Life-of-Muhammad

204Life of Muhammad saRELATIONSHIP WITH GODEvery aspect of the Holy Prophet's sa life appears tohave been governed and coloured by his love for anddevotion to God.In spite of the very heavy responsibilities that hadbeen laid upon his shoulders the greater portion of histime during the day as well as during the night wasspent in the worship and praise of God. He would leavehis bed at midnight and devote himself to the worship ofGod till it was time to go to the mosque for the morningprayers. He sometimes stood so long in prayer duringthe latter part of the night that his feet would getswollen, and those who saw him in that condition werealways much affected. On one occasion ‘A’isha ra said tohim: "God has honoured you with His love andnearness. Why then do you subject yourself to so muchdiscomfort and inconvenience?" He replied: "If God hasby His Grace and Mercy conferred His love and nearnessupon me, is it not my duty in return to be alwaysrendering thanks to Him? Gratitude should increase inproportion to the favours received" (Bukhari, KitabulKusuf ).He never entered upon any undertaking withoutdivine command or permission. It has already beenrelated in the biographical portion that, in spite of thevery severe persecution to which he was subjected bythe people of Mecca, he did not leave the town till hereceived the divine command to do so. Whenpersecution became very severe and he gave permissionto his Companions to migrate to Abyssinia, some ofthem expressed a desire that he should accompanythem. He declined to do so on the ground that he hadnot received divine permission to that effect. Thus,during a period of hardships and persecution whenpeople usually like to keep their friends and relationsclose to themselves, he directed his Companions to seekrefuge in Abyssinia and himself stayed behind in Mecca,for God had not yet directed him to leave it.