To hasten towards supererogatory good deeds while showing laziness in obligatory acts is among the signs of following the nafs (the lower self).
Verse Translation
To be occupied with supererogatory acts while being negligent in the obligations
Is among the signs of following desire (hawā)
Explanation
This wisdom is a Sufi explanation that warns that a true act is burdensome to the nafs-i ammāra (the commanding lower self), while what is false is light for it. For, in the previous wisdom, it was stated that the necessity of choosing the more difficult acts is because every act of worship that is heavy upon the nafs is in accordance with Divine pleasure and is true. In this wisdom, in order to enlighten the thoughts of seekers (sālik), it is demonstrated with a clear example that, while obligatory and necessary acts that are heavy upon the nafs remain undone, being occupied with lighter supererogatory good deeds is nothing but following the desire (hawā) of the nafs.
For example, if a murīd (aspirant, disciple) neglects to make up missed obligatory and necessary acts and fails to fulfill the rights of others upon him, yet busies himself with supererogatory fasting, prayer, and pilgrimage, this is nothing but being defeated by the nafs. For escaping the tricks of the nafs is only possible by diligence in ascetic discipline (riyāḍa) in accordance with the sharia (the sacred law) and by giving due importance to spiritual struggle (mujāhada). Based on this wisdom, among the great Sufis, Muhammad ibn Abū al-Ward (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Two states and actions cause a person to be lost in the valley of misguidance. One is performing supererogatory acts while neglecting the obligatory ones. The other is performing acts with the limbs without the participation of the qalb (the heart). It is precisely because people neglect the paths and principles of the spiritual journey (sulūk) in this way that they are deprived of union with the sanctuary of unity!" Ibrāhīm Hawwās (may Allah have mercy on him) also expressed: "People are separated from the gate of Truth in two ways. The first is seeking supererogatory acts and neglecting the obligatory ones. The second is that, although they are outwardly engaged in righteous acts, they do not obligate themselves to sincerity and to advising others in those acts. Yet, the Exalted Lord only accepts the worship of a servant due to its truthfulness, uprightness, and correctness for His sake!"
Abū Ṭālib al-Makkī (may Allah have mercy on him) also explained this matter, saying: "For a sincere murīd, the most virtuous of acts of worship is first to know his own nafs and not to transgress, to persist in the state and action in which Allah has placed him, and, after avoiding all prohibitions, to perform the obligatory acts with knowledge that guides to hudā (guidance) and with a waraʿ (taqwa, God-conscious scrupulousness) that restrains him from carnal desires, and not to busy himself with supererogatory acts until the obligatory ones are completed. For supererogatory worship only becomes sound after the murīd has attained safety on the path of Truth. Just as profit and advancement are the pure fruit of trade after one has acquired the capital for buying and selling. Thus, a person for whom safety is very difficult is distant from Divine grace and has fallen into the dreadful valley of self-delusion, becoming wretched and deprived."
To be occupied with supererogatory acts while neglecting the obligations—indeed, nearness through supererogatory acts comes only after fulfilling the obligations.