Various Acts of Obedience - What are the acts of worship that I should increase in?

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The best deeds after the obligatory ones are the voluntary acts of worship; as the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Allah the Exalted has said: 'I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine. And the most beloved thing with which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him, and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (prayer or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him. When I love him I become his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks (something) from Me, I give him, and if he asks My Protection (refuge), I protect him”. 

(Al-Bukhari)1

The best voluntary acts that a servant can do are as follows:

1. Night prayer:

The voluntary prayers are among the most virtuous acts of worship in the sight of Allah. The precious hours of the night are a time of great value. Standing in prayer during the night is a characteristic of the righteous believers who are promised the gardens of eternal bliss. It is an indication of the strength of intellect and faith, and a means of drawing closer to the Lord of all worlds, as the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “If you people greet all whom you meet, provide food, care for the wellbeing of your kindred, and pray at night when people are asleep, you will enter paradise in peace. 

(Ibn Majah)2

Among the virtues of the people of faith is their standing before Allah in the darkness. Allah, glorified be He, says: 

كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ ١٧

“They used to sleep but little of the night” 

(Surah Adh-Dhariyat :Ayat 17)

The righteous used to compete in prayer and worship during the darkness of the night, finding in it a pleasure in their souls that cannot be compared to the pleasures of this world. Abu Sulayman Ad-Darani1, may Allah have mercy on him, said, "By Allah, if it were not for standing in prayer at night, I would not have loved this worldly life."2

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, never neglected night prayer, whether during travel or at home. He would perform it while standing, sitting, and even on his feet during his journeys, even if he was not facing the qiblah.3

The righteous used to criticize those who neglected night prayer. Al-Hasan Al-Basri4, may Allah have mercy on him, said, "No one abandons night  prayer except due to a sin they have committed."1

This is based on the advice of the Prophet peace be upon him to Abdullah bin Umar2, may Allah be pleased with them both, where he said, "What an excellent man Abdullah is if he only prays at night." After that, Abdullah bin Umar would hardly sleep at night.3.

And the prophet said to Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-Aas4, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrated: "O Abdullah, do not be like so-and-so who used to pray at night and then abandoned it." (Agreed upon)5

One of the honours of servitude to Allah is worshiping Him at night. The soul does not reach its highest honour except through its devotion to Allah. It is not fitting for a righteous young person to abandon night prayer, even if it is just for half an hour before dawn, during which they can engage in intimate conversation with their Lord at a time when the gates of the 

heavens are open. The early generations of Muslims would not forsake night prayer. Tawus1, may Allah have mercy on him, said, "I never thought that anyone would sleep during the pre-dawn hours"2

2. Abundance in Remembrance of Allah:

Remembrance of Allah is the scale of elevation and honor. It is more than what is perfumed by the tongue. It is an open door between the servant and his Lord, as long as the servant does not close it with their heedlessness. Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "Indeed, through remembrance, Allah Almighty grants the Remembrancer His remembrance, as He says:

فَٱذْكُرُونِىٓ أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِى وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ ١٥٢

“So remember Me; I will remember you.” 

[Surah Al-Baqarah : Ayat 152]

If there was nothing in remembrance except for this alone, it would be sufficient in its excellence and reward."3. By increasing in remembrance, the servant ascends in the sight of his Lord, and our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to remember Allah at all times.4

Remembrance brings happiness to the heart and a sense of intimacy with Allah. Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "Once Sheikh Al-Islam told me: 'I do not leave remembrance except with the intention of giving my soul rest and tranquillity, preparing myself for the remembrance to come.'"1

3. Recitation of the Holy Quran:

The holy Quran is the pillar of the Ummah (Muslim community), the source of wisdom, the sign of the message, and the light for the eyes and insights. By reciting it and acting upon it, one's status is elevated, his rank is increased, and his faith is strengthened.

The magnificent Quran is the foundation of knowledge and its branches. It is from the Quran that morals and manners are derived. Safeguarding the Book of Allah is a means of protection, by the permission of Allah, from evils and tribulations. It serves as a fortress against doubts and desires. Therefore, recite the Quran on your tongue while contemplating its meanings with your heart.

4. Fasting Three Days Every Month:

Our Lord, Almighty and Glorious, (Allah) is characterized by gratitude. He rewards abundantly for even small acts of worship. The Ummah of Muhammad, peace be upon him, is a blessed nation. They work little in a short lifespan and are rewarded greatly. They surpass other nations in the Hereafter.

