Three Daily Obligations - Every Muslim Must Guard
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بِسۡمِ اللهِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِ
In the Name of Allâh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.ⓘ
Learn the three daily obligations every Muslim must guard to protect faith, strengthen worship, and stay consistent in Islam.
Published: March 21, 2026
Last Update: March 21, 2026
Category: muhammadur-rasulullah
Three Daily Obligations - Every Muslim Must Guard
A Concise Compilation
Compiled by
Ali Hussain Dhuniya
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بِسۡمِ اللهِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِ
In the Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
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Every Muslim should focus on three essential matters each day:
1. Regularly examine your Īmān (ʿAqīdah) and actions to ensure you are not falling into major shirk, whether knowingly or unknowingly. If you fall into shirk, seek immediate forgiveness from Allah, and make it a habit to consistently ask Allah for protection and forgiveness from shirk, kufr, and bidʿah—especially within your five daily prayers (Ṣalāh). That's why having knowledge of nullifiers of Islam will make you hasten to repent sincerely, whether you fall into major shirk knowingly or unknowingly.
All the Nullifiers of Islam fall under the category of major shirk. In Islamic law (Sharīʿah), the terms shirk and kufr are often used interchangeably.
The meaning of “Lā ilāha” (There is no deity worthy of worship) is rejection—that nothing deserves to be worshipped except Allah alone. This requires rejecting everything that is worshipped besides or along with Allah, which is the rejection of all forms and types of shirk.
2. Guard and maintain the five obligatory daily prayers, for they are the foundation of your connection with Allah. Everything else comes after that. Tawḥīd is to single out Allah in worship without any partner—this is the affirmation expressed in “illā Allāh” (except Allah). The five daily prayers are the primary and highest form of worship, which is the action of the limbs, and if they are sound, then the rest of one’s deeds are likely to be sound; but if they are corrupt or neglected, the person is under threat of Hellfire.
The first deed that Allah will ask the Muslims about on the Day of Judgment is the five daily prayers. The one who does not pray them consistently is close to major kufr, committing lesser disbelief, and is among the worst of Muslims—even worse than those who pray but commit major sins such as fornication, adultery, theft, usury, and so on (excluding major shirk, which expels a person from Islam altogether).
Whoever says, “I am preparing for death,” yet neglects the five daily prayers, is lying to himself and other. Yes, there is a well-known difference of opinion among the major scholars—based on the Qur’an and Sunnah—regarding whether the one who abandons prayer altogether becomes a disbeliever (kāfir) or not.
The majority opinion, held by scholars such as Imām Muḥaddith al-Albānī and others from the past, is that a person does not become a kāfir unless he denies the obligation of Ṣalāh. In contrast, major scholars like Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān, Imām Ibn Bāz, and Imām Ibn ʿUthaymīn hold that whoever completely abandons the five daily prayers becomes a kāfir, even if he intentionally misses just one prayer.
However, one thing is certain and agreed upon from the Qur’an and Sunnah: such a person will go to Hell. Whether he remains in Hell forever like a Mushrik-Kafir is known only to Allah; we do not know.
So do not limit yourself to merely affirming in your heart and upon your tongue that the five daily prayers are obligatory—that alone is not sufficient. Imān (ʿAqīdah) consists of belief in the heart, speech upon the tongue, and actions of the limbs. It increases with obedience to Allah and decreases with disobedience.
The third obligation is following the last Prophet, Muhammad ﷺ, according to one’s ability. This begins with avoiding bid‘ah (innovation) and understanding that bid‘ah is more dangerous than major sins such as fornication, adultery, usury, drinking alcohol, and disobedience to parents—though all of these are still lesser than major shirk and kufr. In Islam, there is an important principle: when Allah and His Messenger command us to avoid something, it must be completely abandoned, and a person cannot say “I cannot do it.” However, when it comes to performing good deeds, one should act according to their ability, as the Prophet ﷺ said: “Do deeds as much as you are able.”[1]
The Hadith Evidences
1. From Aisha رضي الله
عنها (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 43):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Do (good) deeds within your capacity, for Allah does not get tired (of giving reward) but you will get tired. And the most beloved deeds to Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small.”
2. From Abu Hurairah رضي الله
عنه (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7288):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If I forbid you from something, then avoid it; and if I command you with something, then do of it as much as you are able.”
3. From Aisha رضي الله
عنها (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 782):
The
Prophet ﷺ said:
“Perform such deeds as you are capable of, for Allah does not grow weary, but you will grow weary. The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently, even if they are small.”
🔑 Established Principle (Very Important)
From these authentic narrations:
- ❌ Avoidance = Absolute
- Anything forbidden must be completely ترك (abandoned)
- No excuse like “I can’t avoid it”
- ✅ Actions = According to Ability
- Obligatory and recommended deeds are done based on one’s ability
- Consistency is more beloved than quantity
📌 Conclusion
This forms a fundamental principle in Islam:
- Leave all prohibitions completely
- Perform good deeds within your capacity
- Be consistent rather than excessive
This is part of correctly fulfilling the testimony of following the Prophet ﷺ (Muhammadur Rasūlullāh).
Therefore, a Muslim must first avoid bid‘ah and sins, then strive to follow the Sunnah—especially the obligatory acts—according to their ability. This is the true meaning of the testimony “Muhammadur Rasūlullāh” (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), as explained by scholars such as Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, Salih al-Fawzan, Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz, and Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani.
In this way, a person completes their Shahādah (Lā ilāha illa Allāh) by following the Last Prophet ﷺ correctly.
These three core principles must remain with you until your final breath.
The last Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ said:
Shahadah Is The Highest Branch Of Iman[2].
The Shahādah begins with refutation — “Lā ilāha,” rejecting all that is worshipped alongside with Allah — and ends with affirmation — “illā Allāh,” singling out Allah alone in worship, as Allah says:
“So know that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.” (Surah Muḥammad, 47:19)
It is completed with “Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh,” meaning that every act of worship, whether small or great, must be in accordance with the teachings of the last Prophet, Muḥammad ﷺ. Every Prophet called to this: “Worship Allah and avoid all false objects worship(taghut)” (16:36). Thus, refuting shirk and following the Prophet’s way is the foundation of Islam and the first step toward rectifying hearts, societies, and nations.
Everything in Islam is built upon Shahādah[3], and Shahādah is the key to Paradise. Therefore, we must daily focus on the Shahādah in our lives to remain Muslims within the fold of Islam. It's because The Prophet’s Foretelling of the Trials of Faith and the Strangers at the End of Times
1. A Time When a Believer Will Wake as a Disbeliever and Vice Versa
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Hasten to do good deeds before there comes fitan (tribulations) like
pieces of a dark night — a man will wake up as a believer and by evening he will be a disbeliever, or
he will be a believer in the evening and wake up as a disbeliever, selling his religion for some worldly
gain.”
(Sahih Muslim, no. 118)
Explanation:
This hadith shows how fitan (trials) and temptations of the
Dunyā will become so severe that people will abandon their religion easily — turning from Islām to
disbelief within hours.
The scholars said this includes apostasy, compromising creed, or falling into major disbelief such as calling upon other than Allah, mocking
religion, or selling religious principles for worldly
benefit.
Imām an-Nawawī رحمه الله said:
“It means that the heart will quickly change because of the intensity of
trials, and the weakness of faith in the hearts.”
(Sharḥ Sahih
Muslim)
2. Holding on to Religion Will Become as Difficult as Holding Burning Fire
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“There will come to the people a time when the one who is patient upon his
religion will be like one who holds onto burning coal.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī, no. 2260; graded Sahih by al-Albānī)
Explanation:
This hadith describes how adhering to Tawḥīd, Sunnah, and obedience will become
extremely difficult — because of the spread of desires, innovations, shirk,
and moral corruption.
Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله said:
“In this time, patience upon religion means patience upon obedience, upon
Tawḥīd, and staying away from shirk and innovation — because the majority will be upon
falsehood and will ridicule the people of truth.”
(Fatāwā
Ibn Bāz, 1/353)
3. Islām Began as a Stranger and Will Return as a Stranger
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed, Islām began as something strange and it will return to being
strange as it began, so glad tidings (ṭūbā) to the strangers.”
(Sahih Muslim, no. 145)
In another narration, he ﷺ was asked:
“Who are the strangers, O Messenger of Allah?”
He said:
“Those who rectify (people) when the
people have become corrupt.”
(Musnad
Ahmad, no. 23490; graded Sahih by al-Albānī)
And in another narration:
“Those who rectify themselves and others when the people have become
corrupt.”
(At-Ṭabarānī
in al-Kabīr, 7731)
Explanation of the Scholars Regarding the Strangers
Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:
“The strangers are those who remain firm upon the truth, following the
Messenger ﷺ when the people change, and they correct what people have corrupted from his Sunnah. They
are few in number but great in rank before Allah.”
(Madārij
as-Sālikīn, 1/22)
Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:
“The strangers are not strange in their knowledge of the truth, but they are
strange because of those who oppose them. Their strangeness is due to fewness of those who assist them and
the many who contradict them.”
(Majmūʿ
al-Fatāwā, 10/370)
The Meaning of “Strangers” Changes Depending on the Place and Time
Being a “ghareeb” (stranger) depends on the situation of the people and the environment.
If a country or community is upon Tawḥīd, Sunnah, and sound creed, and only a few people are upon deviant sects such as Shīʿah or Ṣūfiyyah, then those who are upon the truth are not strangers, because the truth is manifest in that land.
But if in another place, the majority are upon shirk, innovation, or misguidance, and very few remain upon pure Tawḥīd and Sunnah — then those few are indeed the strangers.
Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān حفظه الله said:
“Being a stranger is relative — in a place where ignorance and
misguidance dominate, the people of truth become strangers; but in a place where the Sunnah is strong and
widespread, they are not strangers. Strangeness is according to the situation of the people.”
(Sharḥ Kitāb al-Īmān min Ṣaḥīḥ
Muslim)
The Glad Tidings for the Strangers
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Glad tidings
(ṭūbā) for the strangers.”
The companions asked:
“What is ṭūbā, O Messenger of Allah?”
He said: “A tree in Paradise, the shade of which a
rider could travel beneath for a hundred years.”
(Ahmad, 7958; Ibn Ḥibbān, 7214; graded ḥasan by al-Albānī)
This is glad tidings for the believers who hold fast to Tawḥīd and Sunnah in times of corruption — those who continue calling to Allah sincerely, despite being few, mocked, or opposed.
Whoever does not practice the Shahādah daily becomes a mushrik-kāfir. So what do I mean by this?
I call it “The Three Daily Obligations for Every Sane Muslim.”
1. Rejection of Shirk — through Speech, Actions, and the Heart
The phrase “Lā ilāha” means “there is nothing worthy of worship in truth.”
This part of the
Shahādah is negation (nafy) — it
rejects everything that is worshipped besides Allāh.
A Muslim rejects shirk by:
- Not uttering statements of shirk or kufr,
- Not participating in the festivals and rituals of the
mushrikīn, and
- Hating shirk and kufr in the heart.
