Indulging one's soul in an extra act of worship, one that is not mandatory, but done voluntarily and sincerely to seek rewards from Allah, can taste so sweet.
It tastes better than a soft, moist chocolate cake with tiny chocolate chips, drizzled with chocolate syrup, and topped with rich, vanilla ice-cream, slowly melting in the warm cake. And no matter how well I try to describe it, other people cannot sense how heavenly it is unless they taste it themselves. This treat does not raise your blood glucose levels; it only raises your heart, spiritually.
You can choose any of the recommended acts of worship, each giving the worshiper a certain status in the sight of the Lord. They are not compulsory, but they are highly recommended, for example fasting every Monday and Thursday. With such a wide variety of voluntary acts of worship, I liken them to a basket of delicious fresh fruits; each with its unique taste and each with its benefits.
It is a matter of preference, some people crave sweet mangoes or watermelons; others like tangy pineapples or raspberries. But having no fruit at all, that is a grave mistake because your body could suffer from lack of essential vitamins.
And the same goes for voluntary acts of worship - the vitamins of the soul- that keep you connected to the Lord, and keep you strong, active, and optimistic, even on the tough days. Pick what you like most; what makes your heart soar. Some people feel at ease reading the Holy Quran each day, others find peace in the night prayers.
There is a delightful basket of fruits, and you may pick whichever one you wish.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that the deeds loved most by Allah are: “The most regular, constant deeds even though they may be few. Don't take upon yourselves, except the deeds which are within your ability.”
So the act of worship you select should be something you are eager to do, to bring you closer to Allah, and it should not feel burdensome.
The voluntary prayers, or sunnah prayers, are 12 rakaat in total over the course of a day: 2 rakaat before fajr prayer, 4 rakaat before and 2 after dhuhr, 2 rakaat after maghreb, and 2 rakaat after ishaa prayer.
Whoever is able to diligently maintain these prayers each day is truly a blessed person because he will be loved by the Creator of all the worlds, as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has mentioned that anyone who performs the voluntary prayers each day will draw near to Allah, and Allah will love him/her.
Kindness to parents is not voluntary or optional in Islam; it is mandatory. Try something more, try serving them, try stretching yourself more than usual to please and help your parents. If you still live with them, offer to do the dishes for your mom after dinner, make your parents a cup of tea, bring your dad his newspaper in the morning, offer to take your mom shopping, but more importantly, just sit with them and talk to them, with a smile on your face. If you do not live with them, call them more often, buy them gifts, send your mom an ‘I love you' text message, and visit them as often as possible.
l Fasting cleanses the body and soul. Pick the ritual of fasting that works for you: it is part of the sunnah to fast every Monday and Thursday. Or, you can fast on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of every month on the lunar calendar, which is also highly encouraged.
The reward from Allah for fasting is very special.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, ‘Where are those who used to observe fasts?' They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry, the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it.”
Reciting and memorizing the Holy Qur'an and studying its meanings seems to teleport the soul to a realm of its own; where one finds peace of mind, bliss, understanding, knowledge, and patience.
Reading the Holy Qur'an helps you feel better but it is also a sure way of collecting loads of good deeds. For each single letter of the Qur'an you read, you receive 10 good deeds.
It is an even greater honor to memorize the Holy Qur'an and help others memorize it, as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “The best among you is the one who learns the Qur'an and teaches it.”
Dhikr, remembrance of Allah, praising and thanking Him, may seem like a small act of worship, but it is greatly rewarded by Allah. Make it a habit to pronounce, ‘Glory be to Allah', ‘All thanks to Allah', ‘O Allah, forgive me', and ‘There is no God but Allah' each day. They are to be repeated by the mouth 100 times but to be felt with each beat of your heart. Repeating this mantra has a relaxing effect on the body: decreasing blood pressure and heart rate, promoting deep breathing, and relaxing the nerves and muscles.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The one who mentions [or remembers] God among those who forget Him is like a green tree in the midst of dry ones.”
These are only a few ideas; there are many recommended voluntary acts of worship, such as giving in charity, feeding the poor, visiting the sick, and more. It does not have to be big, but do not deprive yourself of the sweet taste of worship.