One of the ways to achieve this is by fasting three days every month, which is equivalent to fasting the entire month. Each day of fasting is rewarded as if one has fasted for ten days, as a generous gift from Allah. It is a recommendation from the Prophet, peace be upon him, to Abu Hurairah2, may Allah have mercy on him. Abu Hurairah reported: "My beloved friend, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, advised me with three things: to fast three days every month, to perform the two units of Duha prayer, and to perform the Witr prayer before sleeping."(Agreed upon)1

References:

1 Book of Devotion, Chapter of Humility, Number (6502), from the Hadith of Abu Hurairah.

2 Book of Foods, Chapter of Feeding Others, Number (3251), from the Hadith of Abdullah bin Salam, may Allah have mercy on him.

Ibn Majah, full name Abu 'Abdullah Yazid ibn Majah al-Rabi'i al-Qazwini, was born 209 AH and passed away in 273 AH. Tadhkirat al-Huffaz, by Al-Dhahabi, volume 155/2. May Allah have mercy on him.

1 Abu Sulayman Abdur-Rahman bin Ahmad Ad-Darani was born in 140 AH and passed away in 215 AH. Siyar A'lam an-Nubala (182/10)

2 Az-Zuhd wal Raqaiq by Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi (p. 94).

3 3 Narrated by Bukhari in the Book of Witr, Chapter: Witr Prayer during Travel, Hadith Number (1000), and Muslim in the Book of Prayer of Travelers and Shortening it, Chapter: The Permissibility of Voluntary Prayer on a Mount during Travel, where it is directed, Hadith Number (700) from the narration of Ibn Umar, may Allah have mercy on them both.

4 Abu Sa'id Al-Hasan bin Abi Al-Hasan Yasar Al-Basri, a Tabi'i Imam, was born in 21 AH and passed away in 110 AH. Siyar A'lam an-Nubala (563/4)

1 Nazhat al-Majalis wa Muntakhab an-Nafa'is (120/1)

2 Abdullah bin Umar bin Al-Khattab bin Nufayl Al-Adawi Al-Qurashi was born in 3 AH and passed away in 73 AH. Al-Iṣābah fī Tamyīz aṣ-Ṣaḥābah (290/6).

3 Narrated in Sahih Bukhari, in the Book of the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Chapter: the virtues of Abdullah ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with them both), Hadith number 3739; and in Sahih Muslim, in the Book of Virtues of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), Chapter: the virtues of Abdullah ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with them both), Hadith number 2479.

4 He is Abu Muhammad Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-Aas As-Sahmi Al-Qurashi. He embraced Islam before his father. He passed away during the nights of Harrah while Yazid bin Muawiyah was the governor. Some sources mention the year 63 AH, while others mention a different year. Al-Isti'ab fi Ma'rifat Al-Ashab (956/3)

5 Narrated by Bukhari in the Book of Tahajjud, Chapter: Disapproval of abandoning night prayer for someone who used to perform it, Hadith Number (1152), and Muslim in the Book of Fasting, Chapter: Prohibition of Fasting Continuously without a Valid Reason, Hadith Number (1159), from the narration of Abdullah bin Amr, may Allah have mercy on with them both.

1 He is Abu Abdur-Rahman Tawus bin Kaysan Al-Farisi, and later known as Al-Yamani Al-Jundi. He passed away in 106 AH. Source: Siyar A'lam an-Nubala (49/5)

2 Ibn Rajab (420/4)

3 Al-Wabil Al-Sayyib (p. 42)

4 Narrated by Muslim in the Book of Menstruation, Chapter: Remembrance of Allah in the state of sexual impurity and other situations, Hadith Number (373), from the narration of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her.

1 Al-Wabil Al-Sayyib (42).

2 Abu Hurairah, whose full name is Abu Hurairah Abdur-Rahman ibn Sakhr Al-Dawsi, embraced Islam between Al-Hudaybiyah and Khaibar. He passed away in 57 AH. Al-Isabah

fi Tamyiz Al-Sahabah (348/7)

1 Narrated by Al-Bukhari in the Book of Tahajjud Prayer, Chapter: Duha Prayer in the City, Hadith Number (1178), and by Muslim in the Book of Travelers' Prayer and Shortening It, Chapter: The Recommendation of Duha Prayer, and that the minimum is two units, the complete is eight units, the middle is four or six units, and the emphasis on maintaining it, Hadith Number (721).