abdullah
3. Imam Malik (rahimahullah) said regarding ‘Ali ibn Husayn ibn ‘Ali that he used to perform 1000 rak’ahs every night till he passed away. This has been quoted and documented by Hafiz Dhahabi in his Kitabul-‘Ibar’.
4. Hafiz ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has quoted regarding ‘Ali ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas that he used to perform 1000 rak’ahs everyday. (Tahdhib) (see Iqamatul Hujjah of Moulana ‘Abdul Hayy al Lakhnawi pgs. 64, 65, 71, 74).
There are countless such stories of our senior predecessors.
These incidents have been documented by the abovementioned illustrious scholars and Muhaddithun in praise of the doers.
They did not regard it to be strange; do we have the right to do so?
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar