A Glimpse at the Significance of Recommended Acts - Ramadan 1436/2015

You know why Allah loves the Nawafil? Because Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala, in one hadith, He tells the angels: "you are not obligated to do these acts. You are still doing them". This shows Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala and the angels how much you love Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala.

When a son or daughter is fulfilling their mandatory obligation towards their parents, that is great, may God bless them. But when they do more, their parents love them more. Because a mother will say, look, my daughter, she did not have to go that far to satisfy me. But she did. She went out of her way to serve me, to obey me. I love her more. It's the same with Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala.

When He sees you doing recommended deeds, Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala realizes that you truly love Him, because you are not even obligated. That is why one hadith says that those who miss Salat al-Layl, if you miss the midnight prayers, you know, it is recommended to make them up during the day, not during the night. If you miss Salat al-Layl, make it up during the day.

Now the hadith says: Allah will see one of His servants making up Salat al-Layl during the day. Allah will say to the angels: my angels. Look at him. Salat al-Layl was not even mandatory in the first place, but he is making the effort to make them up. Allah brags about you in front of the angels for doing that.

Recommended acts such as Salat al-Layl, which illuminates your grave, illuminate the path for you on the Day of Judgment, resigning the Holy Qur'an, helping someone, being gentle with someone.