Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم showed utmost gratitude in his worship to Allah. He would pray a large part of the night throughout the year, and his gratitude would even increase in times of special divine bounty. Ummul Mu’mineen Sayyidatina A’ishah (R.A) has reported:
When the last ten nights of Ramadan entered, Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم would revive the night in worship and awake his family…” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Ummul Mu’mineen Sayyidatina A’ishah (R.A) has reported:”When Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم occupied himself in prayer, he observed such a (long) Qiyam prayer that his feet would become swollen. Ummul Mu’mineen Sayyidatina A’ishah (R.A) said:
“O’ the Nabi of Allah , you do this (in spite of the fact) that your earlier and later mistakes have been pardoned for you?”
Thereupon, he said:”Aisha should I not prove myself to be a thanksgiving servant (of Allah)?” (Muslim)
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (R.A) has commented on the Hadith:
“The meaning is that since I have been forgiven of all possible mistakes, this is a reason for night prayers being a form of gratitude towards Allah, so how can I abandon it? Imam Al-Qurtubi (R.A) clarified:
Those who asked him this question assumed that he withstands such burdens in worship to Allah from fear of possible mistakes and hope of forgiveness. So, he clarified to them that there is another path of worship which is to express gratitude for forgiveness. The scholars of Islam said: The Ambiya (A.S) have maintained such deep fear and cognizance of Allah because of their knowledge of His immense blessings upon them.” (Fathul Baari)
