The sinful are preserved in this world from the punishment of Allaah Kareem ,
due to the benevolence  [Sadaqaa] of the Intimates of Allaah Kareem
(Auliyaa). It is the sadaqa of those beloveds of Allaah Kareem that get up at
night and cry to Allaah Kareem , spending nights in worshipful service to
Allaah Kareem . Our great Imaam, Imaam Abuu Haneefaa [Radiyal Laahu Anhu], used
to read his Fajr salaah with the ablution performed for the previous Eeshaa
salaah, for forty years. Ghaus al-Aa’zam [Radiyal Laahu Anhu]also used to read
his Fajr salaah with the ablution performed for the previous Eeshaa salaah for
forty years. They spent their entire nights in worship [ibaadaat]. Hazrat Ghaus
al-Aa’zam t says, ‘I spent 15 years, reciting the entire Qur’aan, between Fajr
and Eesha standing on one foot every night.’ He says, ‘after performing Eeshaa
Salaah, I used to retire to my room [hujra] and I had a piece of wood fixed to
the wall, which I used to grasp. I would then raise my left foot and stand on
my right foot and begin my recitation. I would start from Soorah Fatihaah and
would only put my left foot down, when I completed Soorah Naas.’ This was not
performed a few nights or a few weeks, but, every night, for fifteen years and
during the daytime he used to fast. Even though he was born a ‘friend of Allaah
Kareem’ [wali] he strove. On this path, [tasawwuf], worship [ibaadaat],
striving [Riyaazaat] and struggle has to be performed, for without this,
nothing can be accomplished. My elders and friends, these Auliyaa that wake up
at night and strive, it is due to their blessings that sinners like us, are
saved from the punishment of Allaah Almighty…excerpt  from Lecture
translation of Maulana  Muhammad Shafee Okarvi [Rahmatul Laahi Alaieh] by
 Soofie Irshaad…….Maulana Okarvi Academy [Al Aalami]