Finding Joy in Worship

The Gift of Consistency

Reading time: 2 minutes

When your heart is alive with the remembrance of Allah,

even the smallest acts of worship bring great joy.

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim

Many of us have felt the frustration that can come with a lack of apparent results from our efforts in worship.

We’ve heard it from others, or perhaps we’ve even said it ourselves: "I’ve been praying for so long, making dua consistently, and yet I don’t see any benefits."

This feeling of spiritual stagnation can be disheartening.

Still, it’s essential to recognize that maintaining our worship and consistently turning to Allah in prayer is itself a profound blessing and a sign of Allah’s grace.

If you’ve been regularly reading the Quran, making dua, or performing your prayers, this consistency is a gift from Allah.

It is not something to be taken lightly.

Even if you don’t see immediate results, being granted the ability to remain steadfast in your worship is a significant opening from Allah.

It’s a sign that He has placed you on a path of growth, even if that growth isn’t always visible.

A man in Mecca shared a beautiful story about his father, a devout man deeply committed to his worship who hadn’t missed a prayer in 30 years.

His father’s supplication to Allah was simple: he asked Allah to grant him the delight of his heart in prayer.

For this man, prayer wasn’t just an obligation but a source of immense joy and spiritual nourishment.

For him, prayer was as essential as breathing, as necessary as eating.

This deep connection to prayer didn’t come overnight.

It was the result of mujahada—a struggle, a persistent effort to draw closer to Allah.

Over time, as we continue to strive, Allah makes it easier for us.

The struggle lessens, and we derive more and more benefit from our acts of worship.

This is why it’s essential to reflect on our spiritual journey.

If, after years of praying, we find that our prayer hasn’t evolved or deepened, then something may be amiss.

Our connection to Allah should grow stronger, not remain stagnant.

Imam Junayd, a revered figure in Islamic spirituality, once said that a believer's state changes many times, while a disbeliever may remain in the same state for forty years.

This insight reminds us that as believers, we should constantly evolve, spiritually grow, and deepen our connection with Allah.

This transformation is evident even in children, who experience emotions intensely and are deeply present in the moment.

As we grow older, we can lose this immediacy, becoming more disconnected from the vibrancy of life and the joy of the moment.

If you feel down or disconnected, one of the most potent remedies is to increase your acts of worship.

Get up early to pray, give charity, read the Quran, and watch how these actions shift your perspective and bring light into your life.

The more we do for the sake of Allah, the more our hearts will find contentment.

Finally, it’s important to remember that self-knowledge leads to a deeper understanding of our relationship with Allah.

As we come to know ourselves—our strengths, weaknesses, and inclinations—we also gain insight into our dependence on Allah and His significance and blessings in our lives.

Remember, consistency in worship is a gift from Allah, a sign of His favor.

Even when we don’t see immediate results, we should never underestimate the value of maintaining our connection with Him.

As we continue to strive, May Allah, in His infinite mercy, draw us closer, transform our hearts, and allow us to experience the true delight of worship.

Reflection:

In what ways have you seen your spiritual state change over time, and what led to these changes?

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🍉 Watermelon Watch 🍉 

Day 311

‼️ 13 victims, incl. a child & medic, arrived at Nasser Hospital after several IOF airstrikes on Khan Younis (south)

🇵🇸 3 killed, others injured, in Israeli raids on Gaza City (north)

🇵🇸 West Bank: IOF killed 18 year old w/ live fire in Qalqilya, IOF shot & abducted a man in Ramallah

🔻 Hamas claims several attacks on soldiers in Khan Younis (south), killing & injuring them. Another soldier killed in southern Gaza

🇱🇧 3 injured in IOF raid on Kfar Kila (Lebanon)

🇬🇧 UK detains 6 @pal_action activists under Terrorism Act for first time for action against Israeli arms factory

🇨🇦 Canada officially revokes charitable status from 2 Zionist orgs for funding Israeli military

🚫 Israel transforms many areas surrounding Gaza fence into closed military zones off limits to anyone without authorisation

🇬🇪🇦🇿 Israel evacuates its soldiers from Georgia & Azerbaijan, fearing Iranian retaliation to Haniyeh murder

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