عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُومُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ حَتَّى تَتَفطَّرَ قَدَمَاهُ، فَقُلْتُ: لِمَ تَصْنَعُ هَذَا يَا رَسُولَ اللّهِ وَقَدْ غُفِرَ لَكَ مَا تَقَدَّم مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ؟ قَالَ: «أَفَلا أَكُونُ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا» مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to stand [in prayer] at night until his feet became cracked. I said: "Why do you do this, O Messenger of Allah, when Allah has forgiven you your past and future sins?" He said: "Should I not be a grateful servant?" Agreed upon (al-Bukhari and Muslim).
الشرح · explanation
وَعَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ رَضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْه نَحْوُهُ. مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ. يقوم: يصلي. من الليل: جزءًا منه. تتفطر: أي تتشقق.
Al-Mughirah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported the like of it. Agreed upon (al-Bukhari and Muslim). "He stands": he prays. "At night": a part of it. "Became cracked": that is, they split open.
الدروس · lessons
الحثّ على الإكثار من قيام الليل والدأب في العبادة اقتداء به صلّى اللّهُ عليه وسلّم. قيام اللّيل خير دليل على شكر العبد لربه سبحانه وتعالى، لما فيه من مجاهدة النفس وحملها على ما تكره وترك ما تلذّ به.
Encouragement to increase in standing for prayer at night and to persevere in worship, following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Standing in prayer at night is the best proof of a servant's gratitude to his Lord (Glorified and Exalted is He), because of the striving against the self it involves, compelling it to do what it dislikes and to abandon what it takes pleasure in.