Shama-il Tirmidhi Chapter 39 Hadith 250

It is also narrated from Abu Hurayrah Radiyallahu 'Anhu that Rasulullah Sallallhu 'Alayhi Wasallam performed such a long salaah that his mubaarak legs became swollen. He was asked: "You perform such long prayers, whereas all your past and future sins have been forgiven?. "Rasulullah Sallallhu 'Alayhi Wasallam replied: "Should I not be an appreciative servant?".

Commentary
Due to its importance Imaan Tiridhi had mentioned this hadith from three sources. A question may arise on these narrations that Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam had many a time forbidden that one should exert one's self more than one can bear. The fact is, that humans have been created solely for the worship of Allah. Allah Ta'aala says in the Qur-aan 'I created the jinn and mankind only that they might worship Me'. - Surah Dhaariyaat,56. When this is the sole reason for creating man, then the more importance it is given and the more one worships, the more will it be desirable and praiseworthy. Whenever it was prohibited, it was because of some obstacle and trouble. Where it creates an obstacle or an obstacle exists, there it is undesirable. Among such obstacle may be boredom, confusion and perplexity, as a result it is left to altogether. There is a famous proverb in Urdu. 'Do not run and walk. nor tear up and fall'. The ahaadith wherein it has been prohibited are because of the reason mentioned already. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallhu 'Alayhi Wasallam has said: 'Practice only the amount that can be borne'. Allah Ta'aala does not withhold the granting of ajr (thawaab-reard) till one does not become bored of 'amal (practice). For this reason the 'ulama prohibit one from exerting one's self. It is possible that one will become bored and leave it completely. The attributes and qualities of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallhu 'Alayhi Wasallam is much higher than this. There was no probability of his becoming bored or tired. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallhu 'Alayhi Wasallam has said: 'The coolness of my eyes is in salaah'. Why should it not be, when salaah is a secret link with Allah? The amount of enjoyment a pious and sincere person like Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam may experience, cannot be imagined. Only those who are unlucky become bored.

In the same manner the second prohibition that has been mentioned in the ahaadith, is because of negligence in fulfilling the compulsory rights and duties. By exerting one's self, weakness is felt. As a result one becomes negligent in fulfilling the rights of others. The question does not rise for Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallhu 'Alayhi Wasallam, for such a great and venerated holy personage, who while performing such great endeavours and eating less, could also fulfil the desires of nine wives.

Therefore the question of weakness does not arise. Likewise, this is the case with all other obstacles. Which benefited Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu'Alayhi Wasallam. Therefore there are no perplexities in these types of ahaadith.