a steep decline; for most of the actions of youth are driven by emotion rather than reflection. You will see one of them launch himself into worship with great intensity, then he becomes incapable or grows lazy and falls behind. Therefore, as the author (may Allah have mercy on him) has pointed out, a person should be moderate in obedience, not swept away, and he must safeguard his acts of worship, for perseverance in obedience is proof of one’s desire for it. The deed Allah loves most is the one performed consistently, even if it is small. When a person keeps up his worship and persists in it, that is evidence of his love for it and of his eagerness for goodness.

The author cited several verses, among them the saying of the Exalted: “Do not be like the woman who unravels her yarn after having spun it strong” (an-Nahl 16:92). A woman spins—producing yarn that is fine, strong, and well-twisted—then later goes back and pulls it apart strand by strand until nothing remains. Likewise, some people exert themselves in worship and even increase in it, only to undo it afterward by abandoning it.

He also (may Allah have mercy on him) quoted regarding the Children of Israel Allah’s words: “We placed in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy. But monasticism—they invented it; We did not prescribe it for them—only seeking Allah’s good pleasure. Yet they did not observe it as it should have been observed” (al-Hadid 57:27), meaning they did not persevere in it or maintain it; rather, they neglected it. And He said, “Do not be like those who were given the Scripture before; a long period passed over them and their hearts grew hard” (al-Hadid 57:16)—that is, the span of time, the duration of their deeds, became long for them, so their hearts hardened and they abandoned righteous works; we seek refuge in Allah. The important point is that a person must hold fast to his deeds, not grow sluggish or leave them, but remain constant upon what he is doing.