Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (Radhiyallahu anhu) and his Salaat

Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbas (Radhiyallaho anho) suffered from cataract of the eye. A doctor told him:

"A treatment is possible, provided you are willing to take precautions. For five days, it will be essential for you to avoid prostrating yourself on the ground. You can, however, use a wooden desk for performing Sajdah."

He said: "This cannot be so. I would not say a single rakaat like that. I have heard the Prophet (Sallal-laho alaihe wasallam) saying, "A person who intentionally foregoes a single Salaat shall have to face Divine wrath on the Day of Judgement."

Although it is quite permissible to perform Salaat in the way advised by the doctors, and it involves no direct transgression of the Law of Allah, yet due to his utter devotion to Salaat and implicit regard for the Prophet's warning, he was ready to lose his eyesight rather than allow the slightest modification in the Salaat as performed by the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) himself. In fact, the Sahabah would sacrifice the whole world for their Salaat. We may dub it as 'fanaticism', or make any other remark about that devoted band. but the verdict in the Hereafter would prove, beyond doubt, that they were the personages who really feared and loved their Creator above everything else in this world.