"Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) entered my presence, and there was a woman with me, so he said: “Who is this?” I said: “So-and-so, who does not sleep at night.” Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) then said: 'Incumbent upon you are the works of which you are capable, for, by Allah, Allah will not become weary until you become weary!” The work dearest to Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) was that in which his Companion would persevere.'"
The Fasting Of Sayyidina Rasoolullah
Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah 310
Hadith Commentary
This noble tradition from Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah reveals profound wisdom regarding spiritual practice. When the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) inquired about the woman who "does not sleep at night," he was referring to excessive worship that could lead to spiritual exhaustion.
The statement "Allah will not become weary until you become weary" demonstrates the Divine Mercy - Allah does not burden souls beyond their capacity. The Most Merciful accepts what His servants can consistently maintain rather than what exhausts them temporarily.
The concluding wisdom - "The work dearest to Allah's Messenger was that in which his Companion would persevere" - emphasizes the virtue of moderate, sustainable worship over extreme practices that cannot be maintained. This aligns with the Quranic principle: "Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity" (2:286).
Scholars explain that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) taught balance in all acts of worship, including fasting, prayer, and night vigils. The most beloved deeds to Allah are those performed consistently, even if small, rather than those performed occasionally with great intensity.