www.inter-islam.org/Biographies/Rasulullah-as.html
Before time existed, when no man or being had yet been created Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'aalaa created the divine noor of the Holy Prophet SallallahuAlaihi Wasallam to remain in attendance before Him for thousands of years. There, in the presence of the Almighty, Allah's miraculous splendour was gradually revealed unto him. Undoubtedly, an increase in the recognition of Allah Ta'aalaa's miraculous splendour and a deeper perception of Allah's majestic sovereignty, inevitably generates within the psyche and physical conduct an extreme degree of servitude and unrestrained full bondage. With servitude comes total submission to worship, and who could possibly claim to have discerned this recognition more effectively than Allah's beloved Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam himself? For in the same manner Allah's chosen messenger was immaculate in all relationships with mankind, he also excelled in his relationship with Allah.
Despite being the chosen one and possessing clear cut superiority over the entire world put together, Allah's sincere Messenger was a spectacle of humbleness before Allah. Never did he appear to be even slightly deficient in compliance to Allah's ordained laws and restrictions, nor did he ever claim ascendency on account of his lofty calibre. Moreover, the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would repeatedly beseech Allah for refuge from His chastisement and protection from His wrath.
From the initial stages of prophethood, in the era when the custom of ignorance was still expansively prevalent amongst the Makkans, the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would frequently take refuge in the cave of Hira where he would fully devote himself to the ibaadat of one Allah with whom he associated no partner. Later on in life when old age paved way to weakness the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would still rise in the middle portion of the night and busy himself with Salaah.
To encompass all the forms of worship offered by the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would be beyond the bounds of possibility. Every breath and every blink of an eye was an act of worship, whether it be in explicit forms such as salaah and recitation of the Qur'an or abstruse forms such as walking, sleeping or eating etc.. No matter what state the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was in, the remembrance of Allah would effortlessly be flowing from his lips and firmly be embodied in his heart. Hadhrat Aa'ishah (RA.) has stated, " The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would continuously be engrossed in the remembrance of Allah (Abu Dawood). This is why numerous supplications have been narrated for various occasions.
Once Hadhrat Aa'ishah (R.A.) was questioned," Inform us of an unusual aspect of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallarn." She replied, "Which aspect of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was unusual! One night he arrived home and lay down beside me. After a short while he rose and exclaimed, `Leave me to worship my Lord.' He then performed ablution, began salaah, and began to weep. He continued to weep to such an extent that his blessed tears rolled on to his chest. In ruku' he also wept profusely and when he prostrated his blessed tears were still flowing. He remained in this position until dawn when Hadhrat Bilal ( R. A.) arrived and seeing him in this pitiful condition remarked,' Oh Prophet of Allah, why do you weep excessively when Allah has forgiven all your past and future sins?' Upon this the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam remarked, ' Should I not be a grateful servant then?' (Shamaa'ile Tirmizi)
Despite being totally safeguarded from even the touch of corruption, Allah's beloved Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam remained motionless in the servitude of the Almighty until his blessed feet were sore and swollen.
Hadhrat Aa'ishah (R. A) comments, " Whenever the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would recite an aayah of chastisement and wrath he would beg Allah for refuge, and when mentioning Allah's clemency and mercy he would beseech Allah for a share." (Shamaa'il) Not only did he surpass all in salaah, the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is also reported to have fasted until his companions assumed he would never respite. From the little wealth he did possess he would generously spend in the path of Allah until he had not a single dirham to his name.
Even at times of war when both forces would clash and the atmosphere on the battle field intensified, the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would be found in prostration with his forehead pressed against the ground pleading Allah for his assistance. When Allah's divine attributes of beauty and majesty were exposed to the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam simultaneously, he would become so overwhelmed by weeping that his companions would describe the sounds as those of an over boiling pot of water.
On the occasion of a solar eclipse the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would perform extremely lengthy rakaats and inhale deep breaths whilst sobbing, "Oh Allah did you not vow not to punish them whilst I was amongst them and whilst they begged for forgiveness? "Oh Allah we beseech you for forgiveness!"
( Shamaa'il)
We see, it is typical of man's disposition to be inclined to spend the night engrossed in an act that delights him the most, as we see the gambler spends it in gambling, and the student in his studies. Likewise, Allah's beloved Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would dedicate the night to worship, fully relishing the opportunity to converse with his Creator and present himself humbly before the Clement Lord. This is the genuine active illustration of total submission to worship, which is the sole purpose of mans existence, unearthed most effectively by the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.
Regardless of his numerous responsibilities and social priorities as head of the Muslim nation, the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam never disregarded the most eminent of them all; the worship of Allah. According to Allah's words: '
So when thou art relieved, still toil ( in worship ).' ( Al Inshiraah: 7) he diligently applied him self to all obligations.
The above is merely a minute representation of the Holy Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam example as a servant of Allah. In reality, the truth is that every aspect of the Holy Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam lifestyle was adorned with servitude and unlimited devotion (ibaadah.)
A Persian couplet beautifully describes the Holy Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam characteristics :
`How many of your graces can be adored,
The limits of sight are narrow and the flowers of your charms infinite.'
One can only ponder over the magnitude of his devotion and worship and then shamefully compare them with his own feeble attempts, which in comparison would fail to level to even an iota of the sincerity and earnest with which the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam performed each prostration and uttered each word of praise.
