Ghuloo in the Faza'il-e-AA'maal

Quotes from Fazail-e-Aa'maal (Ta'alim book)

The following is to be found in the Faza'il-e-A'maal [Virtues of Salaat - Part III (b) - Stories of the Pious (Story # XIII pages - 84-5), it reads;

3. Imaam Abu Hanifa (Rahmatullah alaih) is famous for his vigil, it is said that for thirty, forty or fifty years (according to the information of different narrators) he offered his Fajr prayer with the Wudhu for Isha. He would go to sleep only for a few minutes in the afternoon saying, "It is 'Sunnat' to sleep in the afternoon."

4. It is said about Said bin Almusayyab (Rahmatullah alaih) that for fifty years he offered his Fajr prayer with the 'Wudhu' performed at Isha.

Imaam Ghazzali (Rahmatullah alaih) on the authority of Abu Talib Makki reported the same practice by no less than forty 'Tabais', some of whom had been doing it for forty years continuously.

9. Abu Atab Salimi (Rahmatullah alaih) is reported to have been fasting during the day and weeping during the night for full forty years.

10. It is said about a Sayyed that continuously for twelve days he has been offering his Salaat with the same 'Wudhu'. For fifteen years, his back had not touched the bed. He would also go without food for days together.

The last paragraph reads as follows;

Besides the above, there are numerous records of the pious pursuits of the Heroes of Islamic History. It is difficult to cover all of them in this book. All that has been said here is sufficient to serve as examples. May Allah, through his grace, grant me and the readers of this book the strength to follow in the footsteps of these blessed people! 'Ameen'!

The Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said;  "Whoever does an action that we have not commanded, it is to be rejected" [Saheeh Muslim]

Ayeshah (radhiAllaahu anha) reported that the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) "Never stayed up a whole night in worship" [Saheeh Muslim]

The following appears In the Saheeh of Imaam Bukhaaree in the Book of Fasting, under the chapter: The Right of the body in Fasting (56) Hadeeth # 196, pages 110-1, Vol-3;.

Narrated Abdullah bin Amr bin al 'Aas: Allaah's Apostle (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said to me; "O Abdullaah! Have I not been informed that you fast daily during the day and offer prayers every night during all the nights." Abdullah replied, "Yes, O Allaah's Apostle! The Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Don't do that; fast for few days and then give it up for few days, offer prayers and also sleep at night, as your body has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you, and your guest has a right on you..."

The following appears In the Saheeh of Imaam Bukhaaree in the Book of Fasting, under the chapter: The Fasting of David (60) Hadeeth # 200, pages 113-4, Vol-3;

Narrated Abdullaah bin Amr bin al-Aas, The Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said to me, "You fast daily all the year and pray every night all the night?" I replied in the affirmative. The Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "If you keep on doing this, your eyes will become weak and your body will become tired, he who fasts all the year is as he who did not fast at all. [Saheeh Bukhaaree]

It is reported in the Saheeh of Imaam Muslim (rahimahullaah) from Anas (radhiAllaahu anhu) that a group of the Companions of the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) asked the wives of the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) about (his worship) what he did in secret. Having been informed of his (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) worship, One of them (those Sahabah) said, “I will fast and never eat.” Another said, “I will pray and never sleep.” and the other said: “I will never marry women.”

The Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) praised and thanked Allaah, then he said, “What is the matter with some people who say such-and- such? But as for me, I pray and I sleep, I fast and I break my fast, and I marry women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah has nothing to do with me.” [Saheeh Muslim]

Allaah said; "Thus have We made of you a nation justly balanced, that you may be witnesses over the people and the Messenger a witness over yourselves." [al-Baqarah 143]

Therefore, we find that Islam presents the moderate way in every aspect of  life. Not only that, it also warns against heading towards either extreme: the extreme of too much zealousness and the extreme of too much nonchalance

"Guide us to the straight way, the way of those upon whom You have bestowed Your grace, not those whose (portion) is wrath nor those who have gone astray." [al-Faatihah 6-7]

The Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said "Beware of Ghuloo (exaggeration) in the religion, those who exaggerated perished" [Sunan Abu Dawud]

This balanced approach that distinguishes Islam from the other religions is the true justice and excellence.

Umar ibn Abdul-Aziz wrote to one of his workers, saying, after advising him to follow the path of the early predecessors, "There is no room to fall short of them and there is no room to go beyond them. Some people shortened the matter and fell short. Some people went above them and therefore went to extremes. They (the pious predecessors - Salaf) were between that (those two extremes) upon a straight guidance." [Recorded by Abu Dawud] It is a lengthy quote but only the relevant portion was quoted here.