The Prophets and righteous Awliyāʾ of Allāh used to fear shirk and kufr more than anything else, because it turns a person into a mushrik-kāfir, especially major shirk and kufr. We should daily fear it and never feel arrogant, thinking, “I cannot fall into shirk.”
Shaykh Saleh al Sindi hafijullah mentions: some of the Salaf (early righteous Muslims) used to weep and say:
“You fear sins, while I fear disbelief (kufr).”[4]
Because shirk — especially major
shirk-kufr — is unforgivable if a person dies guilty of it before repentance, then paradise is forbidden forever.
Indeed, shirk is the greatest ẓulm (injustice) against Allāh.
2. “Illā Allāh” — Affirmation that Only Allāh Alone Is Worthy of Worship
The second part of the Shahādah, “illā Allāh”, is affirmation (ithbāt) — meaning that only Allāh alone is worthy of worship in truth, without any partners.
Whoever rejects this through speech, actions, or belief — by claiming that we no longer need to worship Allāh alone — becomes a mushrik-kāfir, without doubt.
We Worship Allah Because He Alone Deserves Worship
We worship Allah, not because He is in need of our worship — for Allah is free of all needs(al-Ghani) — but because He alone deserves to be worshipped without any partner. Allah says:
“O mankind, you are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need,
the Praiseworthy.”
(Surah
Fāṭir 35:15)
The Shayṭān, from among the jinn and mankind, seeks to use the hardships and trials of life to distract us from the remembrance and worship of Allah alone. He whispers doubts, despair, and resentment during times of difficulty so that we turn away from Allah instead of turning to Him.
But understand this clearly: never think the opposite
meaning — that your hardship means Allah has abandoned you or that you
have the right to dictate how Allah should act.
Here in this life, you are not the one to determine or
dictate what Allah should do. Rather, you are commanded to obey and please Allah. It is not Allah who must please you; it is you who must strive to please Allah.
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship
Me.”
(Surah adh-Dhāriyāt
51:56)
“He cannot be questioned about what He does, but they will be
questioned.”
(Surah
al-Anbiyā’ 21:23)
There are some — among both Muslims and non-Muslims — who, when faced
with hardship, expect that Allah should act according to their wishes. They think, “This is what Allah should have done for me.”
But who are you to dictate to Allah? Rather, your duty is to submit to His command and to
remain pleased with His decree. You should strive to do what pleases
Allah, not demand that Allah does what pleases
you.
“And among the people is he who worships Allah on an edge; if he is touched by
good, he is content with it, but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face. He has lost this world and
the Hereafter.”
(Surah
al-Ḥajj 22:11)
Therefore, the true believer remains steadfast in worship and remembrance, in ease and in hardship, knowing that every decree of Allah is based on perfect wisdom and justice. Our worship is an acknowledgment of His perfection, not a favor from us to Him.
There are many kinds and forms of worship that the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ showed us, and his Companions practiced them — and Muslims and scholars continue to practice them until today.
Even smiling at your brother is worship.
Removing a harmful object from the
road is worship.
Taking care of
parents is worship.
Providing financial
stability for your wife and children is worship.
But the greatest form of worship is praying five times daily at
the prescribed times.
This is what many Muslims are lacking today.
Without praying five times a day, a person should not imagine that he will enter
Jannah — never.
As for whether such a person will remain in the Hellfire forever like the
disbelievers, the scholars of the past and present have differed.
However, it is confirmed that such a
person will be punished in Hellfire. Whether permanently or not is up to Allāh — because both
types of evidence exist in the Qurʾān and Sunnah.
A believer must always be mindful when worshipping Allāh alone — because
if his worship is mixed with shirk, it will not be
accepted.
If major shirk-kufr is mixed into his
worship and he persists upon it, he is no longer a Muslim, and if he dies in that state, he will remain in
Hellfire forever.
The Tawḥīd is
worshipping Allāh alone without associating anything with Him in Lordship,
Worship, or His Names and Attributes.
Tawḥīd is the greatest justice (ʿadl) that Allāh deserves and Shirk is
the greatest injustice(zulm) that Allah doesn't deserve anyway.
We worship Allāh not because He
needs our worship — rather, because He alone deserves it.
3. Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh — Following the Methodology of the Last Prophet ﷺ
The third daily obligation is to implement “Lā
ilāha illā Allāh” according to the Prophet in whose time
one lives.
Now, for all mankind and jinn, the Prophet is Muḥammad
ﷺ.
Therefore, the complete Shahādah for us is Lā ilāha illā Allāh Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh.
No one can now say “Lā ilāha illā
Allāh ʿĪsā Rasūlullāh” or “Lā ilāha illā Allāh Mūsā
Rasūlullāh” — these are invalid after the coming of the
last Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ.
Yes, before his time, it was valid because those were the Prophets
of their eras.
But now, Prophethood has ended with the sending of the Arabian Last Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ sent Muʿādh ibn Jabal (رضي الله عنه) to Yemen and instructed him:
“Let the first thing to which you call them be the testimony that none has the
right to be worshipped except Allāh and that Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allāh.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 7372;
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 19)
Thus, Lā ilāha illā Allāh must be implemented according to the manhaj (methodology) of the last Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ.
It also means we must implement his daily Sunnah according to our ability and learn about his and his Companions’ sīrah (biography) — to live by his example in all aspects of life.
This is how you should implement the Shahādah daily in your life.
Meaning of Related Terms
Shahādah, Kalimah, Tawḥīd, Īmān, ʿAqīdah,
Islām, Millat Ibrāhīm, Ḥanīfiyyah, and Eḥsān —
All these
words carry the same core meaning:
“Worship Allāh alone without associating anything with Him and follow the Prophet of the time, which is now the last prophet Muḥammad ﷺ.”
