سورة طه

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Abu Basir narrates that Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) was one night with A'isha, and [A'isha] said to him: "O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)! Why do you put yourself to such trouble, when Allah has forgiven your past and future sins?" (al-Fath/2). He said: "O A'isha! Should I not be a grateful servant?" Then the Imam (peace be upon him) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) used to stand on the tips of the toes of his feet, so Allah, glorified and exalted is He, sent down this verse: طه ما أَنْزَلْنا عَلَیْکَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقی [Ta Ha. We have not sent down the Qur'an to you for you to be miserable]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) used to raise one of his two feet in prayer so that his fatigue would increase, until Allah the Exalted sent down this verse: طه * مَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَیْکَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقَی [Ta Ha. We have not sent down the Qur'an to you for you to be miserable]. Then that noble one placed his foot on the ground.

Imam Baqir and Imam Sadiq (peace be upon them): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), whenever he prayed, would stand on the tips of the toes of his feet until his toes swelled. Then Allah, blessed and exalted is He, sent down this verse: "طه [Ta Ha], which in the dialect of the tribe of Tayy means: O Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family)! ما أَنْزَلْنا عَلَیْکَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقی [We have not sent down the Qur'an to you for you to put yourself to hardship]!" (Ta Ha/3).

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): For ten years he stood on the tips of his toes until his feet became swollen and his face turned yellow; he would spend the entire night in worship, to such an extent that he was reproached for it; طه ما أَنْزَلْنا عَلَیْکَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقی [Ta Ha, We have not sent down the Quran to you that you may be distressed]! [It was sent] so that you may attain happiness.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abdullah ibn Bukayr said: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) about praying while seated, or while leaning on a stick or a wall. The Imam (peace be upon him) said: "No, your father has not yet reached the point where he should do such a thing. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), after his age had advanced — or when he was ill — used to pray standing and would raise one of his two feet, until Allah the Exalted revealed this verse: طه ما أَنْزَلْنا عَلَیْکَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقی [Ta Ha, We have not sent down the Quran to you that you may be distressed]."

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): For this reason, he (peace be upon him and his family) prayed for ten years on the tips of his toes until his feet became swollen and his face turned yellow, and he would stand the whole night in prayer, to such an extent that he was reproached, and Allah said: طه ما أَنْزَلْنا عَلَیْکَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقی [Ta Ha, We have not sent down the Quran to you that you may be distressed]. Rather, We sent down this Quran so that through it you may attain happiness. Sometimes his weeping was such that he would faint, and others would say: "O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)! Has not Allah the Mighty and Majestic forgiven your former and latter sins (ma taqaddama wa ma ta'akhkhara)?" He said: "Yes, but should I not be a grateful servant?"

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): We have not sent down the Quran upon you that you may be distressed! Rather, We sent it so that through it you may attain happiness.