Fourth: Nawafil can be seen as a proof of true service to Almighty Allah. This is because any action should have a motive behind it. It is well-known that man naturally tends to have repose and relaxation. However, what is it that makes one forsake his bed in the middle on the night? What is it that makes him leave his comfortable warm bed in the middle of a winter’s cold night to stand in prayer before his Lord?

It is longing and yearning for the pleasure of Allah, the comfort one finds when he has confidence in Him, and the lights one enjoys when they are provided by Him.

Moreover, the constant performance of nawafil is illuminating evidence on the fact that a worshipper may taste the sweetness of the acts of worship and that he never finds them heavy or burdensome and that he realizes their deep impact in his present life as well as in the Hereafter.

Undoubtedly, one who constantly performs many supererogatory prayers, for example, proves that he has already tasted the sweetness of ‘communicating’ with the Divine. It also proves that one understands the meaning of standing before the Lord of the worlds. Had it not been for all these, one would not have performed that great number of nawafil while he knows that these are not obligatory and that he would not be punished if he/she does not perform them.

Fifth: Nawafil can be seen as a sign of the worshipper’s desire to draw closer to Allah the Almighty and to seek His love. This elevates the worshipper to a lofty position with Allah; the position of the beloved! To be loved by Allah is much more important than being a lover to Him. Allah says what may mean,

{…a people He will love and who will love Him…}. (Al-Ma’idah 5:54)

Allah Almighty made nawafil a way or a reason for reaching the position of the beloved as highlighted in the Qudsi hadith that is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said:

“Allah (mighty and sublime be He) said: ‘Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him.

My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him.

When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks.

Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it…’” (Al-Bukhari)

Sixth: One of the secrets of nawafil is that they are a wide open gate for gaining reward from Allah without any restrictions or limitations.

Amazingly, while some people never have enough of the ephemeral material gains of this present life, they intentionally turn away from the gains of the Hereafter.

Truly, a sane person is the one who strives for the Hereafter as if he is to die tomorrow and, simultaneously, equips himself with all necessary provisions for a very long journey. In this respect, Nawafil are to be considered as one of the best of all provisions and supplies.

They are a means of constant connection with Allah and a way of living under His protection. Allah says in the Ever-Glorious Quran what may mean,

{And duly establish the Prayer for My remembrance}. (Ta-Ha 20:14)

Therefore, let us increase our performance of nawafil so that Allah may shower on us of His mercy and grace for He is the Ever-Generous, the Greatest. Allah says in a Qudsi hadith what may mean,

“…And if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a double arm’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.” (Al-Bukhari)