When these words are mentioned separately, they encompass the whole religion.
When they are mentioned together, each term highlights a specific aspect of the same
truth.
Shahadah(Tawheed) is the entry point for every Muslim to remain within Islam, because the Shahādah is the key to Jannah.
So fear Allāh and remain firm upon Tawḥīd.
Summary
- Fear shirk daily — and keep
making the duʿā:
“O Allāh, keep our hearts firm upon Islām.”[5]
Avoids Bidah(innovations) in Islam. - Pray the five daily ṣalāh at their proper times.[6]
- Perform the Sunnah according to
your ability[7]
[1] حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " دَعُونِي مَا تَرَكْتُكُمْ، إِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِسُؤَالِهِمْ وَاخْتِلاَفِهِمْ عَلَى أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ، فَإِذَا نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ شَىْءٍ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ، وَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ فَأْتُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ ".
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Leave me as I leave you, for the people who were before you were ruined because of their questions and their differences over their prophets. So, if I forbid you to do something, then keep away from it. And if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can."
Sahih al-Bukhari 7288
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا وَعِنْدَهَا امْرَأَةٌ قَالَ " مَنْ هَذِهِ ". قَالَتْ فُلاَنَةُ. تَذْكُرُ مِنْ صَلاَتِهَا. قَالَ " مَهْ، عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا تُطِيقُونَ، فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ يَمَلُّ اللَّهُ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا ". وَكَانَ أَحَبَّ الدِّينِ إِلَيْهِ مَا دَامَ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ.
Narrated 'Aisha:
Once the Prophet (ﷺ) came while a woman was sitting with me. He said, "Who is she?" I replied, "She is so and so," and told him about her (excessive) praying. He said disapprovingly, "Do (good) deeds which is within your capacity (without being overtaxed) as Allah does not get tired (of giving rewards) but (surely) you will get tired and the best deed (act of Worship) in the sight of Allah is that which is done regularly."
Sahih al-Bukhari 43
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، - يَعْنِي الثَّقَفِيَّ - حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ كَانَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَصِيرٌ وَكَانَ يُحَجِّرُهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَيُصَلِّي فِيهِ فَجَعَلَ النَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلاَتِهِ وَيَبْسُطُهُ بِالنَّهَارِ فَثَابُوا ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَقَالَ " يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنَ الأَعْمَالِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا وَإِنَّ أَحَبَّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَا دُووِمَ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ قَلَّ " . وَكَانَ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا عَمِلُوا عَمَلاً أَثْبَتُوهُ .
'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had a mat and he used it for making an apartment during the night and observed prayer in it, and the people began to pray with him, and he spread it (the mat) during the day time. The people crowded round him one night. He (the Holy Prophet) then said: O people, perform such acts as you are capable of doing, for Allah does not grow weary but you will get tired. The acts most pleasing to Allah are those which are done continuously, even if they are small. And it was the habit of the members of Muhammad's (ﷺ) household that whenever they did an act they did it continuously.
Sahih Muslim 782a
[2] The Proof for: Iman(Aqidah) is the highest branch of Iman:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Īmān (Aqidah) has over seventy—or over
sixty—branches. The most excellent of which is the statement: Lā ilāha
illAllāh…”
(Sahih Muslim,
Hadith 35, Sahih al-Bukhari 9)
- This shows that Shahādah is
the foundation and highest level of faith.
- After it come other acts of worship: prayer, fasting, zakah, good character, modesty, etc.—but all of Islam is built upon this foundation which is Lā ilāha illā Allāh, Muhammadur Rasūlullāh. .
In another narration of Muadh bin Jabal, Full Shahadatayn is mentiion: “Narrated Ibn `Abbas: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to Mu`adh bin Jabal when he sent him to Yemen. "You will come to the people of Scripture, and when you reach them, invite them to testify that none has the right to be worshipped in truth except Allah and that Muhammad is His Apostle( لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ).....”. - Sahih al-Bukhari 4347
Same way, Allah mention in the Glorious Quran: Surah Al-Fath (48:29) & Surah Al-Aḥzāb (33:40) that: “ Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is the Messenger of Allâh & last of all prophets”
Shamsuddin Abu Aisha Bensafi(known as Shamshi - Teacher at Masjid Darrusunnah) said in one of his Duroos(lessons) that:
“These days, it's easy to learn & access the basics of Islam—like the Five Pillars of Islam, the six pillars of Iman, and what Ihsaan means — but sadly, a lot of Jahal(ignorance) is there. He(Shamshi) also said ‘You believe in six pillars of Iman, but how do you believe in? Is it according to the understanding of Sufiyaah, Khawarij, Shia, Ashariyah, Maturudiyah or according to Salaf as-Saliheen…” [ source: Explaining The Fundamentals of Faith. Shamsi - timestamp 9:45 - 10:49 ]
In Summary:
- Shahādah = Islam's foundation
- Lā ilāha illAllāh: No one deserves worship in truth except Allah (Tawheed)
- Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh: The Prophet must be followed and obeyed
- All Prophets taught this same message
- It is the highest branch of īmān (faith)
- Today, basics like the Five Pillars, Six Pillars of Imān, and Ihsaan are easily accessible — but ignorance remains widespread. As Shamsi said: "You believe in six pillars of Imān, but how do you believe in them? According to Sufis, Khawārij, Shīʿah, Ashʿariyyah, Māturīdiyyah—or according to the Salaf as-Sālihīn?"
…….
