Tawheed is the key

 Women and the fear of Allaah

Suwaid bin Amr Kaibi RadiYallaahu anhu says that three was a devout worshipping lady in the town of Ghuna who hardly used to sleep. When someone critisiced her for that she said: “ death and the long rest in the grave will be enough sleep for the believers”

Aminah RadiYallaahu anha the daughter of Abu Wara’ RadiYallaahu anhu was among the devout and fearing. Whenever the fire was mentioned to her she would cry and say: “ They will be forced into Hell; they will eat fire; they will drink of the fire and live!” she would cry as if she was being fried in the pan.

Hakim ibn Sinan Bahili RadiYallaahu anhu says that a woman who served Muadah Al-‘adawiyah RadiYallaahu anha said: “she would keep vigil for most of the night in prayers. When sleep would overcome her, she would tell herself: O self! Sleep is in front of you. If you let it overcome you, you will end up regretting that in the grave.”
One of her quotations was: “ i am amazed at an eye that sleeps while it knows of the long rest in the darkness of the grave.”

‘Ajradah al’Ammiyah RadiYallaahu anha used to saty awake from early in the night until fajr. On fajr, she would announce in a sad voice: “it is for You that the worshippers have spent their time in bringing the darkness of the night. They have stayed up for Your Mercy and Grace. So it is You and not anyone besides You that I ask to make me amongst the leaders of those who rush towards You; to elevate me to the rankts of the close ones and to recruit me among Your pious servants. For You are The Most Noble of The Noble; The Most Merciful of The Merciful and the Greates of The Great, O Generous One”. She would then fall down in prostration, pray and weep until fajr.

‘Ufairah Al-Abidah RadiYallaahu anha says: “sometimes i want to sleep but am unable to do so. How can i sleep when my record keeping angels do not sleep?”

Khalid Ibn Warraq RadiYallaahu anhu says: “I had a maid who was very strict on herself so i told her one day that Allaah was understanding and would accept the easiest of deeds. She cried and said: “I have placed upon Allaah such whims and fancies that the mountain would not be able to bear thei burden, just as they were not able to bear the burden of the Trust. I am aware that there is a resort in the grace of Allaah for the sinners, but how can i stand the remorce of not being among the winners?”

“And what is that,” i enquired.

“tomorrow, on the day of resurrection, when everything in the graves will be overturnd, the good people will ride their mounts of deeds and rush to the path. My Master! No lazy person can outrun the competitors, even if many gifts are presented. Or how can i face death of sorrow and dullness when i see everyone riding their mounts, raising the banners of the good people and those who yearn cross the path and those who love Allaah meet Him, while I lag behind with the wrongdoers and the sinners?”

she then cried and said: “Beware! Do not allow anybody to prevent you from competing in the race of deeds, for there is not in either world any house where sercants can make up for their lost time, Woe unto those who fall short of serving their Lord and yet keep up false hopes. Why can’t these hopes wake them up when the champions sleep?

We will quote imam Ghazali rahimahullah for the final advice in this matter:

These were the fears of the pious. We need to be even more apprehensive than they were. Our desires lead us and our misfortune dominates us while no examples of the predecessors move us, nor does the threat of death dirsturb us. We ask Allaah to reform our actions through His Grace. What is even more strange is that when we want wealth in this world, we farm, we do buisness and we board all sorts of vehicles on land and in the sea. When we seek the ranks of knowledge, we try to understand and we tire while memorising information.
Then, when we look towards the Eternal Kingdom, we are content by saying:” O Allaah! Forgive us and have mercy upon us.”Whereas the One Whom we should long for says: “Man will only reap what he strives for.” [Surat An-Najm: 39] and: “O man! What has deceived you about your Generous Lord?”

[Taken from the Book “Ten Frightening Things For Women”]

From ‘Abdah bin abi shawwal who was the servant of Rabi’ah al-adawiyyah Rahimahallaah. She said, “Rabi’ah used to pray the whole night. And then she would sleep until the fajr would appear. I would hear her say ” O nafsi, how long will you sleep? And until when will you wake up? Soon you would sleep and not wake up from it before the day of resurrection!”

[From Siyar A'laam an-Nubalaa']