Is fasting a habit or is it an act of spiritual devotion? It is related that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Good conduct is a habit, and bad conduct is just obnoxious. ” [Sahih Ibn Hibbān and Sunan Ibn Mājah with a good chain of transmission] This Prophetic statement brings up the question of the extent to which our formal worship is prescribed to us to positively develop our personalities and cultivate our spirituality. This role for our worship is further reinforced by the Prophet’s words: “A man continues to speak the truth and verify the truth until it is written with Allah that he is an honest man… And another man continues to lie and chase after false reports until it is written with Allah that he is a habitual liar.” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī and Sahīh Muslim] When we do an act over and over again, it becomes a habit. Carrying it out becomes part and parcel of our personalities and identities. When a person strives to be honest by deliberately and consistently choosing to speak truly (even against self-interest), then honesty becomes a character trait. Ultimately, Allah elevates that person to the status of Siddīq (One Who is Truly Honest). For honest people, honesty is indeed a habit. However, this does not negate the fact that speaking the truth remains an act of worship and pious devotion. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not separate between habituation and devotion. In fact, he did the opposite. In fact, he said: “The most beloved of good deeds with Allah are those which are practiced with constancy over a long period of time, even if the deed is small.” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī and Sahīh Muslim] Also, `Ā’ishah relates that: “When Allah’s Messenger practiced a good deed, he would do so consistently.” [Sahīh Muslim] Habituation becomes a problem when people begin carrying out habitual acts unthinkingly. Some habits – like the manner of combing one’s hair, or moving one’s hands, or biting one’s nails – become so ingrained that the person ceases to be conscious of doing the habitual act. People might even deny such a habit if it is brought to their attention. At the same time, some positive habits have a tangible good effect on a person’s character and outlook on life. For instance, a person who has a habit of devoting a certain hour of every day to the remembrance of Allah or to reading the Qur’an has integrated these virtuous acts into daily life. They become, as a consequence, resulting in greater blessings and spiritual growth. Once a man came to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and said: “All the Islamic rites have become so many for me. Give me something I can hold fast to.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: “Keep your tongue moist with Allah’s remembrance.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī and Sunan Ibn Mājah] This is a recommendation to turn the remembrance of Allah into a good habit. We should therefore not use the word “habit” as if it is a bad thing, like when some of us say: “Prayer is an act of worship and not a habit.” Certainly prayer is an act of worship, and if it is our constant habit as well, then all the better. It is a good thing that it is a person’s habit to pray, as long as we do not mean by “habit” that the person is just going along with the crowd or is praying absentmindedly. The positive connotation of habit we intend here is that of constancy and dedication, along with presence of mind and sincerity. A habit is something a person is comfortable doing. Leaving it off is something that makes the habituated person uncomfortable. How good it is for worship to be easy and comfortable for a person so that it never feels like a burden. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said: “O Bilal! Call the people to prayer. Give us our relaxation in prayer.” [Sunan Abī Dāwūd] This shows us that for the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions, the performance of prayer was a source of comfort and solace. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: “Prayer has been made the sweetness of my eyes.” [Sunan al-Nasā’ī] Devotion and piety can themselves become habits. When a person starts concentrating in prayer, it is difficult at first to keep focus. The mind is easily distracted. However, after years of persistence, devotion and presence of mind in prayer become second-nature. Cont....ment
Posted on: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 07:15:41 +0000
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