The proof for: Everything is built upon Shahadah(kalimah):Narrated Ibn `Abbas: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to Mu`adh bin Jabal when he sent him to Yemen. "You will come to the people of Scripture, and when you reach them, invite them to testify that none has the right to be worshipped in truth except Allah and that Muhammad is His Apostle( لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ). And if they obey you in that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them five prayers to be performed every day and night. And if they obey you in that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them Sadaqa (i.e. rak`at) to be taken from the rich amongst them and given to the poor amongst them. And if they obey you in that, then be cautious! Don't take their best properties (as Zakat) and be afraid of the curse of an oppressed person as there is no screen between his invocation and Allah.- Sahih al-Bukhari 4347. Similarly there are other reports in sahih sunan.
In this famous hadith, when the Prophet ﷺ sent Muʿādh ibn Jabal (رضي الله عنه) to Yemen, he gave him a clear and structured instruction:
"Invite them to testify that: لاَ
إِلَهَ إِلاَّ
اللَّهُ،
وَأَنَّ
مُحَمَّدًا
رَسُولُ
اللَّهِ
If they accept that,
then inform them that Allah has obligated upon them five daily prayers, then zakāh, then fasting in
Ramaḍān, and then Ḥajj..."
(Paraphrased from Sahih
al-Bukhārī, 4347 and Sahih Muslim)
📌 What This Hadith Teaches Us:
- The Prophet ﷺ first
commanded Muʿādh to call the people to Tawḥīd(singling out Allah in worship without any partner) and the
Prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ — the full Shahādatayn:
“Lā ilāha illa Allah, wa anna Muḥammadan Rasūlullāh” - Only after they affirm this belief, he was to teach them about ṣalāh (prayer), zakāh, fasting, and Ḥajj.
📚 Key Lessons:
- The Shahādatayn is the
foundation of Islam — the entry
point.
- All other acts of worship are built upon this belief. Without the Shahādah, the rest
is invalid.
- The methodology of daʿwah taught by the Prophet ﷺ starts with ʿAqīdah (belief) before action.
…….
📖 The Foundations: Islām, Īmān, and Iḥsān – With Emphasis on the First Pillar
The five pillars of Islām are:
- Shahādatayn (testimony of faith)
- Ṣalāh (prayer)
- Zakāh (charity)
- Ṣawm (fasting in
Ramaḍān)
- Ḥajj (pilgrimage
to Makkah)
Among these, the first and most important is the Shahādatayn – testifying that “Lā ilāha illa Allah, Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh.” This is the entry point into Islām; everything else in religion is built upon this testimony. Without it, actions are nullified, and salvation is impossible. The Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ said:
"I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there
is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of
Allah..."
(Sahih al-Bukhārī
25, Sahih Muslim 22)
🌟 The First Pillar of Īmān (Faith)
The first pillar of Īmān is belief in Allah. However, merely believing in Allah's existence is not enough unless a person worships Him alone, without committing major shirk. Allah says:
"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but
Him."
(Surah al-Isrāʾ,
17:23)
And the Prophet ﷺ said to Muʿādh ibn Jabal when sending him to Yemen:
“Let the first thing you call them to be that they testify that none
has the right to be worshipped but Allah…”
(Sahih al-Bukhārī 7372)
This shows that true belief in Allah must be accompanied by Tawḥīd (worship of Allah alone) and rejection of shirk.
👁️ The Station of Iḥsān
The definition of Iḥsān, as mentioned in the Hadith Jibrīl, is:
“That you worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot see Him,
then know that He sees you.”
(Sahih
Muslim 8)
This also begins with Allah. In the grave, the first question the angels will ask is:
"Who is your Lord?" (مَن ربُّك؟)
And no one will be able to answer this truthfully unless they worshipped Allah alone, without major shirk, in accordance with the teachings of the final Messenger, Muḥammad ﷺ.
…….
🚫 The Danger of Shirk and Kufr
Major shirk (associating partners with Allah in worship) nullifies Islam and removes a person from the fold of the religion. Every nullifier of Islam is a type of major shirk or major kufr. The terms shirk and kufr are often used interchangeably in the Qur’an and Sunnah, and both have the same consequence: eternal punishment in the Hellfire for the one who dies while persisting upon them.
Allah says:
"Indeed, Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him,
but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills."
(Surah al-Nisāʾ, 4:48)
🔓 The Door of Repentance
Despite the severity of shirk and kufr, the door of repentance remains open for every sinner — even the worst of them — as long as two things haven't occurred:
- The sun rising from the west,
and
- The soul reaching the throat at the time of death.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Allah accepts the repentance of the servant until the soul reaches the
throat.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 3537
– Hasan)
And he ﷺ also said:
“The Hour will not be established until the sun rises from the west.
When it rises from the west and the people see it, then all of them will believe, but that will be when
belief will not benefit a soul who had not believed before or earned good through its
faith.”
(Sahih al-Bukhārī
4636, Muslim 157)
That’s why Pharaoh believed only after seeing the punishment — but it was too late.Tawbah (repentance) and belief at the moment of death is not accepted.
🧾 Conclusion
So prepare yourself for the answer in the grave — for "Who is your Lord?" — by worshipping Allah alone without any form of major shirk. This is the only path to salvation, as taught by the final Messenger Muḥammad ﷺ, and this is the essence of Islām, Īmān, and Iḥsān.
…….
[3] Source: If You Understood the Meaning of لا اله الا الله | Shaykh Abdussalam al-Shuway'ir حفظه الله direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPyck3hvbHI
Shaykh Abdussalam al-Shuway’ir حفظه الله said:
“The testification that none has the right to be worshipped in truth except Allah alone (La ilaha illAllah) — whoever has complete understanding of it, indeed the entire religion (deen) is included within it.
