One Important Act of Worship

 

“The similitude of someone who remembers his Lord and someone who does not is like that of the living and the dead.”

Al-Bukhari

 

Apart from the fundamental concept and practices of Islam like Taoheed, Salat, Zakat, Ramadhan, Hajj amongst others, the supererogatory acts worship that we can do are simply unlimited.

There so many things to do that no one can really do them all, in a consistent manner. So in this case, the wise choice will be to decide on the ones that we can sustain in the long run.

And to make good choices, we have to study what our dear Prophet (SAW) said regarding this issue. It happened that one of the Prophet’s companions also felt the same challenge, so he asked the Prophet (SAW) how to deal with it.

As narrated by Abdullah ibn Busr (RA), the companion came to the Prophet (SAW) and said:

“O Messenger of Allah. I am overwhelmed by the so many injunctions of Islam. So tell me something to which I may hold fast.”

The Prophet (SAW) replied him, “Keep your tongue wet with the remembrance of Allah.” (At Tirmidhi)

One sentence from the Prophet (SAW) resolved this challenge for the companion. And from that sentence it is clear that remembrance of Allah is the essence of all acts worship.

While we cannot fast continuously, pray continuously, do tahajjud continuously but we can always do adhkar, whether we are sick, healthy, travelling, at home, young or old.

We can hold on to adhkar at every moment of the day, whether we are among the richest persons in the world or the poorest people in the village.

Evidently, remembrance of Allah is the essence of life; it is the one thing that gives everything else in our lives meaning, both for this world and for the hereafter.