Renewal of the Heart and Soul

Phase 4 – Strengthening The Heart: Building a Heart That Lasts

Loving Deeds Allah Loves Most

This morning my colleagues spoke about consistency — the importance of sustainable worship that continues beyond Ramadhan. We learned that Allah loves the deed that is done regularly, even if it is small.

But this raises a natural question: Which deeds should we be consistent in? What actions draw us closest to Allah? What worship should we prioritize in our daily lives?

The Obligations Come First

Before we discuss the supererogatory, we must establish the foundation. The deeds Allah loves most are, first and foremost, the obligations He has commanded. The five daily prayers. Fasting Ramadhan. Zakat for those who qualify. Hajj for those able. Honouring parents. Speaking truth. Guarding trusts.

Allah the Almighty ﷻ said in a hadith qudsi:

“وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ عَبْدِي بِشَيْءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ”

“My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him.” (Bukhari)

Before adding extra prayers, ensure your five are established. Before fasting voluntarily, ensure your Ramadhan fast is complete. The foundation must be solid.

The Voluntary Deeds That Follow

After the obligations, Allah loves the voluntary deeds — the nawafil. The same hadith continues:

“وَلَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّىٰ أُحِبَّهُ”

“My servant continues to draw near to Me through voluntary deeds until I love him.” (Bukhari)

When Allah loves a servant, amazing things happen:

“فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ كُنْتُ سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ، وَبَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ، وَيَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطِشُ بِهَا، وَرِجْلَهُ الَّتِي يَمْشِي بِهَا”

“When I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks.” (Bukhari)

This is the station of Ihsan — worshipping Allah as if you see Him. The one beloved by Allah is guided in everything they do.

The Deeds Most Frequently Mentioned

What are these beloved voluntary deeds? The Quran and Sunnah highlight several:

1. Night Prayer (Tahajjud)

Allah praises those who leave their beds to pray in the night:

“تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا”

“Their sides forsake their beds, calling upon their Lord in fear and hope.” (Surah As-Sajdah, 32: 16)

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ، وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلَاةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ”

“The best fasting after Ramadhan is the month of Allah, Muharram. And the best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer.” (Muslim)

2. Voluntary Fasting

Fasting Mondays and Thursdays. Fasting the three white days (13th, 14th, 15th of each lunar month). Fasting six days of Shawwal. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ”

“Whoever fasts Ramadhan and follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted the entire year.” (Muslim)

3. Remembrance of Allah (Dhikr)

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“أَلَا أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ أَعْمَالِكُمْ، وَأَزْكَاهَا عِنْدَ مَلِيكِكُمْ، وَأَرْفَعِهَا فِي دَرَجَاتِكُمْ، وَخَيْرٍ لَكُمْ مِنْ إِنْفَاقِ الذَّهَبِ وَالْوَرِقِ، وَخَيْرٍ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْ تَلْقَوْا عَدُوَّكُمْ فَتَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَهُمْ وَيَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَكُمْ؟” قَالُوا: بَلَىٰ. قَالَ: “ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَىٰ”

“Shall I tell you of the best of your deeds, the purest to your King, the most elevating of your ranks, better than spending gold and silver, and better than meeting your enemy and striking their necks and them striking yours?” They said: Yes. He said: “The remembrance of Allah.” (Tirmidhi)

4. Loving for the Sake of Allah

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“أَفْضَلُ الْأَعْمَالِ الْحُبُّ فِي اللَّهِ وَالْبُغْضُ فِي اللَّهِ”

“The best of deeds is love for Allah and hatred for Allah.” (Abu Dawud)

Loving others for His sake, building relationships that draw you closer to Him — this is among the most beloved deeds.

5. Benefiting Others

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“أَحَبُّ النَّاسِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَنْفَعُهُمْ لِلنَّاسِ”

“The most beloved of people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to others.” (Tabarani)

Serving others — with your wealth, your time, your knowledge, your presence — is a deed Allah loves.

Your Personal Plan

As you come to the end of Ramadhan, choose two or three of these beloved deeds. Commit to them consistently. Let them be the structure of your post-Ramadhan worship. And know that every small step toward these deeds is a step toward His love.

May Allah make us among those He loves and who love Him. Ameen.