عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الْأَشْعَرِيّ رضى الله عنه، قَالَ: قَامَ فِينَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِخَمْسِ كَلِمَاتٍ، فَقَالَ: «إِنَّ اللهَ - عزَّ وجلَّ - لَا يَنَامُ، « وَلَا يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَنَامَ، يَخْفِضُ الْقِسْطَ وَيَرْفَعُهُ، يُرْفَعُ إِلَيْهِ عَمَلُ اللَّيْلِ قَبْلَ عَمَلِ النَّهَارِ، وَعَمَلُ النَّهَارِ قَبْلَ عَمَلِ اللَّيْلِ، حِجَابُهُ النُّورُ - وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: النَّارُ - لَوْ كَشَفَهُ لَأَحْرَقَتْ سُبُحَاتُ وَجْهِهِ مَا انْتَهَى إِلَيْهِ بَصَرُهُ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ».
Abu Mūsā al-Ash‘arī narrated, saying: ‘God’s Messenger (peace be upon him) addressed us stating five points. He said: “God, the Mighty and Exalted, does not sleep and it is not for Him to sleep. He puts the balance down and up. The works of the night are presented to Him before the works of the day, and the works of the day before the works of the night. His screen is light”. (In a different narration: the fire.) Were He to remove it, the light and splendour of His face would have burnt all creatures in His sight’.
Related by Muslim, 179.
Abu Mūsā, ‘Abdullāh ibn Qays ibn Salīm ibn Ḥuḍḍār ibn Ḥarb ibn ‘Āmir ibn al-Ash‘ar belonged to the Ash‘arī tribe. He was a prominent imam and renowned scholar. He was a companion of the Prophet who migrated twice, both to Abyssinia and to Madinah. He taught the people of Basrah, helping them to acquire an insight into Islam and teaching them the Qur’an and its recitation. His recitation of the Qur’an reflected a fine melodious voice. He died in Year 50 AH, 670 CE
