CONSISTENT GOOD HABITS, EVEN IF SMALL

Aisha, RadhiAllahu Anha, Ummul Momineen (Mother of Believers) reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, entered while I was with another woman. The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

مَنْ هَذِهِ

Who is this?

I said, “She is a woman who never sleeps because she is always praying.” The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَوَاللَّهِ لَا يَمَلُّ اللَّهُ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا وَكَانَ أَحَبَّ الدِّينِ إِلَيْهِ مَا دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ

You must only perform deeds you are capable of doing. By Allah, Allah will not withhold from you until you give up. The most beloved deeds to Allah are those performed regularly.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 43, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

In another narration, the Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

إِنَّ أَحَبَّ الْأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَا دَامَ وَإِنْ قَلَّ

Verily, the most beloved deeds to Allah are performed regularly, even if they are small.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5439, Grade: Sahih

In another narration, the Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

اكْلَفُوا مِنْ الْأَعْمَالِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ

Take responsibility for such deeds you are capable of doing.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6100, Grade: Sahih

In another narration, Aisha, RadhiAllahu Anha, said:

وَكَانَ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا عَمِلُوا عَمَلاً أَثْبَتُوهُ

When the household of Muhammad, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, committed to an act of worship, they would do it consistently.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 782, Grade: Sahih

Aisha, RadhiAllahu Anha, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

سَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا فَإِنَّهُ لَنْ يُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ أَحَدًا عَمَلُهُ

Follow the right course, seek nearness to Allah, and give glad tidings. Verily, none of you will enter Paradise by his deeds alone.

They said, “Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

وَلَا أَنَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَتَغَمَّدَنِيَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ أَحَبَّ الْعَمَلِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَدْوَمُهُ وَإِنْ قَلَّ

Not even me, unless Allah grants me his mercy. Know that the most beloved deed to Allah is that which is done regularly, even if it is small.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6099, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

Aisha, RadhiAllahu Anha, reported:

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا عَمِلَ عَمَلًا أَثْبَتَهُ وَكَانَ إِذَا نَامَ مِنْ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ مَرِضَ صَلَّى مِنْ النَّهَارِ ثِنْتَيْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً

If the Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, took up a practice, he would be resolved to make it a habit. If the Prophet slept through his night prayer or he was ill, he would pray twelve cycles in the day.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 746, Grade: Sahih

‘Alqamah reported: I asked Aisha, RadhiAllahu Anha, “O mother of the believers, how were the deeds of the Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam? Did he designate anything for certain days?” Aisha, RadhiAllahu Anha, said:

لَا كَانَ عَمَلُهُ دِيمَةً وَأَيُّكُمْ يَسْتَطِيعُ مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْتَطِيعُ

No. The Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) would performs deeds regularly, and who among you are capable of doing as he did?

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6101, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

Umm Salamah, RadhiAllahu Anha, reported:

كَانَ أَحَبُّ الْعَمَلِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَا دَامَ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ قَلَّ

The most beloved deed to the Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, is what is done regularly even if it is small.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 26178, Grade: Sahih

In another narration, Umm Salamah, RadhiAllahu Anha, said:

وَإِنْ كَانَ يَسِيرًا

Even if it was easy.

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 1225, Grade: Sahih

Abu Huraira, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:

اكْلَفُوا مِنْ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْعَمَلِ أَدْوَمُهُ وَإِنْ قَلَّ

Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few.

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 4240, Grade: Sahih

Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.