A Remedy for Laziness

Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

What do we do if we find in ourselves laziness and lack of motivation when it comes to performing certain sunnahs and reciting the awrad?

Drive your soul forward by giving it hope: remind it of the reward (of these actions) and their end result in the next life. Bring to mind the merits of these actions mentioned by your Prophet ﷺ.

If you become lazy at times, do not despair. Do not waver and do not delay – go back to what you were doing for you are, by your nature, deficient. It may be that your laziness teaches you a great lesson. It may bring about in you brokenness in front of Allah, and may remove pride (‘ujb) from your heart. This may be more beneficial for you than actually performing the action itself.”

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توجيه النبيه ص322

Imam Ibn Ataillah al-Iskandari (may Allah have mercy on him) said in the Hikam: “perhaps an act of disobedience which brings about brokenness and humility (in front of Allah) may be better than an act of obedience which brings about arrogance and pride.”