If you know that none has the right to be worshipped in truth except Allah alone (La ilaha illAllah), this necessitates that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. This in turn necessitates obeying the command of the Messenger of Allah — from the prayer (salah), fasting (sawm), zakah (charity), and Hajj, and other than that from the rulings of the religion.
If you know that none has the right to be worshipped in truth except Allah alone (La ilaha illAllah), Allah will rectify your heart. So one will repent, humble himself, and supplicate to Allah with devotion.
Therefore, this (kalimah) is a tremendous statement.”
— End of speech
[4] Shaykh Saleh Al-Sindh mention:
He(Prophet Muhammad) said, sallallahu ʿalayhi wasallam, narrated in Ahmad and al-Tirmidhi:
If the believer (Muslim) sins, his heart is blemished with a black spot. But if he repents, refrains, and seeks forgiveness, his heart will be polished. If he continues to sin, the blemishes will increase until Ran overtakes it, which Allah mentions:
“Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds)
which they used to earn.”
(Surah al-Mutaffifin:
14)
One evil deed after another, and after another… All of a sudden Ran has overcome the heart. Refuge is sought with Allah.
So he will not know what is good. Perhaps he may be detached from Iman and fall into disbelief.
Shaykh Saleh al-Sindi hafizahullah mentioned: Some of the Salaf would cry and say: You fear sins while I fear disbelief (Kufr)!
Sins may bring the individuals to disbelief.
How often have sins and evil deeds caused the individuals to fall into disbelief. Allah’s refuge is sought.
Being safe from it is an affair that is obligatory for whoever wants salvation for himself.
End of speech. Source: (1) You Fear Sins While I Fear Disbelief! Shaykh Saleh Sindi حفظه الله - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rGoYolUWIxc)
The Salaf used to fear kufr more than sins, because kufr is the greatest loss. At the same time, they did not take sins lightly, since persisting in them darkens the heart and can eventually drag a person into kufr or shirk. Thus, the Muslim’s path is to fear both — to guard his heart from disbelief, and to repent from sins quickly before they become a road to kufr.
Step 1 — What the Salaf meant
When some of the Salaf said:
“You fear sins while I fear disbelief (kufr)!”
They were teaching that the greatest danger is kufr shirk, because it wipes out all deeds, takes a person outside Islām, and if he dies upon it, there is no forgiveness. So they placed priority on fearing kufr more than anything else.
Shirk – The Greatest Injustice (Zulm) against Allah
Allah said:
“Verily! Shirk (joining others in worship with Allah) is a great Zulm
(wrong indeed).”
(Surah Luqman 31:13 – Hilali &
Khan)
Allah even rebuked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
“And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad ﷺ), as it was
to those (Allah’s Messengers) before you: If you join others in worship with Allah (shirk), surely
(all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers.”
(Surah Az-Zumar 39:65 – Hilali & Khan)
Shirk is Not Forgiven
Allah said clearly:
“Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in
worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners
with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.”
(Surah An-Nisa 4:48 – Hilali & Khan)
And again:
“Verily, Allah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners (in worship)
with Him, but He forgives whom He wills, sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners in worship
with Allah has indeed strayed far away.”
(Surah An-Nisa 4:116
– Hilali & Khan)
Hadith Qudsi – Forgiveness for All Except Shirk
The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah said:
“O son of Adam, if you come to Me with an earth full of sins, and meet Me
without associating anything with Me, I would come to you with an earth full of
forgiveness.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3540 –
Hasan(fair) according to al-Albani)
The Case of Prophet Ibrāhīm’s Father
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Ibrāhīm will meet his
father Āzar on the Day of Resurrection, and on the face of Āzar there will be dust and
darkness. Then Ibrāhīm will say: ‘Did I not tell you not to disobey me?’ His
father will reply: ‘Today I will not disobey you.’ Ibrāhīm will say: ‘O my
Lord! You promised me that You would not disgrace me on the Day when they will be resurrected. What
disgrace can be greater than seeing my father in an ignoble state?’ Allah will say: ‘I have
forbidden Paradise to the disbelievers.’”
(Sahih
al-Bukhari 3350)
The Case of Abu Ṭālib, Prophet’s Uncle
Narrated Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه):
Narrated Al-Abbas bin `Abdul Muttalib:
That he said to the Prophet (ﷺ) "You have not been of any avail to your uncle (Abu Talib) (though) by Allah, he used to protect you and used to become angry on your behalf." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He is in a shallow fire, and had It not been for me, he would have been in the bottom of the (Hell) Fire."
(Sahih al-Bukhari 3883; Sahih Muslim 209)
Companions asked what intercession will benefit his uncle, and the Prophet ﷺ explained that without his intercession, Abu Ṭālib would have been in the deepest level of Hell.
Major Shirk vs. Minor Shirk
- Major Shirk: Whoever dies upon
it without repentance will never be forgiven and will remain in Hellfire forever.
- Minor Shirk: Also not forgiven if
one dies without repentance, but the person will not remain in Hell forever — he will be
punished, then eventually admitted to Paradise.
Reminder from the Salaf
The Companions and righteous predecessors feared shirk, kufr, and hypocrisy — even though the Prophet ﷺ informed some of them by name that they were people of Jannah.
Ibn Abi Mulaykah (رحمه الله) said:
“I met thirty of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, all of them
fearing hypocrisy for themselves.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of
Iman, Chapter 36)
Full quote:
Chapter (36): (What is said regarding) the fear of a believer that his good deeds may be annulled (lost) without his knowledge
And Ibrahim At-Taimi said, "When I compare my talks with my deeds (then I find that my deeds are deficient compared with my talks), I am afraid, my deeds deny what I talk." And Ibn Abi Mulaika said, "I met thirty Companions of the Prophet ﷺ and each of them was afraid of becoming a hypocrite and none of them said that he was as strong in belief as the angel Jibril (Gabriel) or Mikael (Michael)." And Al- Hasan (Al-Basri) said, "It is only a faithful believer who dreads hypocrisy and only a hypocrite who considers himself safe (is not afraid of hypocrisy).”
