Neither course is commendable, commanded, or a path to Allah: the course of the negligent, who perform these necessary activities without treating them as worship or a means of drawing near to Allah, and the course of those who overstep the bounds by abandoning them. Rather, what is prescribed is to perform them with the intention of drawing near to Allah and to thank Him.

Allah Most High says:

“Eat of the good things and do righteous deeds.”

He also says:

“Eat of the good things We have provided for you, and give thanks to Allah.”

Thus, He commands eating and drinking. Whoever eats without giving thanks is blameworthy, and whoever neither eats nor gives thanks is blameworthy. It is authentically reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah is indeed pleased with a servant who eats a meal and praises Him for it, and drinks a drink and praises Him for it.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to Saʿd:

“You will never spend anything seeking thereby the Face of Allah without being raised in rank and standing—even the morsel you place in your wife’s mouth.”

It is also authentically reported that he said:

“A believer’s spending on his family, when he seeks Allah’s reward for it, is charity.”

The same applies to supplications here. Some people ask Allah to bring them benefit and ward off harm out of natural inclination and habit, rather than in obedience to His law and as an act of worship. It is not prescribed for me to abandon supplication altogether because of such a person’s shortcomings and negligence. Rather, I should supplicate in obedience to Allah’s law and as an act of worship.

Know, moreover, that someone who does this in obedience to Allah’s law and as an act of worship is only pursuing his own welfare and seeking his own praiseworthy benefits. He seeks his welfare in both this world and the Hereafter, unlike