Benefits of Mustahab Acts

Our apathy towards Mustahab acts is the result of being unaware of the innumerable benefits and blessings of these Mustahab acts. When we learn of a certain practice being Mustahab we consider laxity in its practice to be no problem. This is a dangerous condition as it translates to us only being contented with a formal relationship with Allah Ta’ala.
If people in this world are very kind and munificent to us, do we hold casual relationships with them? Sometimes out of love or desire for something we go out of our way to see to the needs of our benefactors.

Why is it then that in the obedience of Allah Ta’ala we only confine ourselves to Fardh and Waajibaat? And why do we not regard the Mustahabbaat to be of great importance?

One barkat of carrying out Mustahab acts is that a person who practices on the Mustahabbaat will be less prone to sin. One who performs his Tahajjud and Ishraaq will abstain from sin more than one who only fulfils the five times Fardh Salaat.
Sometimes a Mustahab act becomes the means for one’s salvation in the Aakhirah.

Seebwaih was one of the most renowned grammarians of the Arabic language. However, in creed he was of the Mu’tazili sect which holds some corrupt
beliefs punishable in the Aakhirah. After he passed away someone saw Seebwaih in a dream and enquired about his condition in that world. He replied that he had been forgiven. Upon enquiry of the cause of his forgiveness he replied: “I was forgiven over a rule in grammar. The grammarians say that the strongest and most obvious proper noun is the first person pronoun. I, however, differed and proclaimed the strongest and most obvious proper noun to be the word “Allah”. Allah Ta’ala declared: ‘You have honoured my name. Today We will honour you. Go you are forgiven.”

Look at this case of this grammarian being forgiven over a Mustahab deed. There are similar episodes narrated in the Hadeeth of sinful people being forgiven on account of Mustahab acts. We should, therefore, not misjudge the worth of Mustahab acts. Special bond and love of Allah Ta’ala hinges on carrying out the Mustahab acts of the Deen. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the courage, awareness and fervour to gain His Pleasure through Mustahab practices, Aameen.

(Modified From Thammun Nisyaan by Hazrat Moulana Thanwi Rahmatullahi Alaih)