Feels Slackness in Performing Acts of Obedience

23-2-2023 | IslamWeb

Question:

Salamalikum My question is very brief. I want to do something for Allah so he become Happy with me till my death. Every time I start something ( reading Islamic books or memorizing quran etc) I get lady after some time and cannot continue further. Please advise me.Jazak Allah

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

If you want Allah the Almighty to be pleased with you, dear brother, strive to obey him, because Allah the Almighty is pleased with those who believe in Him and do righteous deeds as Allah Says (what means): {Indeed, they who have believed and done righteous deeds - those are the best of creatures. Their reward with Allah will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them and they with Him. That is for whoever has feared his Lord.} [Quran 7-8:98]

The doors of acts of obedience are many, such as prayer, fasting, charity, being kind and dutiful to one’s parents, upholding ties of kinship, doing good to neighbors and people in general, good manners, seeking knowledge and spreading it among people, and the remembrance of Allah as much as possible, as in the Hadith: “Whoever fails to exhaust himself in worship during the night, is stingy with his money to spend it, and is coward from the enemy to fight him, let him glorify Allah much by saying ‘Subhaan Allah wa Bihamdihi’ (Glory and praise be to Allah), for they are dearer to Allah than a mountain of gold and silver spent for the sake of Allah.” [At-Tabarani and classified as Authentic by Al-Albani]

Another narration reads: “…Let him frequently repeat the remembrance of Allah.” Hence, do not underestimate an act of obedience, for Allah may be pleased with you with an obedience that you consider to be little, as in the Hadith: “Verily, Allah is pleased with a servant who praises Him when he eats, or praises Him when he drinks.” [Muslim]

As for the feeling of laziness after acts of obedience, know that boredom and laziness afflict all those who seek the path of nearness to Allah the Almighty, so whoever is afflicted by this should endeavor to do whatever he is able to, as Ibn al-Qayyim  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said: “The interspersed periods of worshippers is necessary: so whoever’s laziness is near to perform what one is able to, and did not distract him from an obligation, or did not lead him to a prohibited act: it is hoped that he would become better than he was.” [End of quote]

Therefore, strive to repel laziness after obedience, and do not rely on it, for laziness in its origin is an incurable disease and the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) used to seek refuge from it. Thus, what helps to treat and get rid of it is the knowledge that it is a great misfortune that prevents from performing good deeds. You should endeavor in supplicating Allah earnestly to get you rid of it, and seek refuge from incapacity and laziness, as the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) sought refuge with Allah from them.

Anas  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him narrated: “The Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) used to supplicate: “O Allah! I seek refuge in You from helplessness (to do good), indolence, cowardice, senility, and miserliness; and I seek Your Protection against the torment of the grave and the trials of life and death.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

You should also read a lot about the biographies of the righteous predecessors, and know the extent of their diligence in worship, and their eagerness to perform acts of obedience; this is what encourages oneself, and urges determination to imitate them and follow their footsteps.

Also, keeping company with righteous people who are active in worship is a remedy for laziness, because their company is a strong motive to follow them.

Allah knows best.

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