And one should be afraid, not to persist in hypocrisy and disobedience of Allah (by committing sins) without repenting to Allah جل جلاله immediately, as is referred to in the Statement of Allah تعالى: "And (they) do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know." (V.3:135).
Our Condition Today
Today many Muslims fear poverty, losing wealth, or worry about how to earn more money — but the Prophets, Companions (Sahabah), righteous Salaf, and Imams feared shirk, kufr, and hypocrisy. This shows the difference in priorities: they were most fearful of losing their Iman, while we worry most about losing our Dunya, status, fame and wealth.
⚑ In short: Shirk is the gravest zulm(injustice). Allah does not forgive shirk unless repented from before death. Even intercession will not avail the mushrik — as seen in the cases of Ibrāhīm’s father and Abu Ṭālib. Minor shirk too requires repentance, though it does not condemn a Muslim to eternal Hellfire. The Salaf used to fear shirk more than anything, while today many Muslims fear poverty, losing status and fame, losing wealth, fear of disease more than shirk.
Step 2 — What Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Sindī explained
Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Sindī ḥafiẓahullāh clarified that sins are not “safe” either. Persisting in sins — even if they are less than shirk — may:
- Darken the heart, as mentioned in the ḥadīth
of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه.
- Lead to Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds) mentioned in Qur’an
83:14.
- Make a person blind to guidance.
- Eventually, open the door to disbelief and shirk if one does
not repent.
This is why the Salaf used to cry — not only because of the sin itself, but because they feared where continuous sin could drag a person.
I keep repeating sin after repentance what should I do listen the advice of Allamah Imam Abdul Aziz bin-Baz rahimahullah: I Keep Sinning After Repenting! What Should I Do? | Shaykh Abdul-Aziz Ibn Baz (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1SMlwg-A8s)
Step 3 — Combining both
So the correct understanding is:
- The biggest danger is kufr and shirk — this is why the Salaf feared it most.
- But sins are a pathway to kufr if repeated without tawbah, because the black spots accumulate until the heart
is sealed.
- Therefore, a believer must:
- Fear kufr/shirk the most.
- Fear sins as well, because they are doors leading to
kufr if ignored.
- Always repent, polish the heart, and seek
forgiveness.
[5] One of the duʿāʾ that the Prophet ﷺ used to say frequently is:
«يا مقلب
القلوب، ثبّت
قلبي على
دينك»
Yā
Muqallibal-qulūb, thabbit qalbī ʿalā dīnik
“O Turner of the hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion.”
This is narrated from Umm Salamah (radhiyallāhu ʿanhā).Shahr bin Hawshab said to Umm Salamah: ‘O Mother of the Believers! What was the supplication that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said most frequently when he was with you?”
She said: ‘The supplication he said most frequently was:
“O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your
religion.
Ya Muqallibal-qulub, thabbit qalbi ‘ala
deenik.”
She said: ‘So I said: “O Messenger of Allah, why do you supplicate so frequently: ‘O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.’
He said: ‘O Umm Salamah! Verily, there is no human being except that his heart is between Two Fingers of the Fingers of Allah, so whomsoever He wills He makes steadfast, and whomever He wills He causes to deviate.’” Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3522 -Hasan(Good) chain Hadith
Also Anas ibn Mālik reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to say:
«يا مقلب القلوب ثبّت قلبي على دينك» frequently
'Anas narrated: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) would often say: Ya Muqallibal-qulub, thabbit qalbi 'ala dinik('O Changer of the Hearts! Strengthen my heart upon Your Religion.)' So I said: 'O Prophet of Allah! We believe in you and what you have come with, but do you fear for us?' He said: 'Yes. Indeed the hearts are between two Fingers of Allah's Fingers, He changes them as He wills.'" - Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2140, Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani
This duʿāʾ beautifully corresponds to your formulation “O Allāh, keep our hearts firm upon Islām.”
Salih Luhaydan mentioned a nice benefit during his class tonight at the Haram in Makkah(7/2/2009).He mentioned that,
“If you come across someone performing an innovation, remember to praise Allah, the Most high. Remember to praise Allah, the Most High, because he hasn’t tested you with that innovation. “
He also mentioned that,
“No one is safe from misguidance. So remember to constantly ask Allah to keep you on the straight path.”
A du’aa that he mentioned pertaining to this is:
Yaa Muqallibal Quloob Thabbit Qalbee ‘alaa Deenik.
“Oh turner of the hearts (Allah, the Most High), keep our hearts firm on your religion“
[Authenticated by al-Albanee in al-Jaam’i as-Sagheer 1323/7988]
If Allaah wills, He can seal the heart from guidance. Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin al-‘Aas said, that he heard Allaah’s Messenger saying,
“All the hearts of the offspring of Aadam are between two fingers of Ar-Rehman’s Fingers, as one heart. He turns it (in any direction) as He wills. Then Allaah’s Messenger said, “O Allaah! The Turner of the hearts, turn our heart towards Your obedience.” [Saheeh Muslim vol.4, p.1397, no.6418]
The Importance of supplicating for steadfastness, and uprightness in the religion upto the end of one’s life.
