Istiqamah is the best practice according to the direction of the Prophet Muhammad

Practice can be interpreted as prayer, wirid, or rituals that are believed to provide benefits for someone who does it. Many people are hunting for practice to be great, rich, powerful and various other motives. Some students ask for practice to their clerics and ustadz, and some are wrong to ask for practice from shamans and psychics.

In contrast to the reasons above, practice should be used as the main capital for the afterlife. However, even so, Islam never asks its followers to do charity beyond their capabilities. The appropriate motto is to do charity according to their respective abilities. There are many hadiths of the prophet that explain the practices that must be read and done by a Muslim. Charity should not be done excessively. The Prophet often reminded his friends who did excessive charity. They do good deeds as much as possible until they forget the rights of their bodies, namely rest.

Abu 'Awanah An-Naisaburi in Mustakhraj Abi 'Awanah narrates that there was a woman who had visited the residence of 'Aisyah. He arrived weak and sleepy. The Messenger of Allah saw and asked 'Aisyah: "Who is this woman?"

"This is fulanah, last night he didn't sleep," replied 'Aisyah.

"Do the practice according to your ability. Indeed, Allah never feels bored, but you who like to be bored, "said the Prophet SAW advised.

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنَ الأَعْمَالِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا وَإِنَّ أَحَبَّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَا دُووِمَ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ قَلَّ

Meaning: "O mankind, do the deeds according to your ability. Because Allah is not bored until you feel bored. (Know that) the most beloved of deeds to Allah are those which are continuous, even if they are small.”

After understanding the Prophet's advice, 'Aisha always conveyed the words of the Prophet to the other companions. Therefore, when someone asked 'Aisha, regarding what practice the Prophet liked, she immediately replied:

كان أحب العمل إليه الدائم

Meaning: "The practice he likes the most is the practice that is done continuously," (HR Ahmad).

The practice that the Prophet liked was one that was consistent, even if it was simple and small. Whatever practice we do will be liked by the Prophet SAW as long as it is done continuously and istiqamah. As is known, istiqamah in charity is certainly not as easy as saying it. It takes a lot of effort to make it happen. Therefore, there are scholars who say, "Be seekers of istiqamah and do not seek karamah."

Shaykh Abdur Razzaq Al-Badr closed his book with a beautiful phrase from Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taimiyyah rahimahullah, he said:

أعظمُ الكرامَةِ لزُومُ الاستقامَة

Meaning: "The noblest Karamah is holding fast to istiqomah".

In his book Al-Furqon baina Auliya`ir Rahman wa Auliya`isy Syaithon, he also says:

وإنَّما غايةُ الكرامَةِ لزومُ الاستقامةِ

Meaning: "The purpose of (given) karomah is only to be able to hold on to istiqomah".

Therefore, Ibn al-Qoyyim rahimahullah cites beautiful words in his book Madarijus Salikin:

كُن صاحبَ الاستقامَةِ لا طالِبَ الكَرامة ، فإنَّ نفسَك متحرِّكَةٌ في طلَبِ الكرامةِ، وربُّك يُطالبُكَ بالاستقامةِ

Meaning: "Be a person who is istiqomah, (and) do not be a seeker of karomah, because (the nature of) your soul is moved to seek karomah, while your Lord demands you to be istiqomah!".

Bilal's companions were once asked by the Messenger of Allah after the Fajr prayer, "O Bilal, what is the practice that you do most often? Because I hear the sound of your footsteps in heaven.” Bilal replied, "I do not do any practice but I get used to the sunnah prayer after ablution ', either day or night," (HR Al-Bukhari, Ishaq bin Rahaweh, and others).

Bilal's story is one example that shows that heaven is obtained because of his steadfastness in charity. Although Bilal's practice looks simple, namely getting used to the sunnah prayer after ablution '. That is, whatever practice we do, will lead us to the pleasure of Allah SWT, as long as it is done istiqamah.