During the day, Imam Sufyan Ath-Thauree (may Allah have mercy on him) was preoccupied in a myriad of ways: He
sought out knowledge, he imparted knowledge to others, he worked in order to earn a living, and so on. Most of his day
time activities had one thing in common: he was around other people. In this regard, night-time was different: no human
eye could see him, and he could therefore concentrate with all of his mind and heart on worship.
Imam Sufyan longed for and loved the solitude of the night, and he especially loved to wait for that part of the night when
Allah subhanahu wata’alaa descends to the lowest heaven and asks, “Is there anyone who is asking for forgiveness? Is
there anyone who is repenting? Is there anyone who is asking (Me for something)? Is there anyone who is supplicating (to
Me)?”
Abu Yazeed Al-Ma’na said: “In the morning, Sufyan Ath-Thauree would extend his legs to the wall and place his head on
the ground, so that he could regain blood circulation after having spent the night standing and praying.” Yazeed ibn
Thubah related that Sufyan once said to him: “I am overjoyed with the coming of the night only because I can then relax
and know that no human eye is watching me (and I can therefore be at peace while I worship Allah).”
While a group of people were gathered together, Fudail came, stood over Sufyan’s head, and recited this Verse:
“Say: “In the Bounty of Allah, and in His Mercy (i.e. Islam and the Quran); - therein let them rejoice.” That is better than
what (the wealth) they amass.” Quran 10:58
“Say (O Muhammad salallahu alayhi wassalam): “He is Allah, (the) One.” Quran 112: 1
Sufyan said: “O Abu Ali (i.e. Fudail), by Allah, we will never be able to rejoice until we take the cure of the Quran and place
it over the disease of our hearts.”
Sufyan advised young people not to waste the time of their youth, but to spend it usefully by worshipping Allah.
Muhammad ibn Yusuf said: “Sufyan Ath-Thauree would make us stand up (to pray) at night, and he would say, ‘Stand up,
O young people, and continue to pray throughout the years of your youth (so that you will have become accustomed to
worship in your old age).”
Furthermore, Sufyan advised others on how to gain the physical strength they needed to sleep less so that they could
work during the day and pray during the night. Uthman ibn Zaaidah reported that Sufyan Ath-Thauree wrote to him a
letter that contained this message: “If you want to maintain a healthy body, and if you want to sleep only a little, then eat
only a little.”
Imam Sufyan followed his own advice, eating only enough to help him keep his strength, no more and no less. If someone
came and asked Sufyan for food, he would give him a share of his own food and keep just enough to keep his body strong
enough for worship.
sought out knowledge, he imparted knowledge to others, he worked in order to earn a living, and so on. Most of his day
time activities had one thing in common: he was around other people. In this regard, night-time was different: no human
eye could see him, and he could therefore concentrate with all of his mind and heart on worship.
Imam Sufyan longed for and loved the solitude of the night, and he especially loved to wait for that part of the night when
Allah subhanahu wata’alaa descends to the lowest heaven and asks, “Is there anyone who is asking for forgiveness? Is
there anyone who is repenting? Is there anyone who is asking (Me for something)? Is there anyone who is supplicating (to
Me)?”
Abu Yazeed Al-Ma’na said: “In the morning, Sufyan Ath-Thauree would extend his legs to the wall and place his head on
the ground, so that he could regain blood circulation after having spent the night standing and praying.” Yazeed ibn
Thubah related that Sufyan once said to him: “I am overjoyed with the coming of the night only because I can then relax
and know that no human eye is watching me (and I can therefore be at peace while I worship Allah).”
While a group of people were gathered together, Fudail came, stood over Sufyan’s head, and recited this Verse:
“Say: “In the Bounty of Allah, and in His Mercy (i.e. Islam and the Quran); - therein let them rejoice.” That is better than
what (the wealth) they amass.” Quran 10:58
“Say (O Muhammad salallahu alayhi wassalam): “He is Allah, (the) One.” Quran 112: 1
Sufyan said: “O Abu Ali (i.e. Fudail), by Allah, we will never be able to rejoice until we take the cure of the Quran and place
it over the disease of our hearts.”
Sufyan advised young people not to waste the time of their youth, but to spend it usefully by worshipping Allah.
Muhammad ibn Yusuf said: “Sufyan Ath-Thauree would make us stand up (to pray) at night, and he would say, ‘Stand up,
O young people, and continue to pray throughout the years of your youth (so that you will have become accustomed to
worship in your old age).”
Furthermore, Sufyan advised others on how to gain the physical strength they needed to sleep less so that they could
work during the day and pray during the night. Uthman ibn Zaaidah reported that Sufyan Ath-Thauree wrote to him a
letter that contained this message: “If you want to maintain a healthy body, and if you want to sleep only a little, then eat
only a little.”
Imam Sufyan followed his own advice, eating only enough to help him keep his strength, no more and no less. If someone
came and asked Sufyan for food, he would give him a share of his own food and keep just enough to keep his body strong
enough for worship.