Avoiding Extremism in Religion
Islam commands avoiding excess and deficiency (extremes) in every area of human life, striving for a balanced lifestyle. The most steadfast anchor in worship and spiritual practice is adhering to the straight path. The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned his community on this matter, saying: “Always prefer the middle way, for those who advance and those who retreat will return to it.” Many people newly entering the spiritual path load themselves with overly demanding acts of worship due to initial enthusiasm. However, the ego cannot bear this heavy burden for long, and eventually, exhaustion sets in. Yet, the essence of religion is for a servant to spread their duty of servitude to their Lord throughout their entire life and sustain it in a balanced way, without fatigue or boredom.
The Most Beloved Deeds
What Allah Almighty expects from His servants is not ostentatious and momentary outbursts of worship but rather steadfast devotion rooted sincerely in the heart. The Prophet (peace be upon him) set a very clear measure regarding the value of deeds, saying: “The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are few but consistent.” This hadith emphasizes the quality and consistency of worship rather than its quantity. For interrupted great acts of worship are less effective than small ones performed without interruption in nurturing the heart and disciplining the ego. Consistency demonstrates the unwavering bond between a servant and their Lord, and the awareness of servitude remains alive at every moment.
The Danger of Abandoning Due to Weariness
Starting an act of worship and then abandoning it later due to the laziness or exhaustion of the ego poses a great danger from a spiritual perspective. According to a narration from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned against this situation, saying: “Whoever abandons a worship that they have been consistently performing out of weariness, Allah Almighty will dislike them.” The truth behind this serious warning is as follows: If a person begins an act of worship for the sake of Allah and then abandons it yielding to their desires, it is impolite in the divine presence. To avoid being exposed to this threat, every Muslim should choose actions that are within their ability and that they can sustain consistently throughout their lives, continuing their journey of servitude with firm and secure steps.