Indeed the Prophet (sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) used to do so, and taught us to do so, as in the hadeeth of Umm Salamah by Shihr who said : ‘I said to Umm Salamah : ‘O Mother of the Believers, what is the duaa’ which the Prophet (sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) would supplicate the most while in your presence? ’
So she said : ‘The frequent supplication of his was :
يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِى عَلَى دِينِكَ
“O, Turner of the hearts, turn our hearts to Your obedience.”
And also reported by Imaam Ahmad , from the hadeeth of ‘Aisha (radhiyaAllaahu anha): ‘The Dua’ which the Prophet (sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) used to supplicate with a lot…’ then she mentioned it.
Taken from Silsilah as-Saheeha of Al-Imaam Al-Albaanee : 2091
Taken from: “Oh Turner of the Hearts, keep our Hearts firm on Your Religion” – Authentic Dua & Dhikr
End
[6] Pray the five daily Ṣalāh at their proper times
1. Command from the Qur’an
إِنَّ
الصَّلَاةَ
كَانَتْ عَلَى
الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
كِتَابًا
مَوْقُوتًا
“Indeed, the prayer has been enjoined upon the believers at fixed
times.”
— [Surah an-Nisā’ 4:103]
This verse proves that every prayer has its appointed time, and performing them on time is an obligation.
2. Evidence from the Sunnah
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The most beloved of deeds to Allah is prayer at its proper
time.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari (No. 527) and
Sahih Muslim (No. 85)
He ﷺ also said:
“Between a man and disbelief and polytheism is the abandonment of the
prayer.”
— Sahih Muslim (No. 82)
This shows that leaving prayer is a serious matter.
3. The Warning – Rejection like Fir‘awn
Allah mentioned about Fir‘awn and his people:
فَخَلَفَ مِن
بَعْدِهِمْ
خَلْفٌ
أَضَاعُوا
الصَّلَاةَ
وَاتَّبَعُوا
الشَّهَوَاتِ
فَسَوْفَ
يَلْقَوْنَ
غَيًّا
“Then
there came after them successors who neglected the prayer and followed desires; so they will meet
destruction.”
— [Surah Maryam 19:59]
Fir‘awn was destroyed because of arrogance and rejection of Allah’s command, and those who neglect prayer resemble his path — rejecting Allah’s right to be worshipped properly.
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, mentioned the prayer one day and he said, “Whoever preserves the prayers, they will be his light, proof, and salvation on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever does not preserve them will not have proof, nor light, nor salvation, and on the Day of Resurrection, he will be alongside Qarun, Haman, Pharaoh, and Ubayy ibn Khalaf.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 1467
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Arna’ut
Found in also: Ahmad, Darimi, and Baihaqi in Shu'ab al-lman transmitted it., Mishkat al-Masabih 578,
Musnad Ahmad, vol. 2, pg. 169, Sahih Ibn Hibban, Al Ihsan, Hadith: 1467, Sharhu Mushkilil Athar, Hadith: 3180)
Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith authentic and Hafiz Haythami (rahimahullah) has declared the narrators of Imam Ahmad reliable.
(Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 1, pg. 292)
4. Summary
- Prayer is obligatory at its
prescribed times.
- Delaying or abandoning it is a major
sin and a sign of hypocrisy.
- The Prophet ﷺ said that the first thing to
be judged on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, the rest of the
deeds will be sound.
— Sunan at-Tirmidhi (No. 413)
Whoever prays sincerely at the proper times is among the guided and steadfast, but whoever neglects or abandons it has followed the path of Fir‘awn and the rejecters of truth.
[7] General Principle: Perform deeds according to your ability
The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِذَا
أَمَرْتُكُمْ
بِأَمْرٍ
فَأْتُوا مِنْهُ
مَا
اسْتَطَعْتُمْ
“When I command you to do something, do of it as much
as you are able.”
— Sahih
al-Bukhari (No. 7288), Sahih Muslim (No.
1337)
Explanation:
This hadith is a foundation in
Islam — it shows that the religion is built on ease, not hardship. One should strive to obey Allah and the Messenger ﷺ to the best of
one’s ability, without going to extremes or neglecting obligations.
Supporting Qur’anic verse
فَاتَّقُوا
اللَّهَ مَا
اسْتَطَعْتُمْ
“So fear Allah as much as you are
able.”
— Surah
at-Taghābun (64:16)
Summary:
- Islam commands performing acts of worship according to
one’s ability.
- Obligatory duties are never
waived except for legitimate incapacity.
- Sunnah and voluntary acts should be performed consistently, but within
one’s strength.
Yes, there is an authentic hadith where the Prophet ﷺ emphasized doing good deeds consistently, even if they are small.
The Hadith
ʿĀ’ishah (radiyallāhu ʿanhā) reported:
قَالَ
رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
ﷺ: أَحَبُّ
الأَعْمَالِ
إِلَى اللَّهِ
أَدْوَمُهَا
وَإِنْ قَلَّ
“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are
done consistently, even if they are few.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari (No. 6464), Sahih
Muslim (No. 782)
Explanation:
- Allah loves steadfastness and sincerity in deeds more than abundance without
consistency.
- A small act — like a short daily dhikr, charity, or
two rakʿah prayer — done regularly carries more weight than large deeds done occasionally.
- It trains the heart upon constancy and sincerity.
Related Hadith
ʿĀ’ishah (radiyallāhu ʿanhā) also said:
كَانَ
أَحَبُّ
الْعَمَلِ إِلَى
النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مَا
دُوِمَ
عَلَيْهِ،
وَإِنْ قَلَّ
“The Prophet ﷺ loved deeds which were done
regularly, even if they were small.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari (No. 5523)
Summary:
Perform good deeds regularly, even if small — for Allah loves continuity and sincerity, not quantity.