Al-Targhib
wal-Tarhib
الترغيب والترهيب
Book of Temperance and Repentance
كتاب التوبة والزهد
Chapter 67: Consistent good habits, even if small
Al-Mundhiri recorded the following chapter in his book Al-Targhib wal-Tarhib:
الترغيب في المداومة على العمل وإن قل
Encouragement to be consistent in good deeds, even if they are small.
Source: al-Targhīb wal-Tarhīb 4/128
Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entered while I was with another woman. The Prophet said:
مَنْ هَذِهِ
Who is this?
I said, “She is a woman who never sleeps because she is always praying.” The Prophet 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 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 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 said:
وَكَانَ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا عَمِلُوا عَمَلاً أَثْبَتُوهُ
When the household of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, committed to an act of worship, they would do it consistently.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 782, Grade: Sahih
Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, 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 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 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, peace and blessings be upon him, 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, “O mother of the believers, how were the deeds of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him? Did he designate anything for certain days?” Aisha said:
لَا كَانَ عَمَلُهُ دِيمَةً وَأَيُّكُمْ يَسْتَطِيعُ مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْتَطِيعُ
No. The Messenger of Allah (ṣ) 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 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, peace and blessings be upon him, is what is done regularly even if it is small.
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 26178, Grade: Sahih
In another narration, Umm Salamah said:
وَإِنْ كَانَ يَسِيرًا
Even if it was easy.
Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 1